State legislatures use various mechanisms to supplement general funds for state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs). One such method is the sale of specialty arts license plates, which feature artistic designs and generate revenue through an additional fee on vehicle registrations. For example, California’s iconic “Coastline” specialty plate was designed by California artist Wayne Thiebaud in 1993. These plates generate revenue for state arts agencies and their constituents through a fee in addition to the regular state licensing fee. As of 2025, 18 states—Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaiʻi, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia—now offer arts‑themed license plates, with proceeds directed to their state arts agencies or other designated arts organizations.

Each specialty plate typically contributes $5 to $30 to arts funding, adding over $15 million to SAA budgets in FY2025. These funds generally support state arts programs, though Indiana uses the income to build its state cultural trust and Florida uses the funds to support arts organizations in each of its counties. Beyond funding, specialty plates can serve as an advocacy tool by raising the visibility of the SAA or the arts in general. For instance, the Alaska State Council on the Arts held a statewide competition to select its plate design, engaging constituents and public officials in the process.

Creating and maintaining specialty license plates presents challenges. State officials are often concerned about the cost of designing license plates when demand is low. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), designing a plate costs between $6,000 and $20,000. This expense has led more than 30 states to require interest groups to guarantee a minimum number of sales or cover manufacturing costs before approving new plates.

The growing number of specialty plates presents a significant challenge. NCSL reports that across 52 states and jurisdictions, there are more than 5,000 unique specialty plates, with Texas, Pennsylvania and Maryland each offering more than 400 different designs. This saturation makes it difficult for arts license plates to stand out among the many options available to motorists. Additionally, some states have encountered difficulties in administering and collecting revenues from specialty plates. The complex tracking and distribution of funds can complicate their effectiveness as a consistent funding source for arts programs.

Despite these challenges, many states have successfully established specialty plate programs as a viable source of supplemental funding for the arts.

For more information and detailed data on license plates or other dedicated revenue strategies, contact NASAA Research Manager Nakyung Rhee.

State Arts License Plate Programs