January 15, 2003 (First released January 10, 2003)

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced the Department of State’s latest customer service, “Plate It Your Way,” will allow motorists to check the availability of a personalized license plate at the department’s web site:  www.michigan.gov/sos

Secretary Land added that visitors to the 2003 North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall in Detroit will have an opportunity to preview the new program at any of the four computer stations set up at the Secretary of State booth on the Main Concourse.  Secretary Land will be at the Secretary of State booth on Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to meet visitors and talk about the program.

“Vanity plates have grown in popularity over the years, and hardly a day goes by that a customer isn’t in the branch office ordering a personalized plate,” Secretary Land said.  “Too often, a customer is disappointed to find their first choice taken, and then the burden is on them to come up with a second or third selection while they are standing at the counter.

“It’s a process that can be frustrating for the customer and time consuming for the branch office staff.  Now customers can spend time reviewing options on the Internet and get a preview of how the personalized plate will look when it arrives in the mail.”

The state’s Chief Motor Vehicle Administrator explained that the new online program allows customers to select the type of plate they want, such as the traditional blue-and-white plate, the Great Lakes Splendor plate, university fundraising license plate, or one of the seven fundraising plates that generate revenue for special causes.

Customers then enter the word, phrase, letters or numbers to appear on the plate they have selected.  If the configuration is not available, they will be directed to try another one.

Once a personalized plate is identified as available, fee information is provided, allowing customers to go to a Secretary of State branch office to place their order.  While the program does not allow plates to be ordered or reserved online, it makes it easy for customers to preview a variety of options when choosing a plate.

The personalized license plate program is the latest customer service option offered by the Secretary of State’s Office, which has been a leader in state government online services in Michigan.

The Secretary of State’s Office was the first to make it possible for Michigan residents to do business with state government online, with the renewal of license plates.  Since that time, the web site has offered a variety of services including the organ donor registry enrollment program and access to a variety of records including campaign finance records of statewide candidates.

Funds from personalized license plate sales are dedicated to highway beautification and cleanup.  In the 2002 fiscal year, the department collected $3,138,153 in personalized license plate fees.

As of November 2002, there were 163,053 personalized license plate registrations on file with the Secretary of State.

(517) 241-2800 - Radio Hotline

> Return to News and Headlines

> Check the availability of a personalized license plate