Ever discover how a lot is visually happening in a license plate? The fundamental Hawaii plate has a rainbow glowing within the background, Alaska’s has a complete bear, Wyoming’s has (what else however) a cowboy at a rodeo, and a number of other states function an area mountain or mountains. A few of them are actually fairly busy, though, on the finish of the day, all they’re meant to be is a few figuring out letters and numbers.
Colorado’s primary plate, too, options a number of mountains towards a inexperienced background. However just lately, a brand new plate has been blowing away expectations, changing into one thing of an automotive trend assertion. A throwback to the state’s 1945 plate, a clear, crisp, white-text-on-black-background specialty plate went on sale in January of 2023. This wasn’t presupposed to be something particular: States launch specialty plates on a regular basis (some dumber than others, however some higher), and this specific one debuted alongside in any other case equivalent crimson and blue choices, in addition to a inexperienced mountain vary on a white background.
But it is the black plate that has change into a sensation. Perhaps it is that the 2D aesthetic has taken over from 3D in recent times, or possibly it is that black is all the time cool, or possibly individuals just like the Zen simplicity of a plate that’s only a plate with none frills. Regardless of the cause, its surprising recognition comes with a incredible bonus that different states ought to pay attention to.
Colorado’s black license plate raises additional income for the state
All 4 of Colorado’s retro plates, every referencing a particular period of the state’s historic plating, have been supposed for a particular objective: Elevating income for the Colorado Incapacity Funding Committee. Whereas the fundamental plate requires solely an upfront price, these plates require $25 up entrance and a further $25 per 12 months; that annual price goes to the committee, which affords grants for helping individuals with disabilites or supporting improvements to assist them.
The blue, crimson, and inexperienced mountain vary plates did their jobs, promoting a number of thousand every, as anticipated. That is a pleasant quantity of additional money to assist a great trigger. It is the black plate, although, that took off like a rocket: As of March 2025, it is estimated to have bought a really jaw-dropping 378,000 models. And whereas it could look cool on the street, it is actually nice {that a} neighborhood that wants the assist can increase devoted funding that the state authorities cannot simply snatch away.
Besides, possibly it could actually. The Colorado state legislature is presently taking a look at methods to redirect that income towards different wants, which is explicitly not the purpose of devoted fundraising like this. On the one hand, that is going again on their phrase; on the opposite, possibly all that cash may also help the state in different methods. Have an opinion on that? Merely transfer to Colorado and vote to your native representatives. Perhaps decide up a cool license plate when you’re at it.
