Drivers in Washington state spent nearly $6 million in 2025 on special license plates with unique designs, not including personalized options. The total fees collected, including individualized plates, exceeded $9.8 million. Interest in such plates is growing, and state lawmakers recently approved a number of new themed designs, including plates honoring pickleball and beekeeping, which went on sale in November.
Most special plates require an additional annual fee of $30 on top of the regular vehicle registration charge. Of that amount, $28 typically goes to the sponsoring organization, such as a university, sports team, or nonprofit foundation. The initial cost of a plate varies depending on the vehicle type and the choice between a standard number and a personalized one. For a passenger car, a plate with the next available number costs about $162, while a personalized plate is around $214.
The most popular category turned out to be plates showing support for universities. The clear leader was the Washington State University (WSU) plate, which generated about $734,000 from nearly 24,100 vehicles. Its popularity is explained by a broad and loyal alumni base across the state, especially in rural and eastern areas, and a strong cultural identity for the university, whose historical role in the development of Washington is highly valued by residents. The University of Washington (UW) plate ranked sixth. Second place went to collectible vehicle plates, which can only be used on vehicles over 30 years old that are not used for daily driving. They brought in more than $710,000.
Plates dedicated to nature and environmental conservation are also in high demand. A design honoring the state’s national parks — Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic — ranked third overall, raising nearly $404,000. These iconic natural landmarks, from volcanic peaks to ancient forests, symbolize the state’s natural heritage and are a great source of pride for residents. The top ten also included plates for “Missing Wildlife,” “Washington State Parks” and “Washington Wildlife.” Fourth place went to a plate honoring fallen law enforcement officers, with proceeds directed to a fund supporting their families.
Fifth place in the top list went to a plate bearing the emblem of the professional football team the Seattle Seahawks, which generated more than $336,000. Other sports teams, including the baseball Seattle Mariners, did not make the top ten. Seventh place was the Army plate, available to veterans, active-duty service members and their family members; it brought in about $240,000.
There are also special plates for charities, hobbies, sports and tribal affiliation. The latter represent various federally recognized tribes, such as Tulalip, Muckleshoot and Yakama, and are part of a movement to acknowledge their sovereignty and cultural contributions to the state. These plates not only help fund tribal programs but also serve as a visible reminder of their historical presence. The range of themes is vast, but not every design finds an audience. Last year’s flop was a plate for fans of the traditional American group dance square dancing — it was issued for only five vehicles, despite a relatively low cost.
Based on: WA drivers dropped nearly $6M on special plates. Here’s the breakdown