Personalized license plates.We see them everywhere. Heading to work or going to school, the cars passing us by along the way exhibit a myriad of unique numbers, letters and symbols.
Many of us find ourselves craning our necks to peek through our windshields at these specialized 6 by 12 inch plates displayed on the vehicles before us, beside us or behind us.
What is our fascination with these personalized little tags, and what prompts people to spend extra money just to add this accessory to their vehicles? Are they a symbol of self-expression or just a mode of creativity?
Whatever the reason, the fact remains: Many people on the road today are taking advantage of this option.
One of the reasons an increased number of individuals have opted to get a personalized plate is because of the ease and convenience in which they now can be purchased.
According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, you can "browse over 180 special license plates categorized alphabetically, by type or search by name -- all with convenient thumbnail views to help you make your selection." At a price of $10 annually, a vehicle-owner can purchase the license plate of his or her choice and include a creative and individual statement (as long as it is not already previously in use).
By developing a way to personalize and purchase your license plates online, the DMV is catering to the increased demand for made to order license plates in Virginia, and making the process of attaining one quicker and more convenient for vehicle owners.
While personalized license plates have experienced increased popularity in Virginia, they also are fairly common around Grounds.
Third-year Education student Anna Rakes said she uses her license plate as a way to display school spirit.
On her 2001 Toyota Corolla that she purchased in her senior year of high school, her license plate reads: UVANNA, and it is specialized further by the rotunda featured on the plate's left side.
"I applied early and knew I was coming to U.Va.", Rakes said with a smile of remembrance. "Everybody in high school knew I was crazy about U.Va., and with this license plate, I was able to combine my name and the school's name together."
Brenda Tekin, a member of the administrative staff at the University, has another unique reason for purchasing a vanity plate.
Her Chrysler Town and Country license plate reads: HAWKER.
"I am a volunteer coordinator for the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, which is held on Afton Mountain in the fall season," she said. "Hawker also is an old English word for an individual who hawks or sells his wares. My license plate has a double meaning for me because, like ahawker, I inform individuals about my organization and try to get other people involved in Hawk Watch."
Other students, instead of placing a creative slogan or phrase on their plates, chose instead to purchase an individual license plate background with the same random selection of letters and numbers that comes with the vehicle.
First-year College student Kristen Bailey personalized her car in this way.
Her Ford Escort sports a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) license plate, with the symbol of the organization on the left-hand side. Bailey said she picked this particular plate because she strongly supports the DARE program.
Although many people use personalized plates to make a statement, a variety of individuals have other opinions about personalized plates and their reasons for not purchasing them.
Third-year College student Eric Farr was against the idea of personalized plates.
"I didn't purchase a personalized license plate because they seem vain," Farr said.
Third-year college student Bbeun-yi Lee shared these sentiments.
"It takes too much time to get a personalized plate," Lee said. "I prefer the regular plates that come with the car than the hassle of getting a personalized one."
Others just don't have the personalized plate that they want because the car they drive is not their own, but their parents.
Such is the case of third-year College student Michelle MacDonald.
"I already have a personalized license plate, but my parents picked it out because it's their car," MacDonald said. "The license plate is MCBUS, because my last name is MacDonald and I drive a van. I used to get teased so much about it".
For the license plates observers out there, the following license plates might spark some interest:
OLDRAG2
2 NERDS
DAD & TOE
HAIKU
DMB FEVR
ZEPPY 1
ANYBODY
REAP JOY
RED STEP
FERMATA
DIVE OUT
and the school spirited WAHOOWA
Happy searching.
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