WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. — Look around the next time you're on the road and you might just see something new.
New license plates with sports teams and nonprofits are starting to take their place on people's cars. Nine new plates are either already available or will be in the coming weeks.
The state says that's a record number of specialty plates, joining the lineup this year. Minnesotans now have more than 130 specialty license plates to choose from.
Governor Tim Walz said he purchased his new plates Tuesday afternoon from the White Bear Lake licensing center.
“I’m excited. I have been waiting for this for a long time,” Walz said.
The governor chose the new “blackout” plates that feature a black background and white lettering.
The “blackout” plates were released on Jan. 1 and, as of Tuesday morning, state officials say more than 3,800 plates have been sold.
"I think it's nostalgia,” Walz said.
“When you go to car enthusiasts, they are the ones who will mostly tell you about this, folks who have older cars or are into their car. There's a nostalgia about them."
The idea behind the plates was actually borrowed from Iowa where the plates are incredibly popular. According to the Des Moines Register, more than 450,000 blackout plates were sold in 2022 alone.
"I thought this was one thing Iowa had over us that we didn't have. So, that is corrected and I will have them on my vehicle,” Walz says.
The plates cost $30 a year and if Minnesota follows in Iowa's footsteps, these plates could bring in millions of dollars.
All that money will go into a fund with the Minnesota Department of Vehicle Services (DVS).
Walz says a good example of how that money will be used is the eight new kiosks the department recently installed inside grocery stores where Minnesotans can renew their car tabs.
"I recently purchased my tabs from one of these kiosks at my local Cub Foods," Walz said. "It just saves you a lot of time. You can do it right while you're shopping, and I can attest to you it takes about five minutes."
State directors are planning to install seven additional kiosks in the coming weeks and possibly more in the coming years.
Besides the blackout plates the state released eight other license plates this month, including plates that feature pro sports teams, like the Minnesota Vikings, Twins, Wild, Lynx and Timberwolves.
The money that is brought in from these plates will be deposited into community funds that will be managed by each pro team.
Directors say they are also working with the Minnesota United as well but those plates aren’t available at this time.
The Lions Club International is receiving a new plate to help bring in donations.
There is also a special plate that will raise money and awareness for the families of missing and murdered indigenous women.
The state says that plate isn't ready yet, they're hoping to release it later this month.
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