License Plate Bingo just got a little more challenging!

That’s because three new Arizona specialty license plates have been released and you can already spot them out on the road.

The “In God We Trust” plate design was made available March 4, along with a plate for the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Like other specialty license plates, these two cost motorists $25 for the initial application fee and $25 for annual renewal. Of that $25 fee, $17 goes back to the nonprofit group/cause that put up the initial implementation fee to have the plate issued. Money from the “In God We Trust” plate goes toward promoting the national motto and the Thunderbird School of Global Management plate benefits the school’s operations and activities.

Another new plate – this one just released on May 6 – recognizes women veterans and benefits the Arizona Veterans’ Donation Fund.

There’s already a specialty plate that honors veterans, but the new Women Veterans plate is a little different in that you don’t have to be a veteran (or a woman) to order one – anyone can make the purchase. Several of Arizona’s specialty plates do come with requirements. For example, to order a standard veteran plate, one must be a veteran and provide proof of honorable service. However, the Women Veterans plate is available for anyone to purchase and show support.<

Best Sellers
Special Plates Program Manager Michael Meier says of the newest specialty plates that have been made available within the past few months, the Arizona Centennial plate and the new “In God We Trust” plate have both been selling really well.

Meier also says a few new plates are on the way. There’s no release date, yet, but be on the lookout for a redesigned University of Arizona Wildcats plate, a plate recognizing childhood cancer research and one that supports Keep Arizona Beautiful, an organization devoted to litter prevention and cleanup.

To see all the specialty license plates available in Arizona, visit the MVD’s Web page on plates and placards and for a look at the specialty plate approval process, check out our blog post from October.

Who says a license plate can’t be well designed and even beautiful?

Not the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, that’s for sure. This group is the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization devoted to researching, collecting and promoting license plates.

Since 1970, ALPCA has sponsored the annual best license plate award program and this year the group has decided that Arizona’s centennial license plate is the best new plate in the nation!

“I am pleased to announce that the great state of Arizona is this year’s recipient of ALPCA’s Best Plate Award,” said ALPCA President Greg Gibson in a news release. “Arizona’s outstanding Centennial plate topped plates from nine other states. … Congratulations to the residents of the Grand Canyon state, Governor Jan Brewer and to the license plate design team in Phoenix.”

According to the ALPCA, plates are judged on overall attractiveness of the design and the plate’s legibility (it’s got to serve its purpose, after all!).

ADOT’s Special Plates Manager Michael Meier said this is a big honor, one that Arizona received only once before – in 1996 for its general issue plate.

“I think it was a combination of the simplicity of its design and the fact that it recognizes Arizona’s centennial,” Meier said of what made the plate stand out.

According to MVD statistics, 4,533 of the centennial plates have sold as of the end of March … the plate was first made available to motorists in late October 2011.

Find out more about ALPCA by visiting their website. You can also get some additional information on how specialty plates are handled in Arizona by checking out this blog post from last year.

Whether you want to show some school pride, support a cause or cheer on your favorite team, there’s a good chance you’ll find a specialty license plate to help you do so.

Arizona drivers now have even more designs to consider… four new specialty plates (Arizona Centennial, Boy Scouts of Arizona, Hunger Relief and Channel 8 PBS) are available starting today!

You can take a look at all the specialty plates over on the MVD's Web page on plates and placards. There’s a lot to choose from … but, have you ever wondered how a specialty license plate is chosen to go into production?

Even though ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division issues license plates, ADOT and MVD do not decide which plates get the OK.

That’s a common misconception, according to Special Plates Program Manager Michael Meier.

“We don’t decide,” he said. “That’s a function of the legislative process.”

More about the process

First, a non-profit group or cause has to get the attention of state lawmakers. A bill sponsored through the legislature must pass and then be signed into law by the governor before any specialty plate can be manufactured.

Once that step is cleared, the group pays a $32,000 implementation fee, which covers programming costs and production.

“(Specialty plates) don’t cost the state anything,” said Meier, adding this is another misunderstanding many make about the program.

Next, the group works on a design alongside ADOT/MVD. There are a few guidelines the plates have to follow. It has to be readable at 100 yards, can’t be too busy and it must have a definite color offset between the numbers and the background design.

Once a design is agreed on, seven prototype plates are created.

Law enforcement officials, representatives of the non-profit group and MVD’s director all review and sign off on the plate. Literally – they put their signature right on the back of the prototype!

When all the approvals are in place, the new plates are rolled out and made available to motorists (we'll talk about how they're made in a future blog post).

Specialty plates cost drivers a $25 initial application fee and a $25 renewal fee, but $17 of that money goes right to the non-profit group/cause that put up the $32,000 implementation fee. The remaining $8 is for administrative costs.

Some specialty plate statistics

Did you know that more than 10,500 Arizona drivers have chosen the pink ribbon/cancer awareness plate? The Arizona Diamondbacks plate is a popular one, too. Roughly 8,200 cars are sporting that plate! But the Arizona Cardinals have that beat ... more than 20,000 Arizona motorists have shown their team spirit by choosing a Cardinals license plate.

There’s no telling which plates will become best-sellers, but you can view some statistics on the MVD web page.

For more on all the license plates offered in Arizona and details on the services offered by MVD, visit azdot.gov/motor-vehicles.