How Often Do States Change Their License Plate Designs?

Over the last few years there has been an explosion of vanity license plates and specialty license plates in almost all states and provinces in North America. Some states have authorized hundreds of specialty license plates for sports teams, universities, state parks and other special interest groups. It seems government has been able to figure out it’s good business to authorize specialty license plates and we are impressed with their ability to do this. A percentage of the money goes to the special interest group but the government also pulls in a nice revenue stream from these specialty license plates over and above the normal license plate fees.

In contrast to the specialty license plate business, governments seem to have trouble updating the design of the standard license plates. If we go back 50 years ago, most states used to change their plate design annually. Over the course of time the rate of change of the license plate design has slowed with the average state now changing their license plate design about once every five years. Furthermore, some states seldom change their license plate designs.

It looks like it’s easier for governments to issue specialty license plates than it is to revise their own designs. Just to put a theory out there we believe no change is easier to manage as license plate design seems to stir emotions in people and causes a paralysis in government decision making. We love the fact people are emotional about the design of the license plates on their cars. It’s why we have been so focused on telling people to remove the dealer advertising from their license plate frames and license plate holders.  A good-looking license plate frame completes the look of your license plate on your car or truck.

Here is the list of states with the number of times they have changed their license plate design over the last 50 years and the number of times they have changed their license plate design in the last ten years