Number Plates News

New Texas T-plates Take Off in Style

07 April 2010

Texans now have the opportunity to secure the plates they have always wanted. The new series of 'vanity plates', as they are popularly know in the States, will feature seven characters for the first time - and the first letter will be a 'T' for Texas.

The T-plates will allow recycling of earlier names and words which were originally claimed decades ago.

Among the first to be snapped up were T HOOKUP, T RUFDM, T GOLDEN, T RANCHR, T MIZZOU and T SHELBY. Under US regulations, plates can be supplied in any of 18 colours, including pink and black, making the personalisation even more distinctive.

There is a significant and ongoing cost, however. 'Vanity' registrations are charged at $95 [around £60) a year, although a discount is made for longer terms of up to 10 years, if you are prepared to commit for such a long time.

For example, Stan Kessl took advantage of the offer to pay just $40 (£26) a year to secure the plate T XLEXUS. Stan already has the ultimate 'KESSL' plate.

"I get them because I can never remember my license plate number," he joked.

In the current economic climate, however, some people are apprehensive. Russell Scott already owns 'RUSSMAN', but decided to pass on the latest issues claiming rather controversially that, "Anybody who spends $500 on license plates right now is nuts."

His caution is not shared by others, who have already contributed more than $1.9 million to the state coffers in vanity plate fees, a good proportion of which goes straight to charity groups and schools.