- Michigan revives red, white, and blue plate for America’s 250th.
- Orders for the semiquincentennial plate open January 2, 2026.
- Legacy plates cost $55 and include a road fund contribution.
License plates aren’t usually the stuff of headlines, but lately, they’re getting a surprising amount of attention across the country. Indiana and Wisconsin have both rolled out new blackout designs this year, while Wisconsin also reached into the past with a revival in “Butter Yellow.”
Now, Michigan is getting in on the fun with a special semiquincentennial plate that goes on sale January 2, 2026. It’ll complement two other retro plates already on offer from the state.
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America’s 250th birthday is next year, and that’s the impetus for the celebratory plate. “As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, I’m proud to announce Michigan’s iconic red, white, and blue license plate will return to our roads in 2026,” Benson said.
“Our latest legacy plate honors our country’s founding and history along with our ongoing fight for freedom, equality, and justice for all,” she added.
Anniversary Style
The new plate is a modernized callback to the original 1976 bicentennial tag. When that arrived, it earned Michigan its first “Plate of the Year” award from the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
The revived version retains the bold patriotic palette, stars, stripes, and updated numbering, blending nostalgia with a fresh, crisp layout meant to stand out on the road.
The semiquincentennial plate is the latest addition to the state’s expanding legacy lineup, created under Public Act 317 of 2023. That legislation led to the creation of two other plates that both harken back to classic designs.
The first is called the “Great Lake State,” plate, and it features simple black-on-white graphics. It first appeared on Michigan roads in the late 1970s. The other, dubbed “Old Blue,” ended production in 2007 before returning recently. It combines a blue-on-white aesthetic. Both have proven popular.
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Ordering any of Michigan’s legacy plates comes with a one-time $55 fee, including a $50 contribution to the Michigan Transportation Fund, which supports statewide road construction and repair.
Renewals cost $10 annually. Collector versions are also available for $10, though they can’t be used for registration or personalization.
