Road trips are as American as baseball and apple pie, especially when they span several states and allow you to see as many different license plates as possible. Of course, some designs are better than others, so we thought we would recognize the states that went the extra mile. Here is our (highly subjective) ranking of the 10 best state license plates in the country. (Let us know in the comments if we missed your favorite!)
10. New Hampshire
Massachusetts was the first state to issue license plates in 1903, but neighboring New Hampshire wasn’t far behind. The Granite State required residents to display license plates starting in 1905, and the first plates featured a relatively simple design with block numbers above the abbreviation “N.H.”
New Hampshire’s current license plate, introduced in 1999, features the background of the Old Man of the Mountain. Though the iconic rock formation sadly collapsed in 2003, it is certainly still a worthy geographical feature to adorn every vehicle in New Hampshire. But what makes this plate notable is the state motto, “Live Free or Die,” which is the best in the nation, in our humble opinion.
9. Maine
If you can resist the charms of a cute little bird and the nickname “Vacationland,” you have a stronger will than we do. The black-capped chickadee has been Maine’s state bird since 1927, but it won’t be on the license plate much longer — the state Legislature decreed that it would be going the way of the dodo as of May 1, 2025, so enjoy it while it lasts. Drivers will now have two choices for plates: one with a pine tree, Maine’s official state tree, and one without.
8. Alaska
Alaska’s license plate design is quite minimalist — dark blue text on a yellow background — but it gets the job done thanks to the prominent flag background and the memorable state nickname, “The Last Frontier,” at the bottom. Alaska will always hold a special place in the collective imagination due to how remote and untamed it is, with natural beauty and fierce wildlife roaming free far away from the lower 48.
7. Arizona
Instantly recognizable from afar, Arizona’s license plate makes you feel like you’re in the desert just by looking at it. With purple cacti in front of the setting sun, the Grand Canyon State’s license plate aesthetic speaks to what makes the Southwest so alluring. After local resident Walter Punzmann won a design contest, Arizona’s current plate was introduced in 1994 as a specialty plate, but its design proved so popular with residents that it became the statewide design two years later.
6. Colorado
Sometimes the most obvious choice is the correct one. Colorado is known for its mountains, of course, so prominently featuring the Rockies on the state license plate only makes sense. In addition to the standard design featuring a green background, the Centennial State also has a bevy of specialty plates available — some of which are as aesthetically pleasing as they are rare.
5. Oregon
Everyone loves a good tree, but one could argue that no one appreciates them quite like our friends in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon’s plate centers around a Douglas fir, the state tree, against a mountainous backdrop. The calming blues and greens are emblematic of the Beaver State’s outdoorsy, nature-first vibe — and they might just inspire you to take a road trip to Crater Lake or the Columbia River Gorge.
4. Hawaii
It wouldn’t be Hawaii without a rain shower or two — or the rainbow that inevitably follows. Indeed, the Aloha State has been called the “Rainbow Capital of the World” due to how frequent and vibrant they are. You’ll also find rainbows on both license plates and the University of Hawaii’s athletic team uniform. Hawaii’s license plate design is simple yet elegant, and anyone who’s visited Maui, Kauai, Oahu, or the Big Island will long to return anytime they see it.
3. Nebraska
Nebraska doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being exciting, which the state’s tourism bureau cleverly turned into a memorable slogan in 2018: “Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” But don’t tell its license plate that. Inspired by “The Genius of Creative Energy,” a 1927 mosaic found at the state Capitol, the plate depicts a man hurling a lightning bolt while riding a cosmic cloud. Nebraska law dictates that the state has to change its license plate every six years, meaning this one will be replaced in 2029.
2. South Carolina
The palmetto tree is an evocative, enduring symbol of South Carolina, and can be seen on both its flag and license plate. It traces back to the Revolutionary War, when a fortress on Sullivan’s Island endured British cannon fire thanks to the palmetto logs it had been built with. But it’s the inspirational state motto — “While I breathe, I hope” — that really ties this state license plate design together and makes it one of our favorites in the country.
1. New Mexico
They don’t call it the “Land of Enchantment” for nothing. New Mexico has a strange appeal all its own, and it’s reflected in the state’s colorful, unique license plate. At the center of it is the Zia sun symbol. It represents the native Zia peoples and their four-pointed emblem, as both the sun and the number four are sacred to them. The emblem reflects the four seasons, four points of the compass, four times of day (morning, noon, evening, night), four seasons of life (childhood, youth, middle age, old age), and the Zia’s four sacred obligations: a pure spirit, clear mind, strong body, and devotion to the welfare of others.
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