Vanity has a price, but it's discounted

[Ulrich]

Texas is re-launching its personalized license plate program with an array of bright, new colors and original designs. Eventually, there will be 25 different design schemes to choose from. Previously, you could only get a plain white background, or a pre-set design from a favorite charity or alma mater.

The new recession-friendly pricing also should attract first-time buyers. A six-letter personalized plate now will cost $195 for one year — down from $395. If you're rabidly committed to your chosen word or phrase, you can get 10 years of the plate for $595.

The new program will be run by a private company, but the state gets a revenue cut of 30 to 90 percent, depending on the plate's price and design. Under the contract, Texas is guaranteed a minimum return of $25 million over five years, but if the program is popular, the state could rake in even more.

The program (www.myplates.com) offers other improvements:

• • Seven-letter plates will be offered later in 2010.

• • Shoppers can instantly check on the Web site to see whether their word-number combination is available.

• • You can buy a plate for someone as a gift, or buy a gift certificate for the site.

After the Nov. 19 launch, drivers can purchase the plate online and pick it up at their county tax office a few weeks later. Or call 1-888-7MY-PLAT(ES), from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

[Chickwithastick]

umm... that's more than it costs now. It was not $395 or I NEVER would have gotten them. Guess I won't be renewing mine.

[thereur]

I guess it's free enterprise, so it must be good. Wow! California is $41 initially and $30 on renewal for a plain plate. More for special plates, but not that much.

https://xml.dmv.ca.gov/IppWebV3/initPers.do

But I'm guessing our basic vehicle registration is higher. $394 total last time for my 2007.

[SondraS2k]

umm... that's more than it costs now. It was not $395 or I NEVER would have gotten them. Guess I won't be renewing mine.

It was more if you got one of the really special specialty plates that myplates.com was offering. If you check Ulrich's link, you'll see what I'm talking about.

[Robbie916]

but how come im only paying like $40/ yr? Heres the link http://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/N...d=40&pltid=170

[Geo02s2k]

My personalized Collegiate plate is like $70/ year. There is NO way I'm going to spend ~$200/year for one. My alma mater is just going to have to live without the scholarship money if that's the case. (And yes, I checked all of the links and can't even find information about the collegiate plates anymore. --- Ok. Thanks Robbie916 for the find.)

[bimdub]

wow.....about time.....Nevada has the best DMV system I have ever seen......now Idaho and Washington.....they are the lamest....

and as for costs......it cost me more to purchase plates and registration for my first car than the car itself.....that was a long time ago before Washington changed it fees and taxes....they actually lowered them.....

[SondraS2k]

I'm still a little surprised that more states don't make wise decisions about vanity plates. In VIrginia, vanity plates cost $10/year. If you want another special plate, like autumn leaves on the plate or a special commemorative plate, that's $25/year. It's so affordable that it's wildly popular and LOTS of people opt for vanity plates. There is no easier money maker than renewing vanity plates!

[lacochino]

Holy CRAP that is expensive.

Up here we pay a one time fee of $100, then the regular tab fees.

YEOW.

[takeshi]

but how come im only paying like $40/ yr? Heres the link http://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/N...d=40&pltid=170

Apples and oranges. As Sondra's earlier post implied, My Plates.com's pricing was never the same as the state's.

[gomarlins3]

Love personalized plates. I have them on two of my cars and have the same plate in two different states (ID and CA) for the S2000; 2K2 S2K

[MutantCheese]

Kind of limited on the actual personalization though.

Custom Series

Type 3 letters and 2 or 3 numbers or 2 or 3 numbers and 3 letters like this: AAA##, AAA###, ##AAA or ###AAA. If you choose to use 3 numbers, one of your 3 letters must be either an A, E, O, or U. You can also enter one space between the letters and numbers in your combination if you choose only 2 numbers. For example: AAA ## or ## AAA, etc..

Unless you get the luxury series

Type up to 6 characters. You can also substitute letters for spaces in your combination. For example: A#A A# or # A #A.

[bwturner1951]

Here in NC we have a pricing structure that escalates as you choose specialty and personalized plates or a combination of both. These are annual registration costs.

Regular plate = $28
Specialty plate = $28 + $30 = $58
Personalized regular plate = $28 + $30 = $58
Personalized specialty plate = $28 + $30 + $30 = $88

Specialty refers to the organization or cause the plate represents such as Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, University of North Carolina, etc. Personalized refers to choosing the combination of letters and numbers on your plate.

[Chickwithastick]

It was more if you got one of the really special specialty plates that myplates.com was offering. If you check Ulrich's link, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Ah thanks for clearing that up...

In that case, I'll keep paying my $40 and be done with it. No need for an EXTRA SPECIAL (read: extra expensive) plate

[Calesta]

Just ordered one right before closing time on the DMV's website. Hopefully it goes through at the lower rate.

Looking at myplates.com though, it seems the prices start at $55. That's really not that bad. Time to go look again...

[Calesta]

Oooohhh... the yearly "price" advertised on myplates.com is only if you buy 10 years' worth. The $33 a year plate is really $85 for one year straight up. I think I'll stick to the $70 a year old style Longhorn plate that I just ordered and not have one that matches the new crazy styles.

DMV site now does not allow normal personalized plates, but you can order the old style organization plates with custom characters on them. I don't know if that will still continue.