Vermont is thinking about throwing some personality onto its license plates. Right now, they are stark. White lettering on a leafy green background. It is the definition of “all business.” Even the special interest plates, which feature logos for ham radio operators or the National Ski Patrol, look like the icons were slapped on as an afterthought. The selection is also thin. You cannot buy a plate for a national sports team because Vermont does not have one. It is a state that has always kept its rear bumper strictly functional.
That might change soon.
How the Vermont emoji license plate bill works
State Representative Rebecca White introduced a bill in late January 2020. It sent the proposal to the state’s Committee on Transportation. The core idea? Let drivers add one of six undecided emojis to their new plates.
The emoji would sit alongside the standard letter and number combo. It would not replace any characters. The alphanumeric code remains the official identification. This means state troopers will likely not call out “eggplant” or “sunglasses” over the radio. They identify special interest plates by their main number, and this would likely follow the same protocol.
Rep. White’s office did not respond to requests for comment. Speculation is all we have. Though, weirder things have happened in the world of vehicle registration.
Why this isn’t as crazy as it sounds
People assume this is a wild, unprecedented idea. It is not.
Queensland, Australia, has been doing this since 2019. There, five specific emojis are available. They pair with a three-letter, two-number sequence. The Australian system is actually more chaotic and fun than what Vermont is proposing.
In Queensland, drivers can choose:
– Text and background colors
– Background designs like scenic landscapes or cartoon character logos
– Custom captions on certain plates
– Duplicate sets of plates with different designs to swap out at will
Vermont’s proposal is much more restrained. It is just an emoji on the current design.
Which state will be first in the US?
If the bill passes, Vermont becomes the first state in the United States to offer emoji license plates. It is a small step. Pricing is not set. The specific emojis are not chosen. The details are still vague.
Will other states follow? Probably not immediately. The Green Mountain State is not exactly known for bold automotive choices. But if one state cracks the code, the dominoes might fall.
“Vermont is traditionally all business when it comes to license plates.”
The state has never had a national sports team to brag about on a plate. So maybe a little digital silliness is overdue. We hope other states catch on. We hope they give us a reason to laugh.
Until then, we are stuck with green rectangles and white text. Or maybe we will get a tiny pixelated face. Who knows?
