Many people buy vanity license plates to show their aviation pride. AV8R or RAMPRAT or I FLY or hundreds of other clever plates are seen in airport parking lots around the country.
Some states allow residents to go one step further by offering aviation-themed license plates.
Washington State — where I live — introduced an aviation license plate in July 2017. Being a member of the Washington State Aviation Alliance, which lobbied for the plate, I was able to get one of the first 25 plates.
After affixing 00019 to my truck, I started wondering what other states offer aviation-themed license plates. Following is a list of states with specialty aviation license plates.
If we are missing any (especially in other countries), please let us know.
I suppose it should come as little surprise that the Civil Air Patrol is the most common aviation specialty plate available in the United States.
Arkansas
Civil Air Patrol is the theme of Arkansas’s aviation license plate. Applicant must “present a current Civil Air Patrol identification card for initial and renewal.” Fee is $3.89.
Colorado
The Colorado legislature approved the “Support Colorado Aviation” license plate “which is expected to be available in September 2018.” Fee will be $50.
Connecticut
The New England Air Museum is the theme of Connecticut’s license plate. The Sikorsky VS-44 Flying Boat is featured. Fee is $65. Add $134 for a vanity plate.
Delaware
Members of the Delaware Wing of the Civil Air Patrol are eligible. $35 administrative fee.
Florida
Florida residents who buy an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University themed license plate are supporting Embry-Riddle’s Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship. $25 annual fee, plus registration.
A Florida Institute of Technology-themed license plate is available. $25 annual fee, plus registration.
Idaho
The Idaho Aviation Foundation’s Fly Idaho plate is easily customizable. Cost is $60 initially, $40 for renewal, plus registration fees.
Kentucky
Members of the Kentucky Civil Air Patrol are eligible to purchase this specialty plate. Initial and renewal fee is $26.
Louisiana
Members of the Louisiana Civil Air Patrol can buy this license plate. Initial cost is $36.50.
Maryland
Residents wanting to show their support can buy a Glen L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum plate for $25.
Mississippi
Members of the Mississippi Wing of the Civil Air Patrol will support their organization by purchasing these plates. $24 of the $31 plate fee is earmarked for the Mississippi Wing of the CAP.
Missouri
Civil Air Patrol plates in Missouri date to 2002. Cost is $15.
Nevada
Nevada offers two aviation specialty license plates. The Civil Air Patrol costs $37 initially and $10 thereafter. License plates to support the Reno Air Races cost $62 initially and $30 thereafter. RARA receives $25 of the initial plate fee and $20 each year the plate is renewed.
New Jersey
New Jersey Civil Air Patrol license plates cost $15.
New York
New York Civil Air Patrol license plates cost $60 initially and $31.25 for renewal.
North Carolina
Every North Carolina’s “First in Flight” plate refers to the moment the Wright brothers first went aloft at Kill Devil Hills. Like Ohio, that makes every plate in North Carolina a specialty plate.
The North Carolina Department of Motors Vehicles allocates 100 CAP-themed plates per year to members of the NC Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. Those interested must submit and application to the wing headquarters.
Ohio
All Ohio plates include the phrase “Birthplace of Aviation,” which makes them aviation specialty plates already. On top of that, members of the Civil Air Patrol can further specialize their plate for $10.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma allows residents to pay tribute to the International Women Pilots organization, the 99s. Cost is $11 initially and $9.50 upon renewal.
This Oklahoma license plate will be available November 1, 2017. $24 (of the annual $35 fee) will be given to the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission for “airport construction and rehabilitation programs and general operations of the agency, for promoting the awareness of aviation and aerospace, and providing financial support for aviation education programs to address the need for a skilled and competent aviation workforce.”
A plate to celebrate ballooning is available to Oklahoma residents. Cost is $18 (initial) and $16.50 at renewal.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania currently offers 359 Special Organization registration plates. One is for the Civil Air Patrol. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees details – I think – the cost.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame license plate is available to South Carolina residents who have been inducted into the state’s Aviation Hall of Fame. There is no additional cost for the plate.
Texas
Texans have been able to support aviation and space projects in Texas since 1992 by purchasing an Aerospace Commission plate for $30. $22 goes to the Texas General Revenue Fund. Current or retired members of the Civil Air Patrol can add a CAP-themed plate to their vehicle for no additional fee.
Virginia
Virginia Aviation’s “See It From The Sky” plate costs $10 initially and $10 to renew.
Washington
Those wishing to support aviation in Washington can buy the Fly Washington plate. Cost is $72.75. $28 of the fees go to support infrastructure improvements at public-use airports in Washington State.
Wisconsin
Current or retired members of the Civil Air Patrol may add these plates to their vehicle for a $15 (initial and renewal) fee.
Did we miss a plate? Please let us know.
Updated: October 18, 2017.
Started that have planes on their plates that weren’t listed above.
VA – National Air & Space Museum SR-71 Black Bird
VA – Oceana Naval Air Station F-18’s Hornet
AZ – Luke Air Force Base F-22 Rapter
WV – Mountaineer World Pride Air National Guard C-130 Cargo Plane & C-5M Super Galaxy
NV – Thunderbirds F-16 Falcon
CO – Vietnam UH-1 Huey
NY – Vietnam UH-1 Huey
DE – National Guard C-130 Cargo Plane
Several states share Nationa Guard & Air National Guard with planes on them
Florida specialty plates are covered in 320.08053, Florida Statutes.
1) Application fee to DMV for creation of the plate “not to exceed $60,000” (No kidding!)
2) Detailed annual audits of sponsoring organization.
3) If fewer than 1,000 plates are ordered within 24 months of start, the plate will be discontinued.
If the state had any smarts, they’d do up four or five aviation specialty plates themselves and make a fortune on them – high wing, low wing, bizjet, airliner, helicopter, etc. Some of that money might even trickle down to airport improvements here. (It will probably just wind up in the state’s slush fund.)
Alaska is dependent on aviation, more than any state, with most places having no roads to them, not even to our state capital. You would think we too would have an Aviation plate. I too have pushed for plates, but the DMV here also has shown no interest, and tell me that the idea of using aviation plates for raising money to help AKDOT pay for maintenance of all the runways across Alaska can’t happen, as apparently money cannot be specifically allocated to any special purpose by State law.
I was just told by the state of Indiana–birthplace of Wilbur Wright, home of David Ford, Gus Grissom, Purdue University, that we can have custom plates made, artwork and everything. I’m looking to see if we can petition to get an aviation history plate. Especially since we have such a rich history in aviation and space here.
I believe that Florida has more flight schools than any state in country and I believe the highest total number of resident private pilots not to mention hosting Sun-n-Fun annually; so you would think Florida would have a license plate to identify that – but we don’t. I tried creating one with letters to AOPA and the State of Florida, but the idea fell on deaf ears. I was hoping a private pilot’s license plate would come to fruition to provide funding to airports in need of better lighting, pavement improvements, markings, etc. Florida is usually pretty good at taking your money, so I don’t know why this idea hasn’t found wings (pun intended). Florida has over a 200 hundred different specialty license plates….from golf license plates (where does that money go), horses, dolphins (both the football team and the animal), autism, every state college…the list goes on. But nothing for pilots. The Embry-Riddle plate is for the school and is lame if you didn’t go there for an education.
As a FL resident I 2nd the notion that we should have a more generic aviation license plate or at least on for Sun-N-Fun sine that is a non profit and a big draw for tourist dollars. They have plates for all of the schools hence the ERAU plate but even though I am an alumni I am not interested in that one. Pushing for the SNF plate might be our best bet to get something more aviation oriented.
All plates in North Carolina have the Wright Flyer and “First in Flight.” So I guess that would qualify.
Indeed it does Joe. N.C.’s omission has been fixed.
North Carolina also offers a Civil Air Patrol plate and a Piedmont Airlines plate.
Surprised to see North Carolina missing – all plates carry the tagline “First in Flight.” Additionally, they have several custom options, many of which are military aviation/service related (Air Medal, Flying Cross, Air Force Reserve, etc)
Right you are Brian. Many states offer military aviation specialty plates. In this first effort, I did not include those as the focus of this post – and our publication – is general aviation. My oversight has been corrected.
I had originally signed on to buy the new WA aviation plate, thinking that it was a singular initial cost, but it is that ($40) plus $30 per year as long as you use it. The recurring fee is not what I planned on.
The recurring fee made me change my mind about it too. I was OK with the $40 if it was a one time fee.
As I understand it, $28 of the original and renewal fee goes to support infrastructure improvements at public-use airports in Washington State.