Iowa officials today unveiled three potential designs for the state's new license plate.
Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Iowa DOT Director Mark Lowe presented the design options at the opening of the Iowa state fair Thursday.
“The designs represent elements of what makes us Iowans,” Gov. Reynolds said, according to a press release. “We are patriotic. We are forward thinking. We take pride in our state’s natural beauty. And we embrace contributions from both the rural and urban areas of our state.”
Plates with the new design will be issued to drivers who add or change vehicles, or when their current license plates expire. Vehicle owners who want a new plate sooner may purchase a set from their local county treasurer’s office for $5.
The city and country plate design has been in place since 1998 and accounts for about 4.2 million of the 4.4 million plates in circulation, according to the governor's office.
The designs were created by Iowa DOT graphic artists. Iowans can vote for their design choice online. Once a design is chosen, the new plate will be available sometime in 2018.
Iowans who currently have county standard plates will receive replacement plates with the new design when their current plate reaches the end of its 10-year replacement cycle.
Iowans can cast a vote for their favorite design at the DOT’s booth (number 762-764) in the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds or online here. Voting will be open Aug. 10-20.