- Blue MA250 plates smash records with 57,000 issued already.
- Lottery offers plates numbered 1 through 999, as well as 1776.
- Winners are chosen randomly and can’t request specific numbers.
Drivers in Massachusetts have gone nuts for the state’s new blue license plates, introduced late last year to celebrate 250 years of US independence. But if they’d waited, they would have got a chance to grab a plate that really makes their car stand out from the crowd.
In just seven months, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has issued an incredible 57,000 of the MA250 plates, CBS News reports. For context, the long-running Cape and Islands license plate took roughly 30 years to reach the low 30,000s.
Related: These New Pink License Plates Aren’t For Show, They’re A Warning Sign
Clearly, Bay Staters have a thing for smart blue backgrounds, crisp white lettering, and that patriotic 1776 insignia ringed by 13 stars. It looks sharp, slightly diplomatic, and just different enough to make your crossover feel like it got dressed up for a historical reenactment ahead of July 4.
Feeling Lucky?
Now the state is ready to make the prospect of getting a blue license plate even more desirable. The RMV, in partnership with the Massachusetts State Lottery, is holding a lottery for plates with low number combinations. Up for grabs are plates numbered 1 through 999, including 250, plus the crown jewel, 1776.
But forget the independence thing for a minute and rewind, because someone is about to daily drive plate number 1 for just $60 up front, and then $40 every other year, all of the plates carrying the same fee.
Before you start practicing your acceptance speech, there are rules. You need an active Massachusetts vehicle registration, and only one entry per applicant is allowed. Companies, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and anyone connected to MassDOT or the Mass Lottery are out.
Get What You’re Given
You also can’t request a specific number. Plates will be assigned using an electronic random number generator, which means your dream of snagging 007 or 1776 is entirely up to fate. And that dreamy #1 plate could even end up on a $22k Nissan Versa.
Winners will be announced in early May and posted online, with swaps from existing plates required by late August. To enter the lottery, head to the RMV’s website and submit your application.
What number would you be crossing your fingers for and do you think the Mass anniversary plate looks better than Michigan’s equally patriotic version?
