Minnesota’s blackout license plates have been a huge hit. Here’s who is buying them.
People between 45 and 54, who drive luxury cars or live in fast-growing cities in northwestern Hennepin County were the top buyers.
Minnesotans are in love with their blackout license plates, with nearly a quarter million of them affixed to front and back bumpers.
The tags featuring block white letters against a black background are by far the top selling specialty plate of the 123 available in the Minnesota, and last year they blew past sales projections by nearly 90,000.
But who besides Gov. Tim Walz, who bought one of the plates last January, is shelling out $15.50 (the price of a standard plate) plus a $30 annual fee for the privilege of owning one of the novelties?
Blackout plates have been extremely popular with middle-aged Minnesotans, who have snapped up the plates beginning with the letter Z at a rate faster than anyone. For every 10,000 residents between 45 and 54, about 770 now have a blackout plate, according to data from the Department of Vehicle Services, tracking plates issued and sold from January to December.
Adults over 65 bought them at the slowest rate of any age demographic, followed by younger drivers between 18 and 24.
Minnesota’s blackout license plates have been a huge hit, with over 225,840 plates issued by late 2024. These plates feature bright white characters on a deep black background and have become a sought-after accessory for Minnesota drivers.¹
*Who’s Buying Them?*
– *Minnesota Residents*: The plates are available for passenger cars, light trucks, recreational vehicles (RVs), and motorcycles.
– *Sports Fans*: Specialty plates supporting local professional sports teams, such as the Vikings, Twins, Wild, Timberwolves, Lynx, and Minnesota United, are also available.
– *Supporters of Good Causes*: A portion of the fees collected from blackout plates supports essential Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) operations, including new self-service kiosks, and organizations like the Lions Club International and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) awareness.
*Plate Options and Fees*
– *Standard Blackout Plates*: $30 annual contribution to DVS, plus a special plate fee of $15.50 for cars, trucks, and RVs, or $13.50 for motorcycles.
– *Personalized Plates*: Available with custom lettering for an additional fee.
– *Accessibility Plates*: Available with accessibility symbol for drivers with disabilities.
