New License Plates: You're Either Safe or Busted!

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Do I live under a rock, or did these new Missouri license plates come out of nowhere this summer?

My first reaction was that the government was once again carelessly spending our hard-earned tax dollars, so I decided to do some digging and get to the bottom of the transition.

Did you know that it has been ten years since the white and teal plates were introduced? (Anyone remember the horrendous white on maroon? We’ve come a long way, Missouri!) According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, it is standard practice for states to change the style of license plates every five or so years. The Show-me-State was actually required by law to change the license plates by Jan. 1, 2009.

The new plates, featuring the state bird and its moniker, were approved in 2007 after 258,000 plus Missouri residents voted in public meetings and online. (I must have missed that memo.)

Not only are the plate's "prettier" to look at, but the state claims that "the plates design will improve visibility, helps reduce renewal tab theft and to ensure collection on all state and local sales taxes and property taxes."

As an FYI to all thieves - the new graphics include an embossed month of expiration with the first alpha letter representing the expiration month and the tab color indicating the expiration year. Word for word from the DMV, "These elements help law enforcement in quickly identifying the proper registration of all vehicles."

Sure, the plate reissuance is a way for Missouri to collect on owed tax dollars, but it benefits us as well.  I have been a victim of tab theft, so I'm happy to hear they are taking steps towards eliminating that problem. 

If you think our new Missouri plates are not much of an improvement, check out Delaware's. Ours aren't so bad.