Rating:

5.0 (1 vote)

BILLINGS - When you walk into most Motor Vehicle Department offices in Montana to register a vehicle or get new license plates, you might be overwhelmed with the number of choices.

And while there are 56 numerically-coded county license plates, there are scores and scores of distinct specialty plates.

Yellowstone County Treasurer Max Lenington chuckles and notes, "Today we have 132 different, distinct specialty plates...each bearing a little different motif."

It's been more than a decade since the specialty plates were first introduced and their appeal has not diminished.

"It was popular when it was initiated and it's been popular ever since," Lenington states.

And the options continue to increase - in fact, just last week seven new plates were introduced.

From schools and towns to non-profit organizations and alumni groups, it seems Montana drivers are more than willing to support a cause, including its price tag.

Lenington explained, "They run from probably $40-$70 initially to get, and then every year you get the renewal you pay the donation again and that runs from $20-$40."

In addition to supporting a cause, many drivers admit they simply like the design. "Well, they're pretty!" Lenington says. "They're very attractive in some cases. They're just neat."

Regardless of the reason for purchasing a specialty plate, one thing is for certain: they're making Montana's roadways quite a bit more colorful.

Click here to see the complete list of available specialty plates on the MVD website.