# Best (or worst) looking license plates **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704 "2020-04-13T16:38:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/21 "2020-04-14T01:49:51Z")
[Another winner: the Custer/Sitting Bull plate from Montana.](https://s.ecrater.com/stores/332899/555bf1378f743_332899b.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/22 "2020-04-14T01:55:47Z")
This [Indiana](https://s.ecrater.com/stores/238986/4fc6b2ab18ea4_238986b.jpg) license plate in the mid-90s was a thing of beauty. Indiana’s plates are very boring now. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/23 "2020-04-14T02:18:43Z")
Indiana holds the record for the most consecutive years with mortifying plates, and I can remember them back to the 40s. ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/24 "2020-04-14T03:10:54Z")
One of Idaho’s biggest products is rapeseed oil. Some years ago somebody wanted to have their license plate motto read “Idaho - The Land of Rape”. Didn’t go over too good. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/25 "2020-04-14T04:15:13Z")
Maybe I’m a little too 20th century here, but I like the California Whale Tail plate. It has a bit of messy history too. The state got into a dispute with the artist who drew the original design, and eventually the state just dropped that design and went with a different picture. The newer one is nicer. Article discussing it, with both pictures, here: [Dispute Sparks California License Plate Redesign](https://patch.com/california/lakeelsinore-wildomar/dispute-sparks-california-license-plate-redesign), July 2011. > [@](#): > > The unveiling of the new whale tail design effectively marks the end of a three-year-long war of words between Laguna Beach artist Wyland and state officials. The upper picture appears to be the newer one, according to the descriptions in the text. I like it better. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/26 "2020-04-14T05:03:30Z")
Probably the Patriots and Red Sox specialty plates you can get in Massachusetts, since they are my favorite teams. I also like the Vermont conservation plates [Specialty Plates | Department of Motor Vehicles](https://dmv.vermont.gov/registrations/license-plates/specialty-plates#conservation) although like the standard plates the green background can clash with many car colors. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/27 "2020-04-14T05:33:25Z")
It is time for the states to raise big bucks by selling vanity European-format plates. Charge BMW people (say) $5,000 a pop and rake in the dough. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/28 "2020-04-14T15:06:53Z")
I really liked the old TN plates that were shaped like the state. See the right-most plate in the second row of [https://www.google.com/search?q=traditional+tenn+license+plates&tbm=isch&source=univ&client=firefox-b-d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiw5ZjUl-joAhXGVN8KHQ3WAkMQsAR6BAgKEAE&biw=1491&bih=750](https://www.google.com/search?q=traditional+tenn+license+plates&tbm=isch&source=univ&client=firefox-b-d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiw5ZjUl-joAhXGVN8KHQ3WAkMQsAR6BAgKEAE&biw=1491&bih=750). PA used to have the outline of the state on a standard rectangular plate. Of course they hit bottom with “You have a friend in” plates. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/29 "2020-04-14T16:03:12Z")
Missouri’s [Cave State](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fc6%2F78%2F0d%2Fc6780dbd2f251510a1bf8122f84b1e36.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.ie%2Fpin%2F471752129695500141%2F&tbnid=cOkKDR9IG1Z_-M&vet=12ahUKEwjXvYD6pOjoAhUNe6wKHbzwB58QMygtegQIARB0..i&docid=3L0DmBp6uY990M&w=315&h=160&itg=1&q=missouri%20specialty%20plates&client=firefox-b-1-d&ved=2ahUKEwjXvYD6pOjoAhUNe6wKHbzwB58QMygtegQIARB0) specialty plate is pretty nice. I’ve never seen one on the road though. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/30 "2020-04-14T16:43:42Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Indiana holds the record for the most consecutive years with mortifying plates, and I can remember them back to the 40s. I had a room mate from Indiana in the late 80s. [His plate simply said ‘Wander’](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F80%2F3d%2F05%2F803d05c5aefcf195ad0269540628c447.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F235102043023008580%2F&tbnid=BggN26YLM_2fJM&vet=12ahUKEwiUzvLnrejoAhXjA50JHeRdDMYQMygAegUIARD5AQ..i&docid=Ry6YrMhw83DlgM&w=900&h=458&q=wander%20indiana&client=firefox-b-1-d&ved=2ahUKEwiUzvLnrejoAhXjA50JHeRdDMYQMygAegUIARD5AQ). Ugly as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/31 "2020-04-15T00:17:05Z")
> [@txjim](#): > > [Texas plates](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/2012_Texas_license_plate_ABC_1234.png/1200px-2012_Texas_license_plate_ABC_1234.png) are boring because they want you to spend money on more interesting tags through Myplates. The original explanation is that the uncluttered background increases safety. I agree that Texas plates are dull as dishwater (closely rivalled by Ohio plates which look monochrome dirty white but on _very_ close inspection are crammed with tiny pale gray lettering detailing all the wondrous things to be found in Ohio. What gets me is what “safety” has to do with it. Are cops and license plate readers only able to identify plates that are white or very pale with no design to speak of? Really? When I am elected governor one of my top priorities will be to have a contest to design a really cool standard license plate. In color.\* \*when I moved to Kentucky I was tempted to get [this plate](http://s.ecrater.com/stores/337073/55b4d5793c6bb_337073b.jpg) but was too cheap to pay extra for it. ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/32 "2020-04-15T01:27:53Z")
If you like simplicity Iowa’s “Black Out” plates look nice. They sold out when first offered and I wouldn’t mind if it was Iowa’s “standard” plate. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/33 "2020-04-15T01:44:43Z")
Another vote for New Mexico and Colorado for nice plates. Hawaii had pretty ones when we were in school here in the early '90s, but they’ve turned boring since. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/34 "2020-04-15T01:47:59Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > What gets me is what “safety” has to do with it. Are cops and license plate readers only able to identify plates that are white or very pale with no design to speak of? Really? Apparently the new white-letters-on-blue plates in Ontario have had some [readability issues](https://globalnews.ca/news/6609151/ontario-licence-plates-no-taxpayer-cost/). > [@Jackmannii](#): > > …when I moved to Kentucky I was tempted to get [this plate](http://s.ecrater.com/stores/337073/55b4d5793c6bb_337073b.jpg) but was too cheap to pay extra for it. “Coal keeps the lights on”? [Not in Ontario](https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/nrgsstmprfls/on-eng.html)… (Scroll down to “Electricity” under “Energy Production”.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/35 "2020-04-15T01:50:58Z")
The 1980s Kansas plates with the wheat have always been one of my favorites. [Kansas License Plates - 1980 "Wheat" Plate](https://www.route56.com/highways/80tags.html) The Sonora Mexico big horn sheep license plate is also nice. [https://www.ebay.com/itm/SONORA-MEXICO-License-plate-Expired-Graphic-Background/223469383196?ul\_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-213727-13078-0/2?mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2Flike%2F223469383196&itemid=223469383196&targetid=4580840327039642&device=t&adtype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=301076556&adgroupid=1235851265215130&rlsatarget=pla-4580840327039642&abcId=1129776&merchantid=51291&query=Sonora%20Mexico%20License%20Plates&msclkid=a899bda7a70811f21010e331c079296e&srcrot=711-213727-13078-0&rvr\_id=2375256951214&rvr\_ts=7b84305f1710a4d26411a8f7ffca833e&pageci=6f0d3f0d-85d0-4ed6-b706-f8f0b190b6d1&redirect=mobile](https://www.ebay.com/itm/SONORA-MEXICO-License-plate-Expired-Graphic-Background/223469383196?ul_ref=https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-213727-13078-0/2?mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2Flike%2F223469383196&itemid=223469383196&targetid=4580840327039642&device=t&adtype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=301076556&adgroupid=1235851265215130&rlsatarget=pla-4580840327039642&abcId=1129776&merchantid=51291&query=Sonora%20Mexico%20License%20Plates&msclkid=a899bda7a70811f21010e331c079296e&srcrot=711-213727-13078-0&rvr_id=2375256951214&rvr_ts=7b84305f1710a4d26411a8f7ffca833e&pageci=6f0d3f0d-85d0-4ed6-b706-f8f0b190b6d1&redirect=mobile) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/36 "2020-04-15T02:34:26Z")
> [@Daylate](#): > > One of Idaho’s biggest products is rapeseed oil. Some years ago somebody wanted to have their license plate motto read “Idaho - The Land of Rape”. Didn’t go over too good. In the 30’s, some South Carolina governor told his aides to find something in which the state leads the nation. Finally, they found one : industrial Iodine. So for a few years, the word “Iodine” appeared on the plates. [https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsaleofcar.com%2Fimg%2F1933-south-carolina-license-plate-231841586600%2F0.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsaleofcar.com%2Fplates%2F1933-south-058473&tbnid=dY-7WSy5Gqf5yM&vet=12ahUKEwjNncbgsenoAhUM4JQKHalYCu0QMygGegUIARDSAQ..i&docid=GdSD\_0-PD1fb8M&w=726&h=545&q=south%20carolina%20plates%20iodine&ved=2ahUKEwjNncbgsenoAhUM4JQKHalYCu0QMygGegUIARDSAQ](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsaleofcar.com%2Fimg%2F1933-south-carolina-license-plate-231841586600%2F0.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsaleofcar.com%2Fplates%2F1933-south-058473&tbnid=dY-7WSy5Gqf5yM&vet=12ahUKEwjNncbgsenoAhUM4JQKHalYCu0QMygGegUIARDSAQ..i&docid=GdSD_0-PD1fb8M&w=726&h=545&q=south%20carolina%20plates%20iodine&ved=2ahUKEwjNncbgsenoAhUM4JQKHalYCu0QMygGegUIARDSAQ) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/37 "2020-04-15T02:44:37Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I > What gets me is what “safety” has to do with it. Are cops and license plate readers only able to identify plates that are white or very pale with no design to speak of? Really? When Michigan was finally forced to give up its beloved blue plate, it was explained an interstate compact required that the whole plate had to be safety-reflective, which required a light background. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704/38 "2020-04-15T03:46:51Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Apparently the new white-letters-on-blue plates in Ontario have had some [readability issues](https://globalnews.ca/news/6609151/ontario-licence-plates-no-taxpayer-cost/). > > “Coal keeps the lights on”? [Not in Ontario](https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/nrg/ntgrtd/mrkt/nrgsstmprfls/on-eng.html)… (Scroll down to “Electricity” under “Energy Production”.) 🙂 Those are two good points I was going to make and got ninja’d on. The thing about Ontario plates is that they’ve always been boring – not ugly, just boring. The recent change introduced by the new Ontario government improved on that in the following way: now they are not only just as boring as before, but also almost unreadable at night, according to police and several safety agencies. So you guys can go on about your pretty or ugly license plates, as the case may be, but we have the ultimate: _ **invisible** _ license plates! 😃 Apparently all the new dark blue ones are being recalled. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-or-worst-looking-license-plates/851704.md?page=1)