Check Out America's Best New License Plates, Hawaii's Gorgeous Design Takes the Top Spot

People living in other parts of the world where license plates are standardized find the US doing its own thing a bit weird. All 50 states have different designs that can change every year and varying pricing policies. It's something you can only sometimes see in the European Union, for example. Some countries allow personalized plates, but they are similar to the standardized look. You can change a couple of letters and numbers, not the whole background or official markings.

Thus, America's approach is impressive (and welcomed!) because it allows people to relate better to their cars and add just another teeny touch of personal expression to the ownership experience.

We have New York Governor Benjamin Odell Jr. to thank for this. He decided in 1901 that all cars must be registered, bearing their owners' initials. But instead of creating an agency to deal with making the license plates, everyone was allowed to display their designs. This raised a couple of issues.

Massachusetts learned from New York State's mistake. The officials figured out that more people could share the same initials. As such, they tackled the license plate issue by making it a state-issued object in 1903.

Some years pass by

Seven decades later, the US had many exciting designs, but Canada was already ahead with their colorful approach. That's why the Northwest Territories and its Polar Bear representation were retroactively honored with the very first Best New Plate award. Initially, Pennsylvania (1971), Wyoming (1972), and Prince Edward Island (1973) were declared winners at the first-ever ALPCA convention in Ottawa, Canada.

Fast forward fifty years and Hawaii receives the much-coveted prize for the first time. The Polynesian Voyaging license plate design costs Hawaiians $36 when the pair is first acquired and $25 when the yearly renewal is upon them. The state keeps $5, and $20 goes towards the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS).

This organization celebrates the Polynesian way of voyaging by using old and authentic double-hulled canoes to navigate the waters without using modern instruments such as GPS. They want to inspire the younger generations to care for the environment and show them that it's possible to discover the world without forgetting their important heritage.

Interestingly, PVS was founded in the same year when ALPCA handed out the first "Best New Plate" awards. One could say that it took too long to recognize Hawaii's contribution to the license plate design universe, but we cannot complain when so much creativity is used on such a small and often overlooked item.

A testament to bravery, curiosity, and self-consciousness

Originally, the Polynesian Voyaging license plate was intended only for electric vehicle owners also members of the PVS. It was a way to showcase that they care about the climate and, simultaneously, a reward for picking the zero-tailpipe emission automobile. However, the colorful design with Hawaiian-specific elements, reminiscent of the prowess of early explorers and sacred areas, quickly became popular with more motorists. As such, the limitation was dropped, and everyone can now choose to sport ALPCA's best new plate of 2022.

The vessel with bright red sails pictured on the license plate went on an around-the-world voyage, and a crew of 12 PVS members is currently in the process of doing it all over again, albeit on a smaller scale. They will be joined by an escort ship throughout their adventure because tragedy has struck in the past when similar travels have happened.

The association's members chose the winning license plates from a pool of 20 nominations. Each of the 516 jurors had nine points to give out, but five were reserved for their first place of choice. The organizers feared that 20 plates to choose from might be too much. But Hawaii's design was liked by so many of ALPCA's members that it ended up with 17.5% of the total points possible, specifically 796.

Todd Yamashita designed the plate. He is also a farmer on the Island of Molokai, where around 7,000 people live. He was employed by the PVS when the plate design was near completion but was laid off after the global health crisis. Nonetheless, he finished it off, and the debut took place a couple of months later.

Previous designs were also great

The second spot with 504 points belongs to the Modoc Nation in Oklahoma, for whom President Theodore Roosevelt set aside the Modoc National Forest. Only those with a tribal membership card can choose this one. It was also noteworthy for ALPCA because it was the first-ever tribal plate to be nominated for this contest.

Florida's rejuvenated State Parks license plate comes in on the third spot with 362 points, while Delaware's "Save Shorebirds" (350 points) and Montana's "Glacier National Park" (320 points) plates complete the top five.

Tennessee (306 points), Oregon (242 points), Alabama (237 points), Georgia (217 points), and Arizona (177 points) occupy the next five spots.

Maryland, Connecticut, Nebraska, Newfoundland and Labrador, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Washington were also candidates for the prize. Still, jurors decided to leave them in the bottom half of the nomination pool.

ALPCA has approximately 2,800 members in all the US states and 19 other countries. Those who want to vote in the "Best New Plate" competition must do so before a previously set and announced deadline.

Last year, ALPCA members chose Delaware's 2021 "Support Pollinators" vibrant license plate as the winner. ALPCA's 2020 champion was Oklahoma's "Save the Monarchs" plate.

Finally, the organizers say that 2022 was great for collectors because everyone submitted at least one five-point winner. In previous years, some voters decided not to award any points because they disliked the qualified plates.

The best plates of 2023 will be analyzed and voted on next year.

Don't hesitate to tell us your favorite in the comment section down below. We would love to hear your take on this year's "Best New Plate" competition.