# What’s your favorite state license plate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521 "2023-07-04T01:02:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/1 "2023-07-04T01:02:03Z")
We’ve done this a few times, but let’s do it again for 2023. What’s your favorite current license plate? I put ‘state’ in the thread title but this definitely isn’t limited to the USA. For me, while I understand some may consider it boring, the classic California license plate is still my favorite. > **[Standard License Plates - California DMV](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/license-plates-decals-and-placards/california-license-plates/standard-license-plates/)** > > Standard California license plates verify registration and help identify passenger vehicles, commercial motor vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers. The current style with California written in script and on a white background is just excellent. And this won’t clash with any color of automobile. My nostalgia choice is still the old 1980s ones with the California and Sun. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/2 "2023-07-04T01:16:03Z")
Some states have many different styles of plates. Oregon has several different basic background plates and depending upon which branch of the military or other causes you want to support there are about 50 different kinds of plates just for passenger vehicles. [Oregon license plates: Something for just about everyone - oregonlive.com](https://www.oregonlive.com/multimedia/2014/11/oregon_license_plates.html#:~:text=Own%20a%20car%20that's%20registered,license%20plates%20available%20to%20you.) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/3 "2023-07-04T01:27:11Z")
New Mexico’s is usually nice — I like this color scheme from a handful of years ago: [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSENeQApbp6_x5JtiqRfJCqKYFwhB-rzddfzq4E4WKtv30g0HPahA8NA-yqlTrpLMXWmcA&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSENeQApbp6_x5JtiqRfJCqKYFwhB-rzddfzq4E4WKtv30g0HPahA8NA-yqlTrpLMXWmcA&usqp=CAU) and this one which is their classic go-to: [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQh36oLncnjnR21pOlAp9UTpAXhCpoFNvEAbb5XSpQudWRhf9SvlNFUHO07CMXdrLDy8Pg&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQh36oLncnjnR21pOlAp9UTpAXhCpoFNvEAbb5XSpQudWRhf9SvlNFUHO07CMXdrLDy8Pg&usqp=CAU) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/4 "2023-07-04T01:30:51Z")
I like the Northwest Territories and Nunavut polar bear shaped license plates. No longer current but I wish TPTB would resurrect them: - Guam used to have the motto “Where America’s Day Begins” but changed it some years ago. - Another plate I liked but which has been consigned to the dustbin of history was the California plate with the sunset at the top. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/5 "2023-07-04T05:16:15Z")
Another vote for New Mexico. In addition to the (IMHO) near-perfect examples above, we now also have the chile plate, which loses a little in readability but is still an outstanding design: [https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.nmpoliticalreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/10183200/green-chile-license-plate.png](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.nmpoliticalreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/10183200/green-chile-license-plate.png) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/6 "2023-07-04T11:55:04Z")
We had a plate from some Canadian Provence that was polar bear shaped. We gifted it to friends in St Martin who display license plates in their little restaurant. It is their favorite. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/7 "2023-07-04T13:13:46Z")
My first thought was New Mexico, which unlike most other states isn’t afraid of a color other than white. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/8 "2023-07-04T13:29:08Z")
[![](https://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/n-yp39j5/4s8d0/products/29784/images/81363/6752XB-2__46777.1655578579.1280.1280.jpg?c=2) ](https://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/n-yp39j5/4s8d0/products/29784/images/81363/6752XB-2__46777.1655578579.1280.1280.jpg?c=2) ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/9 "2023-07-04T13:40:33Z")
Gotta give credit to the District of Columbia coming right out and putting “Taxation Without Representation” on their license plates. (Speaking of which, I was just on a week-long drive around Lake Michigan, and a car with DC plates passed me while I was driving in Michigan. You don’t ever see a DC plate out here in the Midwest. Also, Michigan has a bunch of different plate designs … I like the one with the Mackinac Bridge on it.) ---
**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:** [July 4, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/10 "2023-07-04T14:50:26Z")
While it’s not the regular state plate, I see quite a few of these in my part of Kentucky (more popular the farther east you go): [![](https://saleofcar.com/img/kentucky-2012-friends-of-coal-graphic-license-plate-nice-quality-1396dg-371544887681/0.jpg) ](https://saleofcar.com/img/kentucky-2012-friends-of-coal-graphic-license-plate-nice-quality-1396dg-371544887681/0.jpg) Being a Friend of Coal ain’t so easy nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/11 "2023-07-04T15:15:55Z")
I like Michigan’s new plates: [![](https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/F7XRYKCWD5D5ZBSFKITQ77GIWM.jpeg) ](https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/F7XRYKCWD5D5ZBSFKITQ77GIWM.jpeg) This style was originally used in 1965, and brought back a year or so ago. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/12 "2023-07-04T15:59:34Z")
I haven’t seen these yet, but the new Nebraska plates look pretty sweet to me: [![](https://preview.redd.it/p1ywcu812i7a1.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=0817761fe2be068e06d9b9b98f09cff25cb0a244) ](https://preview.redd.it/p1ywcu812i7a1.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=0817761fe2be068e06d9b9b98f09cff25cb0a244) ---
**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:** [July 5, 2023, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/13 "2023-07-05T09:04:17Z")
What is that: “Nebraska, Land of Zeus”? 🙂 ---
**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:** [July 5, 2023, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/14 "2023-07-05T09:07:29Z")
I once saw a rental truck in Toronto with Hawaiian plates. They were pretty cool, with a rainbow and all, but _what were they doing in Toronto??!_ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2023, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/15 "2023-07-05T11:10:38Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > but _what were they doing in Toronto??!_ Probably a wrong turn in Minneapolis. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/16 "2023-07-05T13:00:45Z")
That however is an option: I tend to prefer the official default “Virginia is for Lovers” plate - [http://www.plateshack.com/y2k/Virginia4/va2023-2rental.jpg](http://www.plateshack.com/y2k/Virginia4/va2023-2rental.jpg) (would not let me image-link) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/17 "2023-07-05T13:15:47Z")
I’m not sure how whatever that is a drawing of is tied to Nebraska, but it sure makes Nebraska seem a lot more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2023, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/18 "2023-07-05T13:21:24Z")
Northwest Territories wins hands down. It’s a freakin’ bear shaped plate. What’s not to like? [![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gpsAAOSwg3FUgM6B/s-l1200.jpg) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gpsAAOSwg3FUgM6B/s-l1200.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2023, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/19 "2023-07-05T13:24:25Z")
That’s like the one we had, only ours was white. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2023, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521/20 "2023-07-06T08:09:48Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > What’s not to like? Well, they had room for a space between ‘spectacular’ and ‘nwt’. Perhaps they were being charged by the character? It’s an awesome plate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-favorite-state-license-plate/986521.md?page=2)