Plate styles
The search plate takes on the look of each state’s current standard passenger plate. These are original illustrations, not replicas: no government artwork, emblems or typefaces are copied, and features the sources do not establish are left out. Checked 2026-10-18.
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Alabama AL
Sunrise beach plate (2022–)
Secondary sources only. Scene simplified to sky, sun and sea; colors approximate; the alabama.travel web address is omitted.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, revenue.alabama.gov
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Alaska AK
“The Last Frontier” flag plate (2005–, thinner dies 2023–)
Secondary sources only. The state-flag emblem between the serial groups is omitted, since typed characters have no fixed groups; gold and blue approximate.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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Arizona AZ
“Grand Canyon State” desert plate (1996–, flat 2008–)
Secondary sources only. Mountains and saguaro drawn generically; gradient colors approximate.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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Arkansas AR
Diamond plate (2006–; ABC 12D serials since 2021)
Secondary sources only. Appearance from a collector reference and a plate replica only; the diamond is a plain outline and text typefaces are approximate.
Sources: licenseplates.cc, en.wikipedia.org
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California CA
Standard plate with dmv.ca.gov (2011–; 123ABC1 serials since 2026)
Secondary sources only. Script and character typefaces are open-licensed stand-ins; the official page shows the plate only as an image.
Sources: dmv.ca.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Colorado CO
Green mountains plate (2000–)
Secondary sources only. Mountain outline generic; name placement and color not confirmed.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, gazette.com
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Connecticut CT
Sky-blue gradient plate (2000–)
Secondary sources only. The small state outline at top left is omitted; typeface not confirmed.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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Delaware DE
Gold on blue plate (current series 2008–)
Secondary sources only. Text positions from a vendor description; the border is not confirmed.
Sources: thedelaware3000.org, en.wikipedia.org
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District of Columbia DC
“End Taxation Without Representation” tag (August 2017–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. DC DMV lists the tag by name only; the blue-on-white base with red stripes is described by secondary sources, and the flag separator is omitted.
Sources: dmv.dc.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Florida FL
Orange blossom “Sunshine State” plate (2003–)
Secondary sources only. A February 2026 redesign appears only in Wikipedia and is not used; the oranges sit at the left, clear of the characters.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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Georgia GA
Peach plate (2012–), one of three no-fee standard options
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Peach drawn pale so typed characters stay readable; the county name strip is omitted.
Sources: dor.georgia.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Hawaii HI
Rainbow plate (1991–; ʻokina added 2025)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Rainbow colors and arc approximate; no bottom wording is confirmed, so none is drawn.
Sources: honolulu.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Idaho ID
Mountain scene plate (1991 base, 2008 revision)
Secondary sources only. Colors follow a 2008 description; whether the white-and-black plate offered from July 2026 becomes the default is unclear.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, itd.idaho.gov
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Illinois IL
2017 Lincoln and skyline plate
Secondary sources only. The Lincoln portrait is not reproduced; skyline generic; text case not confirmed.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nbcchicago.com
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Indiana IN
Covered bridge plate (2017–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Bridge and stream simplified and placed at left; corner date and county text omitted.
Sources: in.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Iowa IA
“City and Country” plate (2018–)
Secondary sources only. Name drawn navy for legibility (sources disagree); wind turbine and farm omitted; county name omitted.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, equipmentworld.com
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Kansas KS
“To the Stars” plate (August 2024–)
Secondary sources only. The state-shaped border is a plain frame; the Statehouse dome is omitted; gradient direction approximate.
Sources: sunflowerstateradio.com, en.wikipedia.org
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Kentucky KY
“Bluegrass State” plate (2020–)
Secondary sources only. Both lines sit at the top on the plate; the slogan is moved to the bottom here. The state icon and county sticker are omitted.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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Louisiana LA
America 250 plate (issued 2025–2026)
Secondary sources only. Time-limited design; the state map and America 250 logo are reduced to a ring of 18 stars on red.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, wafb.com
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Maine ME
Pine tree plate (May 2025–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Tree and star simplified; the slogan is confirmed by secondary sources only.
Sources: maine.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Maryland MD
“Maryland Proud” flag plate (2016–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. The flag is reduced to a band of its quartered colors below the characters; name typeface approximate.
Sources: mva.maryland.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Massachusetts MA
“The Spirit of America” plate (1993–)
Secondary sources only. Typefaces approximate; the state site could not be read.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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Michigan MI
“Pure Michigan” plate (2013–), the most common $5 standard option
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. The Pure Michigan logo is set as plain text; the wave is generic.
Sources: michigan.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Minnesota MN
“10,000 Lakes” plate (2008 base, 2017 variant)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Any lake or sky imagery is unconfirmed and not drawn; positions from the 2008 description.
Sources: dps.mn.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Mississippi MS
Magnolia plate (January 2024–)
Secondary sources only. The blue magnolia circle is drawn pale so typed characters stay readable; the county name is omitted.
Sources: wlox.com, en.wikipedia.org
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Missouri MO
Bicentennial-era red and blue waves plate (2018–)
Secondary sources only. Low confidence: a 2024 revision is unconfirmed, the seal is omitted, and the slogan placement is approximate.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, missourilegends.com
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Montana MT
Blue “Treasure State” plate (2010–)
Secondary sources only. The state-shaped border is a plain frame; the bison skull separator and county number are omitted.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, mvdmt.gov
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Nebraska NE
“Genius of Creative Energy” plate (2023–)
Secondary sources only. The Capitol mosaic artwork is not reproduced; a pale blue-gray wash stands in for it.
Sources: nebraskaexaminer.com, en.wikipedia.org
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Nevada NV
“Home Means Nevada” plate (2016–), the default issue
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Mountain layers simplified. The state-shaped separator is a simplified outline, drawn only between the groups of a standard serial (plate-format.ts).
Sources: dmv.nv.gov, en.wikipedia.org, mynews4.com
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New Hampshire NH
“Live Free or Die” plate (1999–)
Secondary sources only. The Old Man of the Mountain and Cannon Mountain are reduced to a pale cliff silhouette; the official plate list could not be read.
Sources: dmv.nh.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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New Jersey NJ
“Garden State” plate (1992 design, flat since 2014)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Gradient approximate; the state outline separator is omitted.
Sources: nj.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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New Mexico NM
Traditional yellow plate (1991 design)
Secondary sources only. The Zia sun symbol and corner zigzags are not reproduced (the Zia belongs to Zia Pueblo); slogan blue darkened for legibility.
Sources: mvd.newmexico.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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New York NY
Excelsior plate (June 2020–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. The five landmark scenes are reduced to one pale skyline; the state-shaped separator is omitted.
Sources: dmv.ny.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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North Carolina NC
“First in Flight” plate (2010–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. The Wright Flyer is a small generic biplane; beach scene omitted.
Sources: ncdot.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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North Dakota ND
“Legendary” sunrise plate (2015–)
Appearance shown by an official source. Bison, wheat and the “Legendary” wordmark are omitted; the name is moved to the top.
Sources: dot.nd.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Ohio OH
“Sunrise in Ohio” plate (December 2021–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Scene reduced to a sunrise wash, a red banner and fields; the name position is not established.
Sources: bmv.ohio.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Oklahoma OK
Iconic Oklahoma plate (September 2024–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Layout and character color not established; the 46-star icon is a ring of stars and the landmark drawings are omitted.
Sources: oklahoma.gov, kgou.org
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Oregon OR
Tree plate (1989 design)
Secondary sources only. The fir is drawn pale so typed characters stay readable.
Sources: oregon.public.law, en.wikipedia.org
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Pennsylvania PA
Liberty Bell “Let Freedom Ring” plate (June 2025–)
Appearance shown by an official source. Bell color and name typeface not described; the bell is drawn pale behind the characters.
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Rhode Island RI
Ocean plate (January 2023–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Waves simplified; the slogan is set in white on the waves.
Sources: dmv.ri.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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South Carolina SC
SC250 Moultrie flag plate (January 2026–), the default issue
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Colors and layout not described officially; the flag and figure are reduced to a crescent. A 2026 proviso may replace this design.
Sources: dmv.sc.gov, wistv.com
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South Dakota SD
Mount Rushmore plate (2023 update)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Mount Rushmore is not reproduced (hills stand in); the slogan is moved to the bottom; text colors not established.
Sources: dor.sd.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Tennessee TN
Blue tri-star plate (2022, revised 2024)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. The state-map outline around the name is a plain frame; the tri-star separator is omitted; the slogan is moved to the bottom.
Sources: tn.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Texas TX
“Texas Classic” plate (2012–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. The star or state motif is not drawn (position not established).
Sources: txdmv.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Utah UT
“Life Elevated” Delicate Arch plate (2007–, flat 2025–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. The arch is a simple silhouette set to the right; text positions and colors not established.
Sources: dmv.utah.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Vermont VT
Green and white plate (current format about 1990–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Text positions from secondary sources.
Sources: dmv.vermont.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Virginia VA
“Virginia is for Lovers” plate (2014–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. The heart in the slogan is drawn beside the text; colors not established officially.
Sources: dmv.virginia.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Washington WA
Mount Rainier “Evergreen State” plate (flat with navy characters since October 2024)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Scene, name color and typeface not established officially; trees only at the edges.
Sources: dol.wa.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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West Virginia WV
Blue bar plate (July 2023–)
Secondary sources only. Colors and layout from secondary sources; a slogan on this design is not confirmed, so none is drawn.
Sources: transportation.wv.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Wisconsin WI
“America’s Dairyland” plate (2017–)
Design confirmed officially, look from secondary sources. Any faint background graphic is not established, so none is drawn; text colors approximate.
Sources: wisconsindot.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Wyoming WY
Navy state-flag plate (June 2024–)
Secondary sources only. The Bucking Horse and Rider (a registered state trademark) is deliberately not drawn; name color conflicts across sources.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, buckrail.com