Idaho’s license plates have changed many times over the years. Since 1928, the standard phrase on plates has been “Famous Potatoes,” and the default design is the red, white and blue with silhouettes of mountains and trees, which we used to see on most vehicles.
In recent years, however, it’s common to see ten vehicles pass by, each with a different design on the plate.
There now seems to be a license plate for every occasion, with many designs dedicating user fees to various organizations and causes. After a brief search, it appears there are now over 40 unique designs to pick from.
What follows is a completely subjective view of what some of these plate designs might say about the driver sporting them.
Default “Scenic Idaho” design
This person doesn’t care what plate is on their bumper and thinks spending an extra dime on vanity or specialized plates is crazy town.
World Famous Potatoes
This driver really likes potatoes. Baked, fried, scalloped… doesn’t matter, as long as there’s a potato.
Agriculture
The “Harvest the Future” plate looks nothing like any Idaho plates of yore. This driver probably has more tractors than trucks, and they get more done before noon than most of us accomplish in a day.
An Appeal to Heaven
This political plate references a treatise by John Locke, which essentially states that when a government fails us and takes our rights away, we can rebel because those rights are given to us by God. It’s ironic, however, that these drivers who have lost faith in the government are purchasing a plate from the government (for an extra fee) to tell everyone about it. I’ll bet a spark plug that they voted for Trump, too, which is another layer of irony I don’t care to expound upon.
Don’t Tread on Me
Usually seen on a giant Ram truck spewing black exhaust, the “Don’t Tread on Me” plate is performative and, frankly, a little cringey. Chill out. Nobody wants to tread on you, bud. It does seem odd, however, that these drivers usually tread on everyone and everything they can if they feel slighted in the least possible way. This driver is most likely open carrying a firearm and probably rubs it longingly while driving to make them feel better about life. Just ignore them and move on with your day.
Black-and-White Famous Potatoes
This high-contrast design is basic, stark and minimalistic. This driver probably has a car without a single piece of trash inside. They might also ask passengers to remove their footwear before stepping inside. They probably burn wet wood, to quote our editor-in-chief’s daughter.
White-and-Teal Famous Potatoes
Another high-contrast design, with a livery of teal mountains and a simple background. There is a retro feel to this plate that suggests the driver probably has a North Face backpack older than most people reading this.
Pet Friendly
With a goofy dog and slightly perturbed-looking cat to the left of the numbers, this design appeals to those who value animals over humans. These drivers are harmless and feel bad every time they see a bug squashed on their windshield. They aren’t the droids you’re looking for.
Ski Idaho
The driver of this vehicle wants to let you know that they’re just here for the powder days, man. What was the question again?
Timber
This green and blue design has “Forests Forever” and “Manage, Harvest, Plant, Repeat” emblazoned on the plate. This driver cares about our forests, sure, but I wonder if they still voted for people like Rep. Russ Fulcher, who is one of the leading voices urging us all to forget about our public lands and just let the billionaires have at them.
Medal of Honor
This driver has seen more, done more and accomplished more than you. Get the hell out of their way.
Bluebird
The mountain bluebird alights on a branch in this lavender-colored plate that identifies the driver as a birder. They’ve got an Audubon Society bird book in the glove compartment and are constantly pointing out magpies to their passengers.
Old Timer
If you’re seeing this plate, you’re probably stuck behind a Model T going 15 miles per hour, since these are only allowed on vehicles manufactured before 1943. The driver really wants to tell you all about when they had gout a couple of years ago.
White and Black
You can’t get more basic than this plate, which has a white background, black letters and a thin black border. This driver’s favorite flavor of ice cream is vanilla and their favorite food is unsweetened applesauce with cottage cheese on the side.
Heritage (America 250)
With a blue background and a flag-festooned right side, this “America 250” plate identifies a driver who no longer wants to talk about the Reflecting Pool damage in Washington, D.C.
Fly Idaho
A small yellow plane flies next to the numbers on this specialty plate, and “Fly Idaho” adorns the top. The vehicle that has these plates often has a bumper sticker nearby that reads, “My other car is a Cessna.” They make more money than you do.
Appaloosa
A spirited horse trots across this plate design, and proceeds from the sale of this one fund education and programming related to horses in Idaho. This driver watches old Westerns on TV when they stay in hotels and, dollars to doughnuts, they have a ponytail longer than a yardstick.
Mountain Biking
The owner of this plate design usually has a bike poking over the tailgate and eats their body weight in trail mix every year. The line, “Preserve Our Trails,” festoons the bottom of this design for good reason; funds from this plate design are used to preserve, maintain and expand mountain biking trails in Idaho. They also drink IPA and look terrific in spandex shorts, even if their friends call them “grape smugglers” behind their backs.
In addition to usual registration charges, specialty license plates have an initial fee, followed by a slightly lower renewal charge, with funds supporting the various organizations and causes indicated by the plate.
If you have a few extra bucks burning a hole in your pocket, visit itd.idaho.gov to search for a design that sets you apart from all the rest.
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