Decorative License Plates

"Idaho: World Famous Potatoes", "Oklahoma: Is Ok!", "Ohio: Seat Belts Fastened?", "Kentucky: Bluegrass State", "Kansas: The Wheat State", "Maryland: Drive Carefully", are few of the examples of the slogans displayed on decorative license plates. Man by nature is a collector of unique, rare or interesting things. I once collected match box covers for some time and then moved on to collect playing cards printed with interesting patterns on them. Well, it didn't last for a long time but that another story. Do you remember the things you collected when you were a young child? Some people collect rare and unique stamps while few collect and flaunt diamonds and precious stones, at parties. The list of things that can attract man is endless and so is man's appetite for collecting things. Some individuals are interested in collecting decorative license plates.

Medium of Expression: Decorative License Plates

The German State of Baden was the first to issue license plates. In the United States of America, the city of Boston was the first to make it mandatory for motorists to hold a license and register their vehicle. The first picture to adorn a license plate was that of a 'codfish'. Nowadays, decorative license plates are used mostly to decorate a vehicle. However, you do find some that decorate the walls of a sitting room, offices or clubs etc. The following are the different uses a decorative license plate can be put to:

• Decorative license plates are used as a medium of expression by dedicated fans of a sport or a sports club to air their support.
• Occasionally, these plates can also be purchased to be presented as gift.
• Few people also use customized license plates to express their sentiments for their 'cherished one' by displaying their images on such license plates.
• Zodiac plates is a category of decorative license plates that are specially made to display 'zodiac signs'.
• Decorative license plates depicting smiley face symbols, are known as 'Smiley plates'.
• There is a class of decorative license plates known as 'Ying Yang' plates, that display Taoist symbols.

The Department of Motor Vehicle sells license plates that are valid for only a short period of time, and the collectors of decorative license plates consider them valuable collectibles. These license plates are sold to finance a worthy cause in the state issuing the particular license plate. A percentage of the money raised from this activity, may go to organizations working in the field of wildlife protection or flood relief or to those working in hurricane affected areas.

Antique License Plates

The old license plates that were made before 1900 still exit and some of them are still active. The first license plate issued in Massachusetts carries the registration number "1" and was issued to Mr. Frederick Tudor in 1903. This license plate is still held as an active registration by one of his family members and is invaluable in terms of making history and is priceless, as regards, antiques and collectibles. What are the attributes of an antique license plate? Color, size, shape and condition of the antique license plate and the history associated with it, make it valuable. A 1921, Alaskan license plate with a registration number "270" on it, is the costliest antique license plate in the United States of America. In 2000, it was auctioned for $60,000 in the state of Maine. If you want to acquire an antique license plate you may have to visit scrap dealers or antique shops which specialize in such items. If you find one, in good condition, then make sure that it belongs to a car because truck or trailer plates aren't in much demand.

If you want to display a decorative license plate on your vehicle, it is suggested that you are well versed with the state laws regulating its use. In some states it is mandatory to display state issued license plates in the front, and at the back of the vehicles or cars. The license plate, number plate, plate, or tag are the various license plate names, which are used to refer to Vehicle registration plates.

If you really want a particular license plate, then you must be ready to pay through your nose. These special decorative license plate do not come cheap. A license plate well known as "M1" was auctioned for $660,000 in England. However, "M1" is not the most costly of license plates. Recently, a person from Dubai paid $14 million to acquire a vanity license plate at an auction. Now can you believe that.