Here are the best vanity plates I spotted across Rhode Island in 2021

When I moved back to Rhode Island in 2020 after a few years of living (and road-tripping) all over the country, one thing stood out to me: Rhode Islanders really love vanity plates.

According to the only data that I've been able to find — a study from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators that dates back to 2007 — vanity plates aren't actually more prevalent here than in other states. We ranked 21st in the nation, with a "vanity plate penetration rate" of 3.67%, putting us behind New Hampshire, New Jersey or Connecticut.

Still, once you start looking for vanity plates, you'll notice them everywhere. Some allude to the driver's profession (TOTDOC, SKINDOC, TUTHDR) or their favorite hobbies (SAILIN, FISHY, REELN, GOLFN.) Others can be baffling — what compels someone to pay for a plate that says CORN, HAGGIS or WUHAN?

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This summer, around the time I started working for The Providence Journal, I started a Twitter thread to post photos of the vanity plates that I see while traveling around the state. It turns out that a lot of people share my enthusiasm — and many have started sending me photos of plates they've spotted.

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Among my favorite submissions: YMEGOD, LONMBR, CLAMZZ, HATERS and STOLEN.

Have you seen an interesting vanity plate out in the wild — or want to show off your own? Email afarzan@providencejournal.com or DM @antoniafarzan on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Best RI vanity plates spotted in 2021