U.S. License Plates Ranked

[@GeographyKing]

Hey guys. I wanted to mention a couple of unique aspects to standard issue that Montana, New Mexico, and Rhode Island have. In Montana at no extra charge you can choose a "retro" plate that is a replica of an older issue plate from the past 30 years or so. But if you don't specify you get the boring blue one. In New Mexico you can choose between the teal one I show here or one of the state flag colors, yellow with red sun. But you can also get the black "chile capital of the world" one with chiles depicted on it. It's my absolute favorite one in the country, but not technically standard issue as you have to specify it. And seriously- what is up with Rhode Island's fascination with license plate numbers?

[@riverraisin1]

I like both of NM's plates as well. They really stand out on a car. Kind of like a small piece of art.

[@RodFarva]

Would Love to see a video comparing the Canadian plates as well. One of them is in the shape of a polar bear

[@mikem3695]

Massachusetts has the same low number plate racket. It's all about displaying one's status as being from a wealthy family with many generations born in Massachusetts. In general, the lower the number the earlier the plate was originally issued, meaning your family was rich enough to own one of the first cars. There is supposedly a lottery to issue low number plates that become available every year, but just like everything else in the state, the favored and connected always come out ahead.

[@JonathanAllen0379]

@@mikem3695 Sounds about right, living in a snobby, elitist, overeducated but still stupid AF, hypocritical limousine-liberal Democratic shithole state. I'm sorry you have to put up with that. If you can ever afford to move to a better state, with better people and better weather AND lower taxes, go for it. Life's too short not to do it if you reasonably can. Best of luck to you!☺️😎

[@MikeV8652]

@@RodFarva Two of the Canadian plates are shaped like polar bears, actually (Northwest Territories and Nunavut)!

[@grantwoolard]

Putting a website on a license plate is so friggin tacky

[@John_on_the_mountain]

Next itll be company logos on them

[@jerryzhang3654]

Wow, I loved your classical music mashups!

[@grantwoolard]

@@jerryzhang3654 Another one’s coming in the next few months!

[@Rancid-Jane]

I agree. Tacky is the word for it.

[@nelsonricardo3729]

@@MacMcLinn You okay, hun?

[@AlternateHistoryHub]

I love Maryland's flag to be honest. It's medieval and regal

[@johanrunfeldt7174]

I was just about to comment that it looks like the standard of a medieval warlord.

[@SWLinPHX]

Yes, I grew up there and then Arizona, both of whose flags I think are the top two best in the nation.

[@rsmage1219]

I was born in Maryland! PG County baby! DC raised!

[@SWLinPHX]

@@rsmage1219 I was born and lived in Prince Georges County too. We lived in Oxon Hill which, in the late 1960's and early 1970's was beautiful, despite what it may be like now. Everyone in our cul de sac "Greer Ct." knew everyone's business, sort of like Knots Landing. Crab apple fights, Fourth of July parties, major trick or treating, winter sledding, autumn leaves pile jumping, etc. And awesome music then too.

[@sarahcantrell9821]

It's just a combo of two banners of arms from English lords. That would do it though

[@-AirKat-]

“If a evil dictator made us all guess what would be on South Dakota’s license plate, we’d all still be alive” Best line in this video

[@-AirKat-]

(excelsior is NY’s motto which is why it’s there)

[@dvferyance]

A cow and a cave would be good for Wisconsin.

[@-AirKat-]

@CheezyWheezy congratulations, you get to live

[@riverraisin1]

That and the pac man reference were gold.

[@ddd1hhh]

Nope... drunk pac man 😂😂😂

[@KreemieNewgatt]

California used to arguably have the best plate - - "The Golden State" one with the sunset graphic, but it was standard issue only for a 10 month period in 1987.

[@jamesr2888]

My mom bought a new commercial van in September 1985 & was issued the "The Golden State" plates. I think they came out in 84.

[@SWLinPHX]

I had that plate on my Ford Tempo, LOL.

[@KreemieNewgatt]

@@jamesr2888 The Golden State plate debuted in 1982, but it cost $5 extra. It became standard issue in 1987, but CA switched to all-white 10 months later. The first white ones had "CALIFORNIA" in block letters and were basically a white reflectorized version of the ugly (IMO) blue plates from the 70's. The state name switched to script in 1994. The script got a bit larger in 1996, and again in 1998. Not sure when they added the DMV website at the bottom, but GK's right - - it's super-ugly (but easily covered by virtually any aftermarket frame.)

[@steveb7429]

The classic California blue plate with yellow text was THE BEST. The ancient Black with yellow text was a close second.

[@EthanDCash]

As a Wisconsinite, I don’t think I can ever unsee the “drunk Pac-Man” on my license plate

[@bfun4615]

That was the funniest when he said that! Cracking up!

[@jonnelson3350]

I agree that this plate scheme has run its course. I wish the old Cheese plate (basic yellow with black lettering) would return. I thought that was quite profound

[@drewo6388]

Fellow Wisconsinite here. I agree that our plates could use an update. I liked the ones we had in 1998 for the Sesquicentennial.

[@WaySheGoes12]

As a Wisconsinite, he rly doesn’t have much of a right to be offended over us using America’s Dairyland... Cali is literally just more populated; Wisconsin farms much more per capita

[@nancylindsay4255]

@@jonnelson3350 The black on yellow IS beloved. Yes, bring it back!

[@ThePhl4ever]

In DE, we have a crazy fascination with our license plates, the lower the number the more valuable the plate.

[@jessicawenger7959]

And they can be gifted to others, or even purchased at auctions for top dollar. But those original black plates look good.

[@wesleysmith5275]

Same in mass

[@Rockhound6165]

I notice that the small black plate is somewhat of a collectors item when they put them out. People line up for hours to get those.

[@kenbob1071]

I disagree with a lot of these, but I will agree that New Mexico's looks great. P.S. Funny that NM has to put "USA" on the plate so you don't think it's a part of Mexico...lol.

[@lsh3rd]

Credit to our education system on that one!

[@ZionForman]

hey, it ain't new and it ain't Mexico, Santa Fe is the second old city in North America

[@jnyerere]

Because the education system has failed millions. But New Mexico is imo the best plate.

[@MikeV8652]

@Finished Finnish That's it exactly. They were being pulled over by cops up in remote parts of the USA who didn't know that New Mexico was part of the USA or that even real Mexicans can drive in the USA with their really Mexican plates.

[@davidr7346]

@Finished Finnish Two personal stories to this end being that I’m from NM. Wrote a check at a bank in Pennsylvanian and the teller told me, “We don’t take out of county checks.” Once people in other states find out I am from NM I have been complimented on my English. Usually like this, “You speak English really good!” ... Cracks me up every time.

[@claysullivan5347]

The NYS plate says "Excelsior" because that's the state motto. It's a Latin word that roughly translates to "every upward." It's being put into a lot of things in NYC too, On the new extension of the Q train up 2nd avenue, for example, there is a massive "EXCELSIOR" on the walls and also in the new Moinihan Train Hall (the new part of Penn Station that just recently opened), it also says EXCELSIOR on the ceiling. It's basically on everything public-transit that's run by the State Government (like the MTA or Penn Station).

[@weerkats]

Fave line: "The sailboat on the top looks almost like Pac-Man got drunk and passed out" LOL

[@mondegreen9709]

😁 Or a hung over Pac-Man who's about to do the "technicolor yawn". 😵🤢🤮

[@MikeV8652]

For as many years as we've all been seeing that thing, I have never perceived it as a sailboat! What a failure to communicate!

[@wcvp]

Accurate for Wisconsin lol

[@rachel_sj]

I’m over here laughing at that line while my Wisconsin born fiancé feels personally attacked 😂🤪

[@moisesm9602]

I always thought it was the sun or something lmao

[@georgem7965]

The scene on the Wyoming license plate is Square Top Mountain in the northern Wind River Mountains. The photo changes every 5 or 6 years. The bucking horse and rider which is the general Wyoming logo originated with in France during WW1 to paint on vehicles of the Wyoming units and is usually said to depict a famous bucking horse known as Steamboat but there is some dispute about that.

[@davidtardio9804]

You took me back to the days of being in the back seat of my parent’s station wagon looking for different license plates on long road trips. Well done!

[@buoyant69]

As I recall, Minnesota is the state that started this whole scenic plate trend that virtually every state has now taken up. The standard MN plate looks pretty much identical now to how it looked in 1980, when my parents' new Buick got them. It's also why it's so easy to read MN plate nos. despite the fact that there's quite a bit of scenery on the plate whereas some of the current scenic plates are close to impossible to read at a distance.

[@CityGeek]

I’m glad to see New Mexico was ranked so high. It has such a distinct look with the turquoise

[@Alex-kd5xc]

The new black ones with the green and red chile are also very cool imo. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a New Mexican.

[@RegionalRadioShackManager]

Distinct doesn’t mean good looking

[@ecurewitz]

I still like the old yellow and red better, though. Though this one is still very good

[@chscats]

I was glad to see NM so high after he crapped on all of the others.haha

[@Alex-kd5xc]

@@chscats he's got a soft spot for NM so I knew he'd love ours lol

[@cybird6010]

Maryland has the best flag(other than New Mexico) , that's why we use it so much.

[@ethanmontoya300]

Your flag looks like a French seizure

[@packbadge]

I don't disagree with New Mexico and Maryland but I also think Alaska's is one of the best.

[@beerad5205]

Finally! The moment we’ve all been waiting for!!!

[@raycist108]

silly me I drove around the county to find out.. 🚗 💨

[@dr.woozie7500]

I actually like the old New York plate. Particularly, the orange one. It’s just unique and reminds me of the retro plates and all those old movies that take place in New York City.

[@jamesr2888]

Here in California, you can order the retro plate we had in the 60's which is black with gold letters & numbers for 40 dollars extra per year.

[@dennisrettke]

I like the orange New York ones too.

[@ve2vfd]

And of course the most awesome plate in north america is Canada's Northwest Territories where the plate itself is in the shape of a polar bear!

[@NewHaven203]

They’re actually worth alot too because of that, they sell over $100 on ebay, I was lucky to buy one for $65. Nunavut plates are insanely expensive about $250

[@OpinionesDeJACCsOpinions]

@@NewHaven203 Are theirs also polar bear shaped?

[@intervjaurenh4060]

New Mexico does a lot of things correctly when it comes to representing itself. The NM flag is easily one of the best in the world and the license plate is simple but unique in color and symbolism.

[@jimparisho7457]

My aunt worked for the NM DMV in her hometown. One time a newcomer moved there from Massachusetts. She routinely sent a letter to the Mass. Registry (that's what they call the DMV) requesting they send to her office the car title. The replied sorry, but they are not permitted to mail titles outside the United States. She promptly wrote back advising them that New Mexico has been part of the United States since 1912.

[@charlemagne2442]

As a Native New Mexican, I feel her pain. You won’t believe how many states don’t know New Mexico is a state in their own country.

[@ZlothZloth]

I really like having the county on the plates! If you see somebody driving with an out-of-state plate, there's a real good chance they don't know quite where they're going and are liable to make unexpected lane changes - it's good to give those folks a little extra room if you can. Same thing is true if you see a plate in the same state but from a county that's fairly far away.

[@chouseification]

this is a good point... I live in MN, and hate to admit it, but the people from (western) Wisconsin and especially Iowa just can't seem to drive worth a damn in cities. When on road trips in their home turf, regularly have almost died to people in trucks turning without signals, etc. What's worse is when they come here... driving like a hick in a major metro area just doesn't fly. At least if you see their plate and see they're from one of the Des Moines suburb counties you can relax a bit compared to the peeps from pig country... watch out for them! They just don't know how to drive in a city, and it's scary that they don't seem to realize that. Yokels merging onto a posted 60 MPH freeway where people do 65+ (unless it's snowing) at 30 MPH and stare at you wide eyed while you flash your lights and honk hoping that somehow they won't kill you, as a group of cars quickly approaches you at speed. They almost kill you, and they simply have no idea what happened, as their head is that far up their rear. :D

[@kevinobrien9271]

The county is on some license plates, because the plates in those states are issued at the county level instead of the state DMV level.

[@ishventurez]

Also airports. They can be confusing for a lot of people

[@rogersmith7396]

Or threaten them if they have a CA plate.

[@rogersmith7396]

@@chouseification I always thought Iowans were the worst til I moved to rural MO. Iowa is not even in the same leaque. Here people have no plates, no license, no insurance, guns, are parole violaters, drunk/stoned, with cell phones and on a three state crime spree. They constantly kill innocent victims. They abandon the scene and the cops put the dogs after them.

[@ryan_d]

Kyle is back with a banger video

[@charlescrocco7896]

“Excelsior”, or “Ever Higher” (I’ve heard “Upward” as well) is the New York State motto.

[@robfreedman6496]

Next you should do State Driver's license! Those are always fun to look at, especially when you meet people from other states on trips!

[@OpinionesDeJACCsOpinions]

Yes! May I add from any country, not just the U.S.

[@renroxhrd]

NY would be last because our pics on our licenses are black and white.

[@usefulpineapple4538]

I’m originally from Virginia but going to college in Maine, and all my friends make fun of me for having a black and white picture on my license instead of a color one lol

[@tomk4484]

The Alaska plate with the brown grizzly bear is actually very similar to their famous Bicentennial plate issued in 1976. It has stood the test of time rather well.

[@ja8ames]

The classic blue-on-gold plate is pretty solid itself as a simple design. I haven't lived in AK for a while and hadn't seen the bear plate; it looks like they're both still active, and both very nice.

[@tehsin13]

Love the video as a plate collector. Few interesting facts: - Vermont is the only state with debossed lettering - New Mexico is the only state that use "USA" so that people won't get confuse with Mexico - Delaware is also issue number to the driver, so low numbers are passed through generation and cost a premium - New York's Excelsior is motto used in their state seal - Texas plates are hated by everyone

[@rook1196]

-Delaware tag w/ No. 20 on it sold for $410K a couple years ago. -Maryland's is good but the one from the 00s, simple, w/ the crest of the flag in the middle was my favorite. -I love Vermont's plate. -fav has always been Colorado's. Just perfect.

[@matthewtobias6227]

Louisiana plates would look better if they removed that website and that battle of new orleans thing

[@rickposter3534]

@@rook1196 I live in Maryland and completely agree about the license plates, the one from the 00s was better. However, the one with a stylized image of Fort Mc Henry commemorating the War of 1812 Bicentennial is tragic. The current design, which replaced the 1812 plates, is infinitely better.

[@richardhinman3183]

I kind of like Texas's plates. It's like they're saying-"We don't care about fancy plates", "We aren't trying to impress anyone".

[@lervin78]

The Texas plate is a nod back to the state’s old white plates with embossed black lettering prior to the 1986 Sesquicentennial plate; and it definitely reflects the Texas attitude of not being concerned with impressing anyone. I actually really like it.

[@catjudo1]

Pennsylvania used to have an absolutely gorgeous specialty plate that featured a tiger on a deep green leafy background to help raise awareness for endangered species. Florida has offered a Protect the Panther plate to help with saving the critically endangered Florida Panther, a variant of the Mountain Lion that lives in the swampy south. Both are lovely plates.

[@parisire]

The example of Louisiana's license plate that you have is actually not the main one currently being used.

[@bugalaman]

According to Wikipedia, those only ran from 2011 to 2012.

[@zackbrand9311]

That’s what I was thinking I’ve seen a lot where I live and I’ve never seen one that looks like that.

[@drewo6388]

Yep I thought the plate with the pelican on it was Louisiana's primary plate. I like that one a lot more.

[@Karmy.]

Same with Michigan, the white plate with blue wave on the bottom and blue text is our "standard plate", the Spectacular Peninsulas one, while absolutely amazing, is available with a $5 fee

[@bigfenix8272]

Right on Louisiana. I couldn't watch the rest of the video because of this, gave it a dislike.

[@malcolmmacleod8072]

I enjoy going on road trips trough the US and we love “collecting” licence plates as we see them. One way I rank a plate is if you can easily read the state name as you pass by. Many high ranked plates on this list are nice to look at up close but if you are not familiar with the design you will miss the state name as it passes by. Also, would have been neat to see Canadian plates at the end of this video as a bonus as there’s only 13 of them. Great video!!

[@DerekWitt]

Of the Canadian plates I’ve seen, Ontario’s is ok. British Columbia’s is way too busy (has a version of their flag-already too cluttered). Albertta’s and Saskatchewan’s are quite clean.

[@malcolmmacleod8072]

@@DerekWitt search for a picture of North West Territory license plate. It’s quite different.

[@shrek19yearsago78]

@@malcolmmacleod8072 whats different its just shaped as a polar bear

[@malcolmmacleod8072]

@@shrek19yearsago78 that’s why it’s different when compared to a rectangle.

[@empressonthethrone]

Ranked in order per the video: 56. TEXAS 55. LOUISIANA 54. VIRGINIA 53. NEBRASKA 52. MONTANA 51. NEVADA 50. OKLAHOMA 49. MISSISSIPPI 48. KENTUCKY 47. MASSACHUSETTS 46. ARKANSAS 45. GUAM USA 44. NEW JERSEY 43. CALIFORNIA 42. PENNSYLVANIA 41. COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS 40. FLORIDA 39. GEORGIA 38. MAINE 37. VERMONT 36. DELAWARE 35. AMERICAN SAMOA 34. NORTH CAROLINA 33. INDIANA 32. IOWA 31. WISCONSIN 30. SOUTH DAKOTA 29. PUERTO RICO 28. KANSAS 27. MISSOURI 26. ILLINOIS 25. NEW HAMPSHIRE 24. IDAHO 23. WEST VIRGINIA 22. TENNESSEE 21. OHIO 20. NEW YORK 19. SOUTH CAROLINA 18. RHODE ISLAND 17. HAWAII 16. MINNESOTA 15. CONNECTICUT 14. WASHINGTON 13. WASHINGTON D.C. 12. UTAH 11. U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 10. ARIZONA 9. ALASKA 8. OREGON 7. COLORADO 6. MARYLAND 5. MICHIGAN 4. NORTH DAKOTA 3. NEW MEXICO 2. ALABAMA 1. WYOMING

[@Karmy.]

I was confused as to why he ranked Michigan's plate so high up since our standard plate is a rather boring blue and white one but he confused it with the incredible Spectacular Peninsulas plate (that I rocked on my car before buying a new one) I guess it is listed as a standard plate on our state's site but I've always seen way more of the white and blue one and that seems like the default plate when you choose not to pay extra for a different design, our specialty plates are way better tho

[@Karmy.]

Although I just realized our standard plate has a blue wave on the bottom to represent a Great Lake which is pretty neat...

[@ericworthington7299]

#6 MARYLAND. BUT THE BAY PLATES LOOK BETTER

[@marciabentley9557]

Glad to see that you ranked Alabama's license plate so highly because I've always thought our plates were beautiful, too!

[@ajonesa1231]

Thanks for showing my state of MD much love!!!

[@scottdrinkall]

D.C., New Hampshire, New Mexico have the best mottos. (And D.C.'s isn't passive-aggressive, it's just plain aggressive!)

[@pullt]

Excelsior is the NY state motto...."ever upward" in Latin....

[@riverraisin1]

My wife used to call me that. Now she just refers to me as droopy :(

[@jnyerere]

And here I was thinking that it was the name of a county. I honestly feel like it looks more dated than the old Blue and Orange scheme.

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

@@jnyerere That yellow plate was awful, yellow looks terrible on any car it's put on

[@bluekitten1032]

@@jnyerere I live in NY, I love our gold/orange plates. I dont want the new plates. I hope to be out of NY before my plates start to peel and I need new ones.

[@stevetalkstoomuch]

@@bluekitten1032 I lived in NY when the switch to gold & black was made and I remember an uproar. I had the blue & white and liked it better. Too many bad memories of the yellow and blue plates my parents had back in the 1970s.

[@paull2937]

I’ve always wanted to live in Minnesota and you putting it near the top of the list every time just makes me want to live there more.

[@justfantastic2877]

You will look at our flag, LOOK AT IT

[@roth1038]

It wasn't until a few years ago I realized the thing on Wisconsin's is a sailboat in front of a setting sun, I always thought it was a wheel of cheese with a wedge cut out because Wisconsin - cheese

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

I like Vermont..I live in New York and it stands out

[@rockies5295]

Thankyou Dr.Fauci

[@joshuacarnes5446]

New York plates definitely stand out in Vermont too. :D

[@04smallmj]

It's also the only debossed plate in North America

[@peterwinters8587]

Guam plates really stand out here in Quebec

[@camofrog]

Skier

[@nifticus392]

Good video! I'm a license plate collector/enthusiast. Some of these plates are great, like Colorado. But many modern plates are too busy. Having website info is tacky. The font the state name is printed in often times looks terrible. The best plates? The Colorado ones. The black/yellow and blue/yellow California plates of the '60's till the early '80s. The green and white Washington plates of the late '60s and the old blue with yellow lettering NY plates of the late '60s. Also, having the digits on the plates printed rather than raised makes the plates look like movie props!

[@stalkerorstalker]

I love the last shot of the video, now that's how you do a license plate XD

[@yourgooglemeister6745]

I bet a lot of people missed it. Shame, funny as hell!

[@WyomingWindy]

Yep!!! Wyoming's plate is #1!!! Although I do miss our old brown & gold colors sometimes. But, the horse's name is Steamboat & was featured on a cover of Sports Illustrated in 1970. He was one amazing mustang! And, considering how filthy our license plates get with almost every drive somewhere, after about 2 years, mine still looks like new! We do things right here!

[@Pyeknu]

Please do the Canadian provincial/territorial plates soon. You’ll LOVE the one for the Northwest Territories!

[@coleslaw3422]

As an American, had to google it. That is EPIC

[@visiblerat]

@@coleslaw3422 Yeah I'm Canadian and I had to google it too. You don't exactly see that many.

[@drewo6388]

Love the NWT plate. The classic [polar bear shape. I like their newer one even better with the landscape scene on it. Nunavut's is really cool too with the purples and greens depicting the Northern Lights, thought it doesn't have the neat polar bear shape like NWT.

[@MarcHarder]

@@visiblerat I saw one a few weeks back, only ~an hour's drive from Vancouver

[@visiblerat]

@@MarcHarder Oh wow! Now that I have looked it up, I do remember that I've seen a few, but mostly in higher-traveled places like Banff (obviously not right now, I don't want to kill everybody)

[@SWLinPHX]

The mountains on the Colorado plate almost look raised (3D) from the metal due to the gray the shadowing.

[@j_d_gamer2091]

As a Texan I sorely miss the old plate with the cowboy, space shuttle, and stars. Much better. I think they changed it because it was hard for the traffic cameras to read the plate numbers, hence the ultra basic plates.

[@edwardrasmussen3465]

I agree. I was once summonsed to be empaneled as a jury member in a case where the police officer could not read the license plate at night with all the aforementioned clutter. I was not selected (oh joy!). What I call the "plain ol' " plate was introduced shortly after the jury duty call. Just too many complaints from law enforcement about the plates being illegible at night. I'm guessing here, but I'll bet that many motorists had their cases dismissed for that reason, and Texas DMV had enough of that.

[@andizak797]

Yes, we Marylanders do love our flag, but I don't think we care what others think about it. Glad to see it at #6!

[@ran_d_d]

I agree. It’s just for us to enjoy.. but a nice side effect of us putting it everywhere, is I’ve found that more of our neighbor states like our flag a lot than dislike it. I get told by some people that they’re jealous of our flag merch in grocery stores and stuff haha.

[@jgw5491]

Maryland's flag has always been my favorite! It's bright and classic.

[@mikerussell1859]

I'm from California, and I love the Maryland state flag! It's a work of art.

[@WackJallis]

Does anyone else just wait for your state and get sad if it’s ranked low 😔

[@travishess3801]

I actually love Maryland's state flag. It's one of my favorites.

[@dchspilot]

Fun fact about the Alabama licenses plates. Each county has a specific number 1 to 67 and the first 2 digits (1 digit for single digit counties) signify which county the plate was issued in.

[@yabbadabba2887]

Same for South Dakota (66)

[@garyholt8315]

kinda neat to see the county name and know what part of the state they live in

[@cwctlh]

Florida did that a long time ago, but some counties became so populous and had so many registered cars that the tag numbers became insanely long.

[@fishingthelist4017]

A little quirk with the Alabama system is the first three numbers are not alphabetical, but represent the three most populous counties at the time the system was adopted. Jefferson(Birmingham) is 1, Mobile is 2, and Montgomery is 3, even though Madison and Baldwin Counties now have more people. 4-67 are alphabetical. The 55 tag in the video is Pike County.

[@TnseWlms]

When I was ten, I bragged to my friend, "I have seen license plates from all fifty States in California." He said, "There aren't any states in California."

[@loufancelli1330]

When I was a kid I kept a notebook of all the state plates that I had seen, and one of my friends did the same thing (nerds, I know) I was mad once when he went to NJ to visit his grandparents because he'd get to add more to his notebook!

[@aidanthompson9159]

Damn, the growth on this channel is insane! Every time a new video comes out, another 10K is gained. You'll be at 100K in no time Kyle!

[@rogersmith7396]

As long as you keep your regressive right wing politics to yourself.

[@ApeJayy]

@@rogersmith7396You’re the only one bringing politics into here. Get a life.

[@Raptor0929_]

In Massachusetts we are the spirit of America, you wouldn’t have thanksgiving without us

[@Skinnyd4]

As a New Jersey native, I never really thought that the colors on our plates had anything to do with aesthetics. I just assumed they chose yellow (and earlier in my lifetime blue) because those were the colors of the state flag.

[@Toastmaster_5000]

Yeah I assumed the same (not a NJ resident)

[@sawamichelle]

State bird is yellow too.

[@kanesn0633]

"A cow and a cave" Sounds like my friday night!

[@dewangrajkakati132]

Loved the old New York “Empire State”

[@JakeKoenig]

As a longtime Texas resident, ouch. Our plates used to be a lot nicer with plenty of color and a landscape along the bottom, and they changed it to the "The Texas Classic" which is the most mundane plate in vehicle history. At least I have disabled veteran plates which stands out a bit better.

[@maple494]

Damn I wish Europe got similar plates to the US, our plates are just really boring. 3 Letters, 3 Digits and a blue stripe with 12 stars. So boring.

[@Pat-TheEmeraldBoat]

I agree, I wonder why we haven't done this yet?

[@LXDX70]

It's the opposite for me -- I wish we just had European style plates here in the US. I've never really liked having to drive around with artwork, typically either banal or gaudy, along with slogans and/or URLs on my car. I would much prefer a basic black and white plate with nothing but a registration number and simple state designation.

[@mondegreen9709]

I dunno, I must say I kind of prefer the formal style of our European plates. Even if that makes me sound kind of square, but they're an official document after all and imo you shouldn't attempt to get artsy and whimsical with them, and a lot of those US plates do look pretty cheesy, tbh. I mean if that's your thing, there's still a whole array of rear stickers to go crazy with at your own free will. However I must say that I do prefer the look of US and Canadian road signs. The white lettering on green background and the specific type font they use. I forgot what it was called. Perhaps some of you could fill me in on that.

[@bruhz_089]

@@mondegreen9709 Esperanto

[@ralphvelthuis2359]

You should look up a picture of the license plate of Canada's Northwest Territories.

[@seangawne8392]

North Carolina tried to change the license plate a few years back. They changed the colors of the fonts. People hated it, so they went back. I lived there for 3 years and I actually like the license plate. I've also lived in California and Arizona and I like their plates, too. Although for some reason the graphics seem to peel off the AZ plates in a few years.

[@cooljonathan]

The pine tree on Oregon's License plate is a Doug Fir.

[@pacmanc8103]

The state tree.

[@deirdre108]

I know! I’m a Washingtonian and hear people from the east coast call our trees “pine trees” a lot.

[@nick_nt7574]

I like the Kansas plates that were made before 2009 or 2010, those ones with the wheat and the capitol building in the background. It was printed in 2004 for example and it's my favorite.

[@elliottheredd]

WISCONSIN IS AMERICAS DAIRYLAND!! Please! We need this! Cali already has everything else going for them!

[@501764727]

I Like our plates actually, its clean, crisp, to the point and has some character.

[@elliottheredd]

@@501764727 yeah I think they’re decent. Maybe top 25 at least

[@derbagger22]

California is fake Dairyland with all their precious almonds for those Lactose averse weenies...

[@derbagger22]

Oh, and Vermont's dairy is better. 🤪

[@elliottheredd]

@@derbagger22 Vermont’s dairy is shit compared to Wisconsin’s. Stick to your green mountains and Ben and Jerry’s

[@jevitigre]

I was in New York City 3 months ago and i saw 3 different lincese plates of that state

[@susanbaca6883]

The last shot is a knee slapper.... thanks Kyle.

[@stewartgibson5802]

"For Illinois just put an outline of the willis tower but of corn. What's more Illinois than that?"

[@NickKravitz]

Re: "I am not sure why it says Excelsior". That is the NY state motto, meaning "higher" or "upward" in Latin. Most state mottos come from Latin; Kyle's home state of California has the lone Greek motto Eureka!

[@bruhz_089]

Why are mottos in Latin no one speaks it just use English

[@jamesmorseman3180]

@@bruhz_089 I mean that’s a loaded question but to short hand it it elicits a more regal response because it draws on the image of the Roman Empire

[@alquinn8576]

Excelsior is also a description of NY taxes

[@JimmyMon666]

I don't know a lick of latin, when I see Excelsior I think of Star Trek. Perhaps I'm too much of a Trek nerd.

[@alquinn8576]

@@JimmyMon666 she's just a bucket of bolts

[@CamCadie]

Louisiana reverted back to the old yellowish sportsman paradise pelican plate now

[@Hodaggium]

I get such a kick out of how you described Wisconsin's plate. If Pac Man visited Wisconsin, he would absolutely get drunk.

[@WayneHigh1500]

Just found your channel, I never knew there were so many geography nerds out there like me. This is great.(Subbed) I think Utah has the nicest plate(color scheme, slogan) with the best font. New Mexico with a very close 2nd. During road trips, I tend to pay a lot of attention to which plates I see and the ones from the furthest away get the most respect. Living in middle America,(IL) I feel like I never get any when I drive somewhere lol. Great video!

[@BookofJohn3V8]

Lmao Kyle you roasted the plates good I'm crying at some of your descriptions

[@lizlee6290]

Yay, Wyoming is your favorite plate! I knew it would be. Since I was raised there, I'm thrilled. Although I like the new design, I miss the old brown and gold plates and wish they'd reintroduce those. To me, brown and gold = Wyoming. Btw, the state has so few people, spotting a Wyoming plate in coastal NC, where I now live, is a major thrill. Usually honking and waving ensues. Also, the number to the left of Steamboat the bucking horse is the number of the county it came from. Very exciting to spot "your" county. .

[@marktheaardvark7208]

Agreed, also really liked the black and yellow from the 50’s

[@vhhawk]

Made the mistake of starting my lunch while watching this. Now I am laughing at Texas and trying to breathe.

[@thatmichiganguy]

Texas isn't that bad. Florida's looks hideous, man!

[@John_on_the_mountain]

It aint even that funny chill

[@stephentuday651]

Entertaining vid. As a long time license plate collector I have to comment. 1. Michigan standard issue is "Pure Michigan"; the Spectacular Peninsulas is an optional. 2. Montana currently offers five (5) different general issue designs. The blue one in your video drew criticism from motorists when it was introduced so the DMV basically went back and made the previous four designs available as alternate retro designs. As there is no premium to get them, they are standard. 3. Several states offer multiple basic designs concurrently, meaning if you walk into the DMV office you are offered at no cost a choice of more than one design. Utah - the predominant general issue there features a skier and also "Life Elevated", although the Arch plate is also a general issue. Other states with more than one general issue: AL, GA, IN, MT, NM, SC, UT, 4. Texas has a very basic plate but they offer literally 400+ optional - and much more attractive designs. 5. Plates are designed to be legible first and foremost. Their primary purpose is tax collection and law enforcement although plates moonlight as travel agent and state billboard. Some of the prettiest plates on the road fail the legibility test. And last - Wyoming is pretty cool in that they update the state welcome signs to match the current plates!

[@tech8222]

After all of these days, he's back!

[@janeantonio8259]

I like the Delaware plate. Nostalgic, clean and doesn’t look like a bumper sticker, like many others.

[@thedonnykiddo]

Alabama being 2.... that’s interesting. When I was living in Alabama, I haaaattteeeddd these license plates. But he makes a great argument for them and maybe I hated them since I always saw them. Reguardless I’m happy to see Alabama get ranked in a good category every once in awhile

[@steveramey8654]

I’m from Alabama and I think they’re ugly, but everybody has their own opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[@bob_frazier]

Saw one in Oregon today, thought it looked great!!

[@Toastmaster_5000]

I haven't seen the new Alabama plate, and I like it more than the old one. However, Alabama never really had bad plate designs. Some were a little on the boring side but none were all that bad.

[@garyholt8315]

being from alberta and driving around Alabama the locals are not too quick to realize I don't have a fake plate lol lol !

[@mh0862]

I really liked the old deep blue Kansas plates with the springs of wheat. Also liked Alaska with the Big Dipper. Miss the old brown Wyoming plates with the cowboy.

[@eddierags720]

As a license plate collector I am really looking forward to this episode

[@neta565]

Hey Kyle, I just subscribed to your channel, I love America! About 26 years ago I bought a second hand Washington 1969 licence plate in a second hand store in Belgium! The plate is white and the numbers+letters green. It now sits on my boy's bedroom window sill.😀 Love from the UK.

[@garyholt8315]

the current plate needs an update. it is old and tired.

[@bikesharedude]

I've found it best to be physically in the region for a few days before you start judging the license plates' aesthetics. That way, you get to see them on all sorts of vehicles -- fancy cars, beat-up trucks, and everything in between. Browsing the examples on the DMV website isn't quite the same.

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

Exactly, some of the plates he rated the worst I would rate the best because they look good on an actual car meanwhile there are plates ranked highly that look AWFUL on cars (NM looks awful on cars, the teal clashes with everything meanwhile the simple clean white plates look good on cars)

[@Sixsoul]

These are the type of hard hitting videos that need to be made more. No holds barred here fellas!

[@Taranaki66]

Excelsior is the state motto of New York.

[@MWB18]

That isn't Louisiana's current plate. We currently have a Pelican on our plate.

[@davidmollard9832]

That's what I thought. I was there last week and saw alot of those. Sportsman's paradise right?

[@MWB18]

@@davidmollard9832 Yes. They are like a brown with a pelican in the background and it says Sportsman's Paradise.

[@joshreese_optometry]

Thank you for those videos! I love personally, Washington, Utah, and New Mexico’s

[@samuelmoore791]

Technically, Michigan’s default plate says PureMichigan across the top and is white and blue, the green peninsula plate is a premium plate ($5 more)

[@brandonkwan2842]

in arizona's license plate, the four purple mountains on the left depicts the four peaks wilderness just east of the city of phoenix. also, the saguaro cactus only grows in the sonoran desert, a big part of the valley. cool stuff!

[@Tiqerboy]

I personally know the guy who designed that plate way back in 1996 : Walter ('Wally') Punzmann

[@brianmiller9949]

“The Spirit of America” Massachusetts license plates are Red, White, and Blue

[@brianloper6669]

I hated the Texas plate as well, but now I love it. It's all black, bold font, clean look. It's now one of my favorite besides the yellow license plates Edit: I LOVE plates that have counties on them.

[@mystfire]

Me too, I actually like the Texas plate due to its perfect simplicity

[@riverraisin1]

So the state police can tell when you're not where you should be?

[@brianloper6669]

@@riverraisin1 what? You're not allowed to leave your county now?

[@brianloper6669]

I mean it wouldn't work in Virginia since we have independent cities

[@thesharinganknight]

Georgia's old pate looks almost the exact same as Texas, and I love the county names on the license plates too

[@Duden1337]

YESS!!! I am a Wyoming citizen and you have no idea how awesome it feels to be #1 at something on this channel!

[@Crayven95]

I really like having the counties on the plate. I rarely see it anywhere else but Iowa and thought it was unique

[@lervin78]

Ohio recently reintroduced county name stickers on its plates. I think it’s great

[@caulkins69]

If you move to another county within the state, does that mean you have to get new plates?

[@Crayven95]

caulkins69 no

[@happygilmore5948]

Here in Idaho, our license plates have alphanumeric codes to represent where the car was registered. In this video, the "2O" means that the car is from Owyhee County, the second county that starts with "O".

[@WaskiSquirrel]

This was a stunning video! North Dakota is at the bottom of most of your lists. But it was near the top of this one. We have had a lot of internal dissention over our current license place. You you rank it well. Wow! I live there, and I don't even like it! Two personal favorites of mine are Canadian. I love the Polar Bear shaped plate from the Northwest Territories. My other favorite is the Saskatchewan plate with the simple wheat stalks.

[@nicolerm]

I've lived in North Dakota my whole life and, like you said, we're usually at the bottom of most lists. I was excited to see how high we were on this list!

[@cocazade7703]

My Kentucky friend has the really nice plate with the stallion horse on it, I never realised this wasn't the standard KY plate during my visits lol

[@raycist108]

my special oregon plate has a whale 🐋 it’s very cool.

[@BeastOfTraal]

Louisiana's license plates used to have Louisiana spelled out with USA in all caps in the middle (loUiSiAna ) of the name which is the only state you can do that with. Also I don't like how a lot of states have gone away from embossed plates.

[@martianmurray]

Utah’s looks like a scene from the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons.

[@jmo8165]

Then it succeeded bc that depiction is what the southern part of the state truly looks like.

[@onanthebarbarian9883]

Needs more anvils and rocket shoes though.

[@peterwinters8587]

Why wouldn't it?

[@JimmyMon666]

I hope you don't imply that's a bad thing. :)

[@happygilmore5948]

Monument Valley was sorta the basis for those cartoons.

[@cedardreamsLLC]

The one I've been waiting for for so long! thank you geography king! you are the KING! the GOAT!

[@mr.rollercoasters]

Your most recommended video LOL

[@chrism3784]

Delaware has the same status with their license plate number to. It's a huge deal there to. I didn't know that about Rhode Island

[@luanamendes4767]

Your south Dakota comment cracked me up 😂😂😂

[@luanamendes4767]

Also, “Virginia eat the kids first” OMG you are hysterical 🤣🤣

[@shawnpayton9926]

That is definitely not Louisiana's current plate. The one showed was from 2015!

[@krause95]

Great video, Kyle.. Although you might have to explain yourself on the "America's Dairyland" part. This is a source of pride for Wisconsin and it's been on our license plates since the 1940s. 🧀

[@georgem7965]

I recall a few years ago that Wisconsin was taking suggestions for a new slogan to replace "America's Dairyland." I liked the suggestion which took a page from Vermont and suggested "Eat cheese or die."

[@daveriley6310]

@@georgem7965 A lot of people confuse Vermont with New Hampshire, which has the motto "Live Free or Die". Vermont's motto is "Die Fat and Happy, Eat Ben and Jerry's".

[@catylynch7909]

Fun channel! I live in California, but I recall hearing about a contest that was held, years ago, in Wisconsin. They were looking for an updated design for their license plates. One entry co-opted New Hampshire's motto ... suggesting "Eat Cheese, or Die." I see the "Tsunami Warning," sign on you wall. I'm in San Francisco, and we DO have those posted on street corners that a near the water.

[@SG-sz5vh]

Nys plate says excelsior cuz: New York's state motto is “Excelsior,” which in Latin literally translates to “ever upward.” The state motto of New York was adopted in 1778 and is featured on both the state’s seal and flag.

[@michaelbaker2562]

The Louisiana plate used was only issued in 2014 and 2015. The standard plate for cars and SUVs has a pelican in the middle. Trucks get a different plate that is plain white with "Louisiana" along the top.