SAN ANTONIO – Out of 24 million registered vehicles in the Lone Star State, less than 1 percent have personalized license plates.
Also referred to as vanity plates, the number has remained steady the last seven years, according to Christina Flores, with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Titles and Registration Division.
Compared with other states, Texas has the lowest percentage while Virginia has the highest at nearly 16 percent.
The TxDMV is the agency responsible for reviewing personalized plate requests. That's when the registered owner selects their own alphanumeric pattern to be displayed on the license plate.
Jeremiah Kuntz, director for vehicle titles and registration for the TxDMV, said his staff get anywhere from 100-300 vanity plate requests a day.
"It's a fun way for people to express themselves and their creativity," Kuntz said.
Those who look at request check the patterns forward, backwards and sometimes even upside down. They research popular online phrases and slang. That way, when they deny about 2 percent of requests, they can back up their decision.
"We're going to err on the side of law enforcement and public safety," Kuntz said. That judgment is also used when it comes to identifying law enforcement or government officials, such as the previously requested plate SEN8TR.
A list of denied personalized plate requests from fiscal year 2014 showed phrases like CATPEE, BEATYA and LUCKYB. When KSAT asked why those patterns in particular were denied, officials said an entire phrase may not be seen as inappropriate but some letters or words might.
If someone's personalized plate request is denied they have three options, according to a sample denial letter:
1) Get a refund of the fee
2) Choose another alphanumeric pattern
3) Appeal the decision by providing additional documentation
Money brought in by vanity plates benefits the TxDMV and the state's general fund. The fee is $40 per year on top of registration fees, but can increase if a plate is both a specialty background and personalized.
TxDMV said personalized plate revenues have increased since the agency partnered with a vendor called MyPlates.com.
Not only does the online vendor offer a wider selection for registered vehicle owners but people can check the availability of patterns right away.
For more information from the TxDMV website, click here.