Vehicle registration plates of Ohio

Ohio
Current series
NameSunrise in Ohio
SloganBirthplace of Aviation
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC 1234
IntroducedDecember 29, 2021 (2021-12-29)[1]
Availability
Issued byOhio Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Manufactured byOhio Penal Industries
History
First issuedJuly 11, 1908 (1908-07-11)[2]

The U.S. state of Ohio first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1908, although several cities within the state issued their own license plates from as early as 1902.

As of 2022, plates are issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Only rear plates have been required for all classes of vehicles, except commercial tractors, since July 1, 2020.[3] However, vehicle owners can request specialized, personalized plate serials, in addition to their rear plates, for an extra charge. But eventually, that second-plate option will phase out entirely when state legislation passes a bill. [4] All plates are manufactured by inmates at Ohio Penal Industries at the Lebanon Correctional Institution;[5][6] since 2015, they have been manufactured out of aluminum, having been made of galvanized steel beforehand.[7] The BMV issues a new license plate design about every five years,[8] or with each new administration in the state government.[9]

A new "Sunrise in Ohio" plate design was unveiled by Governor Mike DeWine on October 21, 2021,[10] and was made available to drivers December 29, 2021, replacing the "Ohio Pride" design which had been issued since April 2013.[1]

  1. ^ a b Croup, Josh (December 26, 2021). "New Ohio license plate design becomes standard Wednesday". WTVG. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Taylor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Bischoff, Laura A. (April 3, 2019). "No more front license plate: Gov. DeWine signs bill doing away with it". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Braddock, Tiarra (July 1, 2020). "Ohio drivers no longer required to have front license plates". WOIO. Retrieved November 1, 2021. Drivers can still request a second license plate for an extra $7.50, but a single plate will cost $6.50.
  5. ^ ""Flat" License Plates Now Issued For Made-To-Order Plates" (Press release). Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Ohio Department of Public Safety. August 12, 2003. Archived from the original on December 2, 2003. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Enquirer Pulfer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Blackwell, Brandon (January 29, 2013). "Ohio license plate recall brings more questions than answers". The Plain Dealer. Advance Publications. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  8. ^ "Beautiful Ohio ousts sunburst as state plate". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Block Communications. June 7, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference McNair was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Tobias, Andrew J. (October 21, 2021). "Ohio unveils new 'Sunrise in Ohio' license plate design". Cleveland.com. Advance Publications. Retrieved December 30, 2021.