State offers specialty license plates

Holiday shopping a little "2NSANE? Need a "HUGGR?"

Why not treat yourself this holiday season to your own personalized license plate? Or purchase one that supports your favorite organization, college or sports team.

"In November, we moved the application process for specialty plates from the Texas Department of Transportation's Austin office to your local county tax office and added an online ordering feature to make buying these plates much more convenient," said Rebecca Davio, director of TxDOT's Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, the office that oversees production of the state's license plates.

"It's a great way to support your favorite organization or express what's on your mind or what you do," Davio said.

Linda Crawford, Lampasas County tax assessor-collector, said besides making it easy for customers to apply for plates, they also will see an added benefit in the spring when TxDOT combines the specialty plate and registration fees into one renewal notice.

"Right now, customers with specialty plates pay their plate renewal at a different time from their registration, and many of them have told us they would prefer to pay it all when they renew their registration," said Mrs. Crawford. "Now they will be able to do that."

Most specialty license plates cost $30 or $40, and an extra $40 for a personalized message. For those wanting just a personalized plate, the cost is $40. The fees are paid annually, along with vehicle registration.

Last year, the Texas Legislature passed a bill to help ensure that money collected by the state for specialty license plates is given to the designated organization.

When you buy a specialty or personalized plate, TxDOT is reimbursed for administrative and manufacturing costs, and the remainder is sent to state funds appropriated by the Legislature.

Today, more than 240,000 Texans own specialty license plates, and more than 93,000 have personalized license plates.

The state's top five sellers are State of the Arts, Animal Friendly, Horned Lizard, Texas A&M University and Bluebonnet, respectively.

To see all of the state's plates or to learn more about specialty plates, go to www.texasonline.com or www.txdot.gov.