Michigan motorists continue to express their pride and personality through a wide variety of license plate designs





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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Dec. 22, 2025

Contact: Cheri Hardmon

[email protected]

 






What’s on your plate? Michigan Department of State releases top license plates on the road in 2025

*LANSING, Mich.** –* Michigan motorists continue to express their pride and personality through a wide variety of license plate designs, with more than 11.7 million plates currently in circulation across the state, according to the latest data from the Michigan Department of State (MDOS). Over 70% of Michigan license plates have the white Pure Michigan design, first issued in 2013. There are 498,744 personalized Michigan license plates in circulation, (4.25% of all plates), and 305,762 disability plates (2.6%). 

 

*Standard plates*

Of the state’s standard plate options, which cost $5, the white Pure Michigan plate remains the most popular choice, accounting for 71.5% of all issued plates – over 8.3 million on the road. This basic design includes university plates, special cause plates, permanent trailer plates and other specialty plates that use the design’s white background. 

 

The blue and yellow Water-Winter Wonderland plate, a nostalgic nod to Michigan’s past reintroduced in 2021 [ [link removed] ], is the second-most popular design with over 1.27 million issued (10.9%). In third place is the multicolor Mackinac Bridge plate at 1.25 million (10.7%). Other designs include the discontinued white, green and blue Spectacular Peninsulas plate, which celebrates Michigan’s natural beauty and has over 453,000 plates still in circulation, and the green and white throwback Water Wonderland plate reintroduced in 2024 [ [link removed] ], with 218,000 currently issued.  

 

*Legacy plates*

Legacy plates, which cost $55, bring back designs from decades ago. These plates were created by the state Legislature [ [link removed] ] to raise revenue for Michigan’s Transportation Fund which pays for road construction and repairs across the state. MDOS began issuing legacy plates in February of this year. The black and white Great Lake State design has had the strongest early interest with 58,325 issued. The blue and white Great Lakes legacy plate is on 4,953 vehicles so far. A third legacy plate—a red, white and blue design [ [link removed] ]—will be available from Jan. 2 to the end of 2026, celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial. 

 

*Veteran plates*

Veterans in Michigan are proudly honored through specialized plates, with more than 136,000 issued across various military branches and service recognitions. Of the service branches, Army veterans have the most plates on the road with 26,955, followed by Marine Corps veterans with 14,322, Navy veterans with 13,948, Air Force at 11,001 and the Coast Guard with 1,225.  

 

*University plates*

University pride also runs deep in the state, with 122,586 university fundraising plates on the road. Michigan State University leads the way with 56,413 plates, followed by the University of Michigan with 28,194, Central Michigan University with 7,450, and Western Michigan University with 5,919. 

 

*Special cause and organization plates*

Michigan drivers are also using their license plates to support causes and organizations close to their heart. More than 140,000 special cause or organization plates have been issued, with the Wildlife Habitat plate the most popular at 24,362. Other top choices include Patriotic at 13,896, Detroit Lions (team foundation) at 13,558, and Detroit Tigers (team foundation) at 10,235 plates. These specialty plates not only allow residents to showcase their passions but also to contribute to funding important charitable work across the state. 

 

For more information on license plate options in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/ [ [link removed] ]SOSplates [ [link removed] ]. 

 

Popular License Plates 2025

 
"*Plate no longer available to be issued but some remain in circulation. "

 

*Military / Veteran plate* 



*# issued* 



Disabled veteran (permanent) 



30,215 



Army veteran 



26,955 



Marine Corps veteran 



14,322 



Navy veteran 



13,948 



Vietnam War veteran 



12,176 



Air Force veteran 



11,001 



Disabled veteran (standard with tab) 



4,695 



Persian Gulf veteran 



4,480 



Iraq Conflict veteran 



3,001 



Vietnam Service Medal veteran 



2,653 



Combat wounded veteran – Purple Heart 



2,258 



Iraq Campaign Medal veteran 



1,834 



National Guard member 



1,822 



Afghanistan Conflict veteran 



1,656 



Afghanistan Campaign Medal veteran 



1,631 



Coast Guard veteran 



1,225 



Korean War veteran 



825 



Gold Star Family 



713 



Lebanon Conflict veteran 



290 



Military Reserve member 



216 



Cuban Missile Crisis veteran 



201 



Somalia Conflict veteran 



167 



Panama Conflict veteran 



164 



Grenada Conflict veteran 



143 



Blue Star Family 



114 



Ex-Prisoner of War 



67 



Merchant Marine member 



35 



Laos Conflict veteran 



20 



Dominican Republic veteran 



16 



Medal of Honor veteran 



1 



Pearl Harbor survivor 



1 



TOTAL 



*136,845* 



 

*University fundraising plate* 



*# issued* 



Michigan State University 



56,413 



University of Michigan 



28,194 



Central Michigan University 



7,450 



Western Michigan University 



5,919 



Michigan Tech University 



4,418 



Ferris State University 



3,916 



Grand Valley State University 



3,495 



Wayne State University 



2,527 



Oakland University 



2,166 



Eastern Michigan University 



2,128 



Saginaw Valley State University 



1,884 



Northern Michigan University 



1,742 



Lake Superior State University 



1,142 



University of Michigan – Dearborn 



656 



University of Michigan – Flint 



536 



TOTAL 



*122,586* 



 

*Special cause/special organization plate* 



*# issued* 



Wildlife Habitat 



24,362 



Patriotic 



13,896 



Detroit Lions (foundation) 



13,558 



Detroit Tigers (foundation) 



10,235 



Lighthouse Preservation 



7,508 



Breast Cancer Awareness 



7,500 



Water Quality 



6,157 



Detroit Red Wings (foundation) 



6,057 



Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union 



6,047 



Agricultural Heritage 



5,857 



Donate Life 



5,613 



Michigan Fraternal Order of Police 



5,096 



Ducks Unlimited 



4,388 



Children Trust Michigan 



4,008 



Support Michigan Veterans 



3,998 



Veteran Memorial 



3,378 



Amateur radio operator 



3,346 



Michigan State Firemen’s Association 



2,588 



Olympic Education 



1,748 



Police Officers Association of Michigan 



1,492 



Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons 



1,310 



Detroit Pistons (foundation) 



983 



Boy Scouts of America 



606 



Be the Match 



374 



Michigan 4-H 



165 



Delta Sigma 



119 



Sickle Cell Anemia 



24 



TOTAL 



*140,413* 



" All stats as of 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2025 "

 

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