When you spot a vanity license plate, it’s hard not to react. These drivers are determined to make a statement with their unique plate, rather than sticking with the random letters and numbers like the rest of us. It’s like they’re shouting, “Look at me, everyone!”
Sometimes, it’s worth it. While some plates boast about wealth or try (and often fail) to be humorous, others use this small space for creativity, making us laugh or think. And let’s face it, any form of roadside entertainment is appreciated during a long car journey.
Despite efforts by the DMV and other authorities to maintain a certain decorum and curb overly creative plates, some people still find ways to get their clever messages approved.
We’ve gathered a list of the best examples of creative license plates, featuring everything from dad jokes to Pokémon references and even some tricky riddles.
Read on to see the top vanity plates, and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments!
#1 Porcelain Plates
Chrysler Capital tells us that the first state-issued plates were made of iron covered in porcelain enamel. Today, Delaware is the only state that still offers a porcelain plate, starting at $110.
“Porcelain plates were fragile, so manufacturers experimented with alternatives like cardboard, leather, and even pressed soybeans.”
#2 Idaho’s Potato Plate
In 1928, Idaho introduced the first graphic license plate featuring a potato, naturally.
By 1931, Pennsylvania had created the first personalized plate. Licenseplates.tv notes, “As Americans grew wealthier, custom and vanity plates became very popular. The higher fees for personalized plates have generated hundreds of millions of dollars for states, funding education, wildlife conservation, and other projects.”
#3 License Plate Production
Most states produce license plates in prisons, with the exception of Alaska, Hawaii, and Oregon, which use private factories.
Interestingly, the US Postal Service doesn’t display or require license plates on its vehicles.
#4 Popularity of Vanity Plates
Vanity plates are now legal in every state. Virginia leads in the percentage of custom plates, followed by New Hampshire and Illinois. In contrast, Texas has the lowest usage of personalized plates. What does this say about these states?
#5 The World’s Most Expensive Plate
The title of the most expensive vanity plate goes to the number “P7,” which sold for a staggering fifteen million dollars at auction in August 2023. The proceeds went to charity. What’s special about “P7”? Absolutely nothing! Its high price tag is purely due to its uniqueness.
#6 Social Media Sensation
A license plate recently became a social media hit when people noticed it cleverly disguised a potentially provocative term on a Kia Sportage in a Perth shopping center parking lot.
Share Your Thoughts
What do you think of these hilarious and clever license plates? Which one do you find the funniest?
Please share this article with your family and friends and let us know your favorites in the comments!
