Illinois vanity license plates (Springfield, Lincoln: college, living, cost)

[M TYPE X]

I read somewhere that Illinois has the most customized license plate alphanumerics of any state. Why is this? Are Illinoisians/Illini the most prone to "self expression," or are custom license plates the only things not taxed heavily in the Land of Lincoln?

If I did not read it, I would still be interested; my anecdotal observational evidence shows this to be true.

[if Hower Simpson ever gets that plowing business in Springfield, he needs to reserve the 'MRPLOW' plate pronto, before someone else gets it. ]

[Steve-o]

Ive read that too and Id agree this state, far and away, has the most personalized plates in the USA. I think its a combination of the fact that there are a) lots of people living here, b) theyre cheap (if you have a # in them) and c) its a monkey-see monkey-do thing.

Ive seen millions of them, but here are some of my faves that I can remember off the top of my head:

1. was his 7 (on a Benz)
2. blubyu 9 (on a Vette)
3. soxsuk 1
4. beardwn (the truck was covered in Bears stickers)
5. nvwatuc (on one of my fave cars-- BMW M5)

Ah heck, there are just toooooooo many good ones to remember. Not a day goes by where I dont see several really clever plates.

[Drover]

RedEye had a full-feature story today about some noodlehead with the license plate "OBAMA" . . . why it was a story at all, much less a full-feature story, well, I never really did figure it out.

[M TYPE X]

According to a fellow grad student, who actually calls this state her native home, it was very inexpensive until recently to get a vanity plate in Illinois.

[doll lady]

I might also add I believe that Illinois has one of the highest number of registered classic cars on the road. Just about every classic car owner has a special vanity or personalized plate on their car.....plus these same car owners tend to put them on their other vehicles too.

GUILTY!!!!! We have 6 vanity/personalized plates on various classic/regular vehicles. ::::::::giggle:::::::::

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by doll lady

I might also add I believe that Illinois has one of the highest number of registered classic cars on the road. Just about every classic car owner has a special vanity or personalized plate on their car.....plus these same car owners tend to put them on their other vehicles too.

GUILTY!!!!! We have 6 vanity/personalized plates on various classic/regular vehicles. ::::::::giggle:::::::::

Illinois/Indiana/Ohio vs Michigan: more classic cars and fewer SUVs per capita. Works for me rather well, actually.

[Pegib]

It is just another way TO MAKE MONEY!!!!

[Manigault]

I think there are move vanity plates in the Ol' Dominion, Virginia. They also get to use the ampersand mark ("&") which is not allowed in IL.

IL has more kinds of plates than most states, that could be what people are talking about. There are college alumni plates, environmental, fraternal, POW and more. There are about 30 types of tags in IL.

[Katarina Witt]

In the 70s, vanity plates in Ill did not cost extra. I considered getting one myself. Perhaps a lot of people just kept them after they started charging.

[Triplewillow]

When we take my mother to the bank in the mall, we crawl the parking lot while we are waiting and read the plates. I have never lived anywhere that had more vanity plates! ... and i've lived in a lot of states! lol

my personal faves I've read:

8NT EZ
Jetlag
Fxn 2
C8 NT
BAD DRVR