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Updated on Apr 24, 2025
New state, new plates! As we trek deeper into our License Plate Roundup series, we’re taking a trip to the furthest point in the southeastern United States. Here lies the great state of Florida, known for its gators, world-renowned theme parks, and never-ending sunshine.
As you glance around at vehicles, you’ll notice an assortment of license plates as diverse as the state itself. Follow along for a list of our staff’s favorites, some state history, and an overview of Florida’s license plate program.
Before we talk about license plates, let’s first look at the region's colorful history. In this section, we’re covering basic Florida history, fun facts, and standout features.
After a multi-year struggle to find a suitable Northern territory to introduce to the Union alongside Florida following the Missouri Compromise, the Union settled on Iowa. This action allowed Florida to reach its full statehood, and on March 3, 1845, the Florida Territory was officially sworn into the Union as the 27th state by President John Tyler.
William D. Moseley was elected the new state's first governor, and David Levy Yulee became Florida’s first senator.
Boasting such a diverse assortment of features, including the Kennedy Space Center, Disney World, and the Daytona Speedway, it’s not a question of, “What is Florida known for?” but “What isn’t Florida known for?”
Florida offers an eclectic mix of natural and man-made attractions. Regarding natural features, Florida’s warm, sunny beaches and Everglades make for a unique topography that brings tourists of all ages. However, arguably more alluring than its natural features are its man-made offerings.
Florida hosts such impressive engineering marvels as Walt Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center, the Seven Mile Bridge, and Daytona International Speedway. Other commonly cited features include the state’s sprawling orange orchards, countless retirement communities, and its thriving Latin communities.
Florida has been affectionately nicknamed “The Sunshine State” for its warm climate and sunny beaches that draw thousands of tourists annually. It’s this climate that has spurred Florida’s population boom, becoming the 3rd most-populated state in the country.
With our brief Florida history lesson complete, let’s get into the state’s standout license plate designs. In this section, we discuss the processes of acquiring both standard and special-interest Florida license plates, our staff’s top ten designs, and the requirements to purchase each.
While acquiring a Florida license plate is relatively straightforward, prices and requirements vary depending on the design and level of customization.
Florida offers three standard license plate designs available when first registering a vehicle. These include the county nameplate (only available in participating counties), the “In God We Trust” plate, and the “Sunshine State” plate. In Florida, license plates must be replaced every ten years to ensure proper condition and visibility.
Like other states, Florida offers special interest and personalized license plates at additional fees. Personalized plates require a 15-dollar annual fee per plate, and text must be approved by the DMV. Additionally, Florida offers over 100 special-interest license plate designs that coincide with particular organizations. Any profits acquired through the sales of special-interest license plates directly benefit their associated organizations.
Florida offers over 100 special-interest plate designs, making narrowing them to ten selections a considerable undertaking. After some back and forth, check out RealTruck’s top Florida license plate designs.
You can’t forget about the classics. The standard-issue Florida license plate is iconic, sporting a charming green-over-white colorway, oranges, and orange blossoms as an homage to the state’s leading fruit production, and your choice of “In God We Trust”, “Sunshine State”, or county-specific text.
This standard plate comes at no charge to Florida drivers. However, expect to replace it every ten years—by law.
The “Endless Summer” special-interest license plate radiates Florida, featuring a yellow and orange gradient background with a surfer’s silhouette.
The purchase of an “Endless Summer” special-interest license plate requires an annual 25-dollar fee, with proceeds benefiting environmental conservation in the state.
Rather than co-opting the often-used “Save the Turtles” expression, Florida takes a more direct approach with its “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” special-interest license plate. Featuring a black sea turtle silhouette crawling across a sandy beach toward the vibrant blue water, the “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” license plate draws attention to the pollution and climate crisis affecting these majestic animals.
The purchase of a “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” special-interest license plate requires an annual 23-dollar fee, with proceeds benefiting environmental conservation in the state.
Support the Florida Gators with the “University of Florida” special-interest license plate. This collegiate plate features a dark blue alligator-skin-print background with orange “Florida” text, white alphanumeric text, and the school’s mascot, Albert Gator, proudly displayed.
The purchase of a “University of Florida” special-interest license plate requires an annual 25-dollar fee, with proceeds benefiting the university.
Show support for your favorite NBA team with the “Miami Heat” special-interest license plate, featuring a black background with the Miami Heat team logo and matching “Florida” state and county text.
The purchase of a “Miami Heat” special-interest license plate requires an annual 25-dollar fee.
Get out and wheel with the “Explore Off-Road Florida” special-interest license plate. This unique license plate is an undeniable favorite, featuring imagery of a Jeep® Wrangler positioned on the beach before a gorgeous Florida sunset.
The purchase of an “Explore Off-Road Florida” special-interest license plate requires an annual 25-dollar fee, with proceeds benefiting environmental conservation in the state.
Ahoy, sports fans! Celebrate your favorite NFL team with the “Tampa Bay Buccaneers” special-interest license plate, featuring a black background with the Bucc’s flag waving proudly. “Super Bowl Champions” text lines the bottom of the plate in an homage to the team’s victories in 2003 and 2021.
The purchase of a “Tampa Bay Buccaneers” special-interest license plate requires an annual 25-dollar fee.
Protect Florida’s Manatee population with the “Save the Manatee” special-interest license plate, featuring a colorful blue, green, and yellow background with a floating manatee front and center. This design helps to shed light on the Manatee’s endangered status.
The purchase of a “Save the Manatee” special-interest license plate requires an annual 25-dollar fee, with proceeds benefiting environmental conservation in the state.
Protect Florida’s wild dolphin population with the “Protect the Wild Dolphins” special-interest license plate, featuring a pod of dolphins swimming through sunset-illuminated waters. While the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin, which calls the Florida Everglades home, isn’t currently extinct, pollution and environmental factors constantly threaten the animal’s population.
The purchase of a “Protect the Wild Dolphins” special-interest license plate requires an annual 25-dollar fee, with proceeds benefiting environmental conservation in the state.
Lastly, show support for US Armed Forces veterans with the “Vets of the US Armed Forces” special-interest license plate. This license plate features an American flag background and pays homage to those who’ve served in the United States military.
Fees for the “Vets of the US Armed Forces” special-interest license plate depend on the vehicle’s weight and class.
The colorful state of Florida offers many of the nation’s most unique license plate designs. If you reside in the Sunshine State, display your truck, Jeep, or SUV’s license plate proudly using our selection of license plate frames, holders, brackets, and relocation solutions.
Stay tuned for our next License Plate Roundup feature, where we tackle another state’s top license plate artwork. And as always, contact the experts for all product inquiries and order assistance.
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