# How do I, a mere peon, obtain a low-numbered license plate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376 "2007-01-25T05:16:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![malden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@malden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malden)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/1 "2007-01-25T05:16:56Z")
I am preparing to move to a new state (Minnesota). When I register the two family cars, I thought it might be nice to try to get a low-numbered license plate for one or both of them. I collect antique license plates and have had a mild fascination with them for years. I’m not talking about a “vanity” plate-- I used to have a three-character Virginia vanity plate. I’m talking about a plain old number. I have heard of people just walking into the DMV and asking politely for the lowest number not already assigned to another vehicle-- presumably people with low numbers move away, die, or give up driving and their numbers become available. But the Minnesota DMV said they couldn’t help me. Most of what I’ve read indicates that low numbers are coveted by the politically connected-- and REALLY low numbers (1 to 100) typically go to politicians, starting with the Governor and Senators and working right on down. But below that, there are normal people who have fairly low numbers-- my grandmother had #1231 until she gave up her car when she was about 95. She can’t remember how she got that number or the other one she once had (9538). At 102, she has other things to worry about! So, do I need to suck up to my congressman to get a number in the low 4-digits? What else can I do? And will I come across as an insufferable twit if I’m driving by '97 Buick with a low-numbered plate? ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/2 "2007-01-25T05:54:07Z")
I do not know 100% how it works in this state (much less other states), but the way I understand it California uses xAAAxxx license plate for all new issued non-vanity license plates for passenger cars. If you want an old plate, you have to find someone with one and if it’s attached to the car, buy the car, otherwise re-register the plate in your name. I do not believe old plates surrendered to the state get recycled. I have trouble imagining any state manufacturing brand new plates with old-style #'s nor issuing anybody used plates. :dubious: ---
**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:** [January 25, 2007, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/3 "2007-01-25T09:18:25Z")
[QUOTE=groman] I have trouble imagining any state manufacturing brand new plates with old-style #'s nor issuing anybody used plates. :dubious: [/QUOTE] What happens if a plate is damaged and needs to be replaced? ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/4 "2007-01-25T15:14:43Z")
[QUOTE=groman] I do not know 100% how it works in this state (much less other states), but the way I understand it California uses xAAAxxx license plate for all new issued non-vanity license plates for passenger cars. If you want an old plate, you have to find someone with one and if it’s attached to the car, buy the car, otherwise re-register the plate in your name. I do not believe old plates surrendered to the state get recycled. I have trouble imagining any state manufacturing brand new plates with old-style #'s nor issuing anybody used plates. :dubious: [/QUOTE] New Mexico uses “plate-to-owner”. This means if you buy a car, the original owner keeps the plate, and you have to buy a new one. **malden** , you should find out if Minnesota is “plate-to-owner”, like NM, or “plate-to-car”, like CA. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/5 "2007-01-25T15:29:57Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] What happens if a plate is damaged and needs to be replaced? [/QUOTE] In California, if one of your plates is so badly damaged that it cannot be displayed, you usually have to go get a new set, which means new numbers (unless you have a vanity plate.) At least that was what happened to my mom a few years back. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/6 "2007-01-25T16:07:57Z")
[QUOTE=malden] Most of what I’ve read indicates that low numbers are coveted by the politically connected-- and REALLY low numbers (1 to 100) typically go to politicians, starting with the Governor and Senators and working right on down. But below that, there are normal people who have fairly low numbers-- my grandmother had #1231 until she gave up her car when she was about 95. She can’t remember how she got that number or the other one she once had (9538). At 102, she has other things to worry about! [/QUOTE] This is pretty much how it is in Illinois. Basically, if you have a short plate, you get to keep it as long remember to renew it correctly and on-time. Plates that are not renewed properly are put back into the pool and can be handed out at the discretion of the Secretary of State. As a result, these plates are handed out as favors and tend to land in the hands of politicians and political supporters. For example, former Illinois Govenor Edgar has the license plate ‘E’. 3-digit plates are a huge status-symbol and shorter ones are pretty much unobtainable. As part of the FBI’s investigation into the license-for-bribes scandal under former Illinois Govenor Ryan, they investigated complaints that re-registrations for short plates were ‘lost’ in order to be redistributed to supporters. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/7 "2007-01-25T16:26:09Z")
In Minnesota, the plates stay with the car. Sell the car, sell the plates. New car, new plates. As to how to get low number plates? I have no idea. Also, standard Minnesota license plates right now have 3 letters and 3 numbers. Sometimes in the sequence, that order is switched. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/8 "2007-01-25T16:40:47Z")
FWIW, MA uses a lottery for their low number plates. Each year, they draw for those numbers that have become available. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/9 "2007-01-25T20:12:02Z")
What happens to plates in a plates to car state when a car is wrecked and junked? Are those numbers available again? ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-a-mere-peon-obtain-a-low-numbered-license-plate/389376/10 "2007-01-25T20:26:42Z")
[QUOTE=malden] my grandmother had #1231 until she gave up her car when she was about 95. [/QUOTE] Well, back then there were only 1230 other cars in the state. 😃