UK, U of L, coal? What are Kentucky's most popular specialty license plates?
Specialized license plates let Kentuckians share what they care about with the world, for a price.
They cost a little more than the standard $21 plates, but with them, you can tell the people stuck behind you in traffic about your favorite sports team (UK or U of L?) or your passion for fishing. Or about your support for law enforcement, horse racing or curing diabetes.
Those who have successfully become Kentucky Colonels or amateur radio operators can share that accomplishment with a plate (kindly note: You’ll need proof).
The plates are more than decorations though, with many specialized plates donating part of their fees to organizations ― scholarships for universities and funds for the Louisville Zoo, Norton Children’s Hospital, preserving hunting lands and more.
To learn what license plates Louisvillians and Kentuckians across the state favor, The Courier Journal filed an open records request with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for last year's top sellers.
Statewide, the black Friends of Coal license plates with the “Coal Keeps the Lights On!” slogan were the most popular for new plates, with 24,117 issued. Each plate contributes to the Kentucky Coal Association.
Historic plates — allowed on vehicles that are at least 25 years old and used “primarily for exhibition in shows, parades, tours and special uses but not for general transportation” — were the second-most popular with 10,510 plates issued.
U.S. Army license plates came in third, with 9,577 issued. Those plates donate money to the Veterans’ Trust Fund. Those plates are available only to current or retired members of the Army.
University of Kentucky plates — which carry the “Go big blue!” slogan and help fund scholarships — were the fourth most popular in the commonwealth, with 9,577 issued.
Trailing UK were University of Louisville plates, with 7,617 plates showing the teeth-baring cardinal.
The state’s top plates were also the leaders for Jefferson County, though their rankings were switched up.
In Kentucky’s most populous county, U of L plates reigned supreme with 4,577 issued.
Second were Friends of Coal plates at 1,391.
Third were Historic plates with 1,196 issued.
UK plates came in fourth with 1,172 issued.
And fifth were U.S. Army plates, with 957 issued.
To learn more about what specialized license plates you can put on your vehicle ― and how much they cost ― go to: https://secure2.kentucky.gov/kytc/plates/web
More: License plate lingo: Here are the vanity license plates Kentucky rejected last year
Reach reporter Josh Wood at jwood@gannett.com or on Twitter @JWoodJourno
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Here are the top 5 specialty license plates in Kentucky
