LANSING — Michigan will bring back its red, white and blue license plate next year to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Tuesday.
According to a Dec. 11 news release, drivers can order the limited-edition semiquincentennial plate from Jan. 2 through the end of 2026.
“As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, I’m proud to announce Michigan’s iconic red, white and blue license plate will return to our roads in 2026,” Benson said. “Our latest legacy plate honors our country’s founding and history along with our ongoing fight for freedom, equality and justice for all.”
The design modernizes Michigan’s 1976 bicentennial plate, which earned the state its first Plate of the Year award from the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. The new plate features American flag elements including bold colors, stars and stripes.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Public Act 317 of 2023 to revive the patriotic plate and create two additional legacy designs replicating Michigan’s white-on-blue and white-on-black plates first issued in the 1970s and 1980s.
Drivers choosing any of the three legacy plates will pay a one-time $55 fee, which includes a $5 plate service fee and a $50 contribution to the Michigan Transportation Fund to support road construction and repairs. Renewing a legacy plate will cost $10 in subsequent years.
Michiganders can order the new semiquincentennial plate beginning Jan. 2 online at Michigan.gov/SOS, when purchasing a vehicle through a dealership, or by scheduling an appointment at any Secretary of State office.
More information is available at Michigan.gov/LegacyPlates.