Vanity License Plates Express More Than Vanity

Vanity license plates drive me crazy. Especially when I can’t
figure out the cryptic six or seven letter message the car owner
is expressing. Sometimes the car owner helps out with a hint or
two posted on the license plate frame.

I always wanted to get a vanity plate for my new car, but I’m
usually intently focused on negotiating the best possible deal
and forget about the plate when signing the paperwork buying the
car.

In California, the Department of Motor Vehicles gives you a
second chance to order vanity plates for your new or used car.
You can order special interest plates through www.dmv.ca.gov or by calling
1-800-777-0133.

The purchase price and annual renewal fees help support
nonprofit organizations. Currently, California special interest
plates support seven different organizations:

* www.yosemitefund.org
— Yosemite plates support trail repair and wildlife protection,

* www.kidsplates.org —
Supports children’s safety programs throughout California,

* www.coastforyou.org —
Funds coastal access trails, beach cleanups and wetland
restoration,

* www.cac.ca.gov — Art
plates fund art programs for children in schools and communities,

* www.tahoecons.ca.gov
— Tahoe plates fund critical restoration to the Lake Tahoe
area,

* www.cdva.ca.gov —
Veterans plates fund statewide veteran service offices,

* www.dmv.ca.gov —
California Memorial plates support California’s antiterrorism
Fund and scholarships for children of Californian’s who died in
9/11 terrorist attacks.

The Arts License Plate is the most popular specialty plate in
California with over 125,000 plates sold since it was introduced
in 1994. Nearly half of the proceeds from the purchase and all
of the renewal fees contributed to more than $7 million raised
for the California Arts Council.

Vanity license plates are available year-round so you don’t need
to wait until your car registration is up for renewal to
purchase one. Besides supporting your favorite nonprofit
organization, you also can drive us crazy by trying to figure
out your personalized message to us.

(c) 2005 by Howard Young

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