Was sitting in traffic the other day with a car in front of me with NJ tags and I realized they now have printed license plates where it's all flat and the numbers/letters are just printed directly on. In PA we still have the old-school embossed plates with the raised numbers/letters and was wondering why the switch to printed? Easier maybe for license plate reader cameras? Cheaper to produce?

It seems to me that over half of the cars on the road with PA tags have tags that look like shit; peeling, beat up, illegible, just looks like ass. Other states must enforce this better than us because it seems to be a PA thing to see a nice car with plates that look like they went through WWII.

Ordinary plates are embossed but I think custom plates are printed in MO. In Illinois both are embossed.

All of them are still embossed here thankfully.


Flat plates are cheaper and easier to produce which is why a lot of states are switching to them.

The last time I paid attention, Colorado had both types. My ham radio callsign plate’s number and letters are printed on, but embossed is/was the usual method for “regular” plates. As for the condition of the plates, at one time new plates were issued every year, but that practice ended a long time ago. Now they ask what the condition is and if one needs new plates. Many people like to keep their old plates that may have some special significance to them, but as they get faded and hard to read, that becomes a controversial point with the police. I’ve seen plates whose characters were obviously touched up with paint by the owners.

The plates are still embossed in Michigan.

Kentucky has switched to the flat, plastic plates.

Indiana has flat aluminum plates that get snagged and bent by carwash brushes. I bought a metal frame for mine to keep it flat.

KS has switched to non embossed plates, cheaper and easier since they now offer about 40 different plates. Have an In God we trust on the wifes car and KS national Rifle association plate on my pick up.

Much prefer the embossed plates

quote:

It seems to me that over half of the cars on the road with PA tags have tags that look like shit; peeling, beat up, illegible, just looks like ass. Other states must enforce this better than us because it seems to be a PA thing to see a nice car with plates that look like they went through WWII.

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PA needs to fund the prisons. Inmates can only do so much with outdated equipment.

State Correctional Institution (SCI) Fayette in La Belle, makes the plates. You could also save money by just having a rear plate.

Embossed plates in NH, but the background is a printed graphic.

SC's are printed now.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

You could also save money by just having a rear plate.

That's all we have, the rear plate.

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Good to know. Thanks

TN has gone to all printed and we only have rear plates still.

I think Texas went to printed about two decades ago. At least they don't come pre warped anymore. We have a front and rear plate.

Montana's are all printed.

Washinton has embossed front and back plates.

Jim

Front and rear in Maine. "Regular" plates are embossed.

I think the various designer plates (chickadee, cooked lobster, save the gay whales...) are as well, but I'm not sure about that.

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save the gay whales..

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Hahaha

quote:

Originally posted by 83v45magna:
I think Texas went to printed about two decades ago. At least they don't come pre warped anymore. We have a front and rear plate.

Yep, printed on thinner metal than the older stamped plates.
But, you do get them a lot quicker than before.

When I registered my Malibu, she pulled a set from under the counter & I was out the door.

IIRC, it was the prior design TX plates when the switch started. I recall the 6 digit plates were stamped & the 7 digit went to printed.
Shortly afterward, they went to the, much better looking IMO, black & white plates we have now.