| PA Web-Friendly License Plates | |
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It's out with "You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania" and in with "WWW.STATE.PA.US". The new plate promotes the Commonwealth's award winning and highly visited official website. The vehicle type, rather than the website address, appears on the bottom of plates for trucks, trailers, motor homes and other vehicles that have their own plate types. Similarly, special organization plates bear the name of the sponsoring organizations.
Between now and June 2002 all Pennsylvania will replace approximately 9 million yellow and blue license plates in a four-phase process. The following information is taken from the official Commonwealth News Bureau Press Release:
Phase 1
Phase 1 has begun in September and continues through February, will replace nearly 1 million standard-issue yellow plates, some as much as 23 years old. Those are the plates with blue lettering on a yellow background. During Phase I of the reissuance, PennDOT will also replace all dealer plates and many miscellaneous plate types, such as taxi and limousine plates.
Phase 2
Phase 2 of the replacement, March 2000 through June 2000, focuses on the replacement of personalized plates. Existing personalized plates will be reproduced in the new plate style at no additional fee.
Phase 3
PennDOT will replace the bulk of Pennsylvania's plates, about 8 million standard-issue blue plates issued since 1983, in Phase III, July 2000 through June 2002. During this phase, owners with standard-issue blue plates will receive their new plates and credentials when they renew their registration.
The ZIP code that appears on the registration determines whether motorists receive their new plate in the July 2000 to June 2001 or the July 2001 to June 2002 renewal cycle. Plates associated with a five-digit ZIP code ending in an even number will be replaced during the first renewal cycle, and those associated with a five-digit ZIP code ending in an odd number will be replaced during the second.
Phase 4
This major license plate replacement concludes with Phase IV, January 2002 through June 2002, when PennDOT will replace all special organization plates, including those of universities and colleges.
Beginning next July, motorists scheduled for new plates during Phases III and IV may obtain new plates earlier than scheduled for $7.50. At that time, new-style plates will be available at dealerships for vehicle purchases and through about 11,000 outlets, such as tag agents and messengers, statewide.
In addition motorists who prefer to keep their existing plate number can apply to have that number converted to to a new plate for an additional $20.00.
Why is this all taking so long, you ask? In large part it is because all PA license plates are still made by hand at the State Correctional Institute in Pittsburgh.
For additional information, check out the special section "Introducing a First Class Plate for a First Class State" on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's website.
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