MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – Wisconsin drivers will soon have new choices for license plates.
Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) unveiled two new plate designs: a sleek all-black “Blackout” plate and a nostalgic butter-yellow “Retro” plate modeled after the state’s 1970s design.
The specialty plates will be available to the public starting in early January 2026.
The bipartisan 2025-27 state budget signed by Gov. Evers included $5.5 million to launch the new designs. State officials estimate the plates could generate more than $25 million in revenue for Wisconsin’s transportation fund over the first three years.
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“These new specialty plates are a win-win for Wisconsin,” Gov. Evers said. “They meet long-standing demand for new plate designs Wisconsinites can choose from and provide ongoing resources so we can continue working to fix the darn roads across our state.”
The Blackout plate features white lettering on a solid black background. WisDOT estimates more than 500,000 could be on the road within three years. The Retro plate features black lettering on a butter-yellow background and includes the phrase “America’s Dairyland.”
WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said interest in the designs has been building. “The Blackout plate is simple, clean, and complements many vehicle colors,” Boardman said. “The Retro plate is nostalgic and familiar—and I am planning to order one myself.”
Both plates will cost a one-time $15 issuance fee, plus a $25 annual registration fee. They can be ordered online, at most DMVs, or through participating dealerships.
Drivers ordering non-personalized plates online could receive them within a week when using WisDOT’s Special Plates web app.
