Table 2: License Plates

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

State / Jurisdiction

Plates Required for Passenger Vehicles

Standard License Plate Reissuance (in years)

Frames and Covers

Types of Specialty Plates Issued (includes regular, specialty, organiza-tional, etc.)

Proceeds that Sponsoring Organization of Specialty Plate Receives

Alabama

1

5

Frames are permitted as long as they do not obstruct readability of characters. Covers are prohibited by regulation.

188

Generally, the organization receives about 97.5 percent of the additional fee.

Alaska

2

Determined by Legislature.

State statute prohibits plates from being obscured.

41

Once costs recouped, $40 to $50 goes to the university. The jurisdiction retains cost plus 20 percent.

Arizona

1

10

Prohibits obstructing.

56

Organization receives $17; $8 goes to the jurisdiction.

Arkansas

1

8

Not available.

Not available.

Not available.

California

2

None.

Vehicle Code Section 5201 requires that plates should be clearly legible (MV). Prohibited from covering plate with any materials (LE).

39

Based on a $50 fee; about $35 goes to the organization and $15 goes to the jurisdiction. Most of the additional fees are split into funds administered at the state level for some form of preservation.

Colorado

2

None.

Frames permitted provided they do not obstruct year and date tab (LE). Covers prohibited if they obstruct readability (LE).

57 plates and 125 sub-types.

Not available.

Connecticut

1 and 2 listed.

Random.

Acceptable unless obstructs readability.

42

Qualifying organizations independently decide fees that are distributed directly to organization.

Delaware

1

Not available.

Frames permitted unless obstructing information (MV). Clear covers would be allowed (MV). Information on license plate cannot be obscured (LE).

93

For Ducks Unlimited plate, all money over $10 fee is given to organization. For $35 environmental plates and $50 animal Welfare plates, $15 goes to the state and the rest goes to the two organizations,respectively.

District of Columbia

2

Determined by Council.

Not available.

Not available.

Not available.

Florida

1

5

Plate must be clearly legible at all times, 100 feet from the vehicle.

158

An additional fee is charged for 39 of Florida's specialty plates. The organization receives all additional fees.

Georgia

1

Not available.

Frames and covers prohibited if they obstruct legibility of plate information.

36

The U.S. Disabled Athletes Fund receives a $25 manufacturing fee for each "Blaze" license plate sold and Georgia's Department of Natural Resources receives the $15 manufacturing fee for wildlife plates.

Hawaii

2

10 to 12

Must not obscure plate numbers and letters.

9

Not available.

Idaho

2 (generally)

7 (staggered reissue when plate is seven yrs. old).

(LE).

16 separate graphics in 35 license plate programs.

For collegiate plates, the organization receives $25 from the initial issue and $35 from the renewal; the jurisdiction retains $25 and $15 respectively. Of fees paid for snow skier and wildlife plates, timber plates, and snowmobile plates, $10 goes to the organization (all MV and LE).

Illinois

2

None.

Frames permitted; only clear covers allowed (LE).

230

Amount varies; e.g., environmental organization receives $25 and Korean War group receives $2. Jurisdiction retains $15 from initial issuance and $2 from renewals (all MV).

Indiana

1

7

Frames and covers permitted unless they obstruct readability. Permitted provided full plate is visible and no additional lights are attached (LE).

79

Environmental fees collected by branch. $25 to the Heritage Trust Fund, $5 to the state account and $5 to the commission. For special recognition plates, amount varies and is paid directly to the organization. $12 goes to the branch, $6 to the state, and $6 to the commission (all LE). Jurisdiction collects fees and retains $12, while Children's Trust, Education and Indiana Environmental license plates receive $25.

Iowa

2

7 to 10

Any frame that obstructs view of numerals or letters is prohibited.

56

$35 goes to organization initially and $10 on renewal for DNR, educational, our kids, cattlemen, love, heritage, and motorcycle education plates. The jurisdiction retains nothing. On collegiate plates, the organization receives $25 and $25 is retained by the jurisdiction.

Kansas

1

Random.

Frames permitted (LE). Covers that change the color or reflection are prohibited (LE).

26

Optional $25 to $100 goes to the university. $25 original registration fee and initial $40 fee is retained by the state.

Kentucky

1

5

Frames, covers and rims that obscure lettering or decal are prohibited (exception to cover trademark of private corporation).

45

College or university receives $5 and $25 is retained by the jurisdiction.

Louisiana

1

Not available.

Any obstruction of the plate is prohibited.

Not available.

Organization receives $25 and jurisdiction retains $1.

Maine

2

Determined by Legislature

Registration plate numbers, letters and words must always be visible, although a specific policy regarding frames and covers does not exist. Permitted unless they cover numbers, letters or alter color (LE).

27

Organization receives $10 and the jurisdiction receives $10 (MV). 50 percent of Environmental loon plate fee goes to organization, and subsequently 60 percent goes to the Dept. of Conservation and the remainder to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Maryland

2

Random.

Permitted provided they do not obscure the numbers, letters or decals (MV and LE). Maintained free from foreign materials, including registration plate covers, and must be clearly legible (MV and LE).

68

Chesapeake Bay Trust receives $12 and MVA retains $8.

Massachusetts

2

None.

Any material, such as frames, that obscure characters are prohibited (LE). Materials also prohibited that would prevent the plate from being legible at a distance of 75 feet during time that vehicle is required to use lights (LE).

40 plate types and 34 special plate styles.

Jurisdiction retains $5 from initial issue. Sponsors receive full fee from renewals, which ranges from $20 to $25 annually.

Michigan

1

None.

Frame and cover must not interfere with the plate information, including month and year.

Not available.

Not available.

Minnesota

2, (generally).

7

State law prohibits obstruction of plates and mandates visibility that would prohibit covers (MV). Frames shall not obscure numbers or validation stickers (LE).

Not available.

For collegiate plates, $25 goes to the organization and $9.75 is retained by the jurisdiction.

Mississippi

1

5

Permitted provided that tag number and name of county are not obstructed (MV). Covers may not obstruct plate and frames prohibited from having lights (LE).

75

For fire fighter, law enforcement and state representative plates, Mississippi Burn Center receives $41.50. For collegiate plates, $32.50 goes to college and Mississippi Burn Center receives $1.

Missouri

2

None.

Allowed provided that plate is still fully legible (LE).

457 currently. Effective Jan. 1, 1997, 373 different types of plates.

$25 goes to the college, while Dept. of Revenue receives $15 (LE). For collegiate and Children's Trust Fund plates, $25 goes to a college, university or trust fund (MV). An additional $15 each year goes to the appropriate fund (MV).

Montana

2

Determined by Legislature.

Prohibited from obscuring the state, numbers or tabs.

20

All funds go to the organization.

Nebraska

Not available.

4

Prohibited from obscuring the state, numbers or tabs. Cover cannot hinder readability of the lettering during daylight and under artificial light at night (LE).

32

Not available.

Nevada

2

None.

Frames and covers permitted unless plate or decal are obstructed.

69

$25 to university for initial collegiate plates and $20 for renewal. Veteran home fund receives $25 from initial issuance of veteran plates and $10 for renewal.

New Hampshire

2

5 to 7

Permitted provided that numbers are not obscured.

46

Not available.

New Jersey

2

None.

Permitted, but cannot obscure "New Jersey," "Garden State" or other messages on the plate (MV). Frames and covers permitted provided they do not obscure marked imprint or any insert from director (LE).

91

$41.50 goes to organizational for environmental plates, while $8.50 goes to jurisdiction. Of $10 renewal, $8.50 ($6.42 LE) goes to organization.

New Mexico

1

None.

Frames and covers prohibited from obstructing any part of the plate, including the registration sticker.

Not available.

Not available.

New York

2

None.

Plates must not be covered by glass or any plastic material or obstructed in any other way (MV). Prohibited (LE).

230 types, including 50 for county names on regional plates.

Organizations receive varying amounts, e.g., olympic plates $15, animal population $20, etc. and DMV retains $5.

North Carolina

1

Random.

Any device preventing visibility is prohibited.

72

Not available.

North Dakota

2

6

Clear covers permitted because they do not change the appearance of the plate (LE).

44

Not available.

Ohio

2

Random.

Permitted, but may not obstruct any information on the plate (MV). Frame and cover may not obstruct information (LE). Colored covers permitted as long as officer can read information (LE).

212

Organizations receive varying amounts, while jurisdiction retains $10 per set (MV and LE).

Oklahoma

1

None.

Not available.

23 official plates, 46 special plates, encompassing 73 designs.

Amount organization receives varies.

Oregon

2

None.

Prohibited by state code from using a frame that obscures the numbers, letters or registration sticker. Any material or covering that alters the appearance of the plate (exception for permissible frames) also prohibited. Changing the color, numbers or material of the plate also is prohibited.

37, with 4 different group plates; number of group plates will increase.

Organizations receive the net proceeds of the surcharge less DMV's administrative costs. DMV collects a surcharge of $2.50 per plate.

Pennsylvania

1

10 (previously none).

Frames and covers permitted unless they obscure numbers, expiration stickers and other information.

126

For special fund plates, $15 goes to the fund and $20 is retained by the state.

Rhode Island

2

Not available.

Prohibited from covering plate (MV). Frames and covers allowed provided they do not obstruct readability (LE).

40+

Amount organization receives varies.

South Carolina

1

None.

After market cover prohibited (LE).

244

Amount organization receives varies (LE).

South Dakota

2

5

Plates must be clearly legible.

23

Not available.

Tennessee

1

5

Plates must be clearly visible.

Not available.

The entire additional fee of $25 goes to the organization, while the regular fee of $20.50 is retained by the jurisdiction.

Texas

2

7 to 8

Frames and covers should not obscure the plates.

52

Amount organization receives varies.

Utah

2

None.

Permitted provided that cover does not alter the color of the plate; no flashing or oscillating lights allowed (LE).

23

Any amount above $4.50 goes to the organization. $21.50 is given to the organization (LE).

Vermont

2

Random.

Number plates shall not be obscured.

64

Not available.

Virginia

2

None.

Non-illuminated frames and clear covers permitted (LE).

200

For the first 1,000 plates, DMV retains the full $25. After this threshold, the organization receives $15 and DMV retains $10.

Washington

2

None.

Frames and covers prohibited from obscuring any part of the plate. Covers shall not alter the color of the plate. Colored lights around plates are prohibited.

26; six collegiate plates, plus stadium plate.

$28 from stadium plates goes to funds for the building of major sports facilities. $28 goes to colleges or universities for collegiate plates.

West Virginia

1

None.

Not available.

20

Organizations set their own fees and jurisdictions retain $15.

Wisconsin

2

7

Frames and covers that obscure or alter the colors of the characters or validation sticker are prohibited.

59 and 62 subtypes.

$20 to university system for collegiate plates. $25 from environmental plate goes to endangered resources fund.

Wyoming

2

8

Frames shall not obscure characters. Covers are prohibited.

18

None.