Three states issue a standard license plate with a blue background: Delaware, Montana, and Connecticut. Colorado sells a solid blue historical plate as an option, and more than a dozen other states use blue heavily enough in borders, gradients, or lettering that their plates read as blue from a distance. If you’re asking what states have blue license plates, the answer depends on whether you mean the plate every driver gets at registration or any plate a resident can request.
States Where Blue Is the Standard Plate
In these three states, a blue plate is what you receive automatically when you register a vehicle. No surcharge, no special application.
Delaware
Delaware’s standard plate is gold lettering on a dark blue background. The Division of Motor Vehicles introduced this reflective gold-on-blue scheme in 1958 and added “The First State” slogan in 1962. The design has barely changed since, making it one of the longest-running plate designs in the country.1Division of Motor Vehicles. DMV History – License Plate History
Montana
Montana’s standard plate uses a solid dark blue background with white text and a white outline of the state. The “Treasure State” slogan runs along the top, and the design intentionally echoes Montana plates from the 1970s. The clean white-on-blue lettering makes it one of the more readable plates on the road.2Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Standard – Blue and White
Connecticut
Connecticut’s standard plate uses a gradient blue background with dark blue lettering. The state’s DMV adopted this color scheme around 2000, drawing from a design it was already using on specialty plates such as the Long Island Sound series.3Connecticut General Assembly. New Design License Plates
States Where Blue Is an Optional or Historical Plate
Some states don’t put a blue plate on your car by default, but you can request one.
Colorado
Colorado sells a solid blue historical plate that replicates the state’s 1914 design. You order it through any county DMV office or online, and $25 from each sale goes to the Colorado Disability Funding Committee. The plate was authorized under Senate Bill 22-217 alongside three other historical background options, including replicas of the 1915, 1945, and 1962–1999 designs.4Disability Funding Committee. Historical/Retired Backgrounds Because these are standard plates with an alternative design rather than antique registrations, they don’t carry the driving restrictions tied to true collector plates.5Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle. Collector and Special Use License Plates
New Jersey (Pending)
New Jersey used blue plates with yellow lettering from 1979 to 1992, and the design still has a following. Legislation to bring them back has been introduced multiple times. As of early 2026, Senate Bill 3265 was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee, where it remains pending. If it passes, the blue plate would reportedly cost $50 to apply for, plus a $10 annual fee.
States That Use Blue Prominently Without an All-Blue Plate
Many states don’t issue a solid blue plate but use blue heavily enough that it defines the plate’s appearance. Standard designs change every few years, so these descriptions reflect the most recent versions as of 2026.
- Kentucky: Blue gradient background with “Bluegrass State” text, among the most distinctly blue of the non-solid designs.
- North Carolina: Blue ink for the embossed characters on a light background, in use since 1983. A state legislature study found this plate had the highest capture and read rates of any plate design tested.6North Carolina General Assembly. Study on Whether Full-Color Special License Plates Should Continue
- Iowa: Blue border along the top with city and country imagery. A newer version added a green border at the bottom, but the blue band remains the most recognizable feature.
- Kansas: The newest standard plate uses a yellow, black, and dark blue color scheme, replacing an older, paler design.
- Nebraska: White plate with a blue stripe across the top.
- West Virginia: Navy blue stripe with yellow text.
- Pennsylvania: Standard plates mix blue, white, and yellow.
- Nevada: Pale blue sky with colorful mountain imagery at the bottom.
- Missouri: Blue and white gradient across the plate.
- Idaho: Red, white, and blue background elements.
- Virginia: State government plates use a light blue background.
One State That Isn’t Blue, Despite the Rumor
Alaska’s standard plate is gold, not blue. The “Standard Gold” plate is a yellow design, though the mountains-and-sky imagery on some older or specialty Alaska plates can create the impression of blue from a distance.7State of Alaska. License Plates, Division of Motor Vehicles
How to Actually Get a Blue Plate
If you live in Delaware, Montana, or Connecticut, you’ll receive a blue plate automatically when you register a vehicle. There’s no extra fee and nothing to request.
If you want blue as an optional design, expect a surcharge. Colorado charges $25 initially and $25 annually for its historical blue plate, which is available for any passenger vehicle.4Disability Funding Committee. Historical/Retired Backgrounds Specialty plate surcharges in other states generally fall in the $25 to $50 range, though exact fees vary. You can usually order through your state’s DMV website or in person at a local office.
One caveat if you’re looking at antique or collector plates with a blue design rather than a standard-issue blue plate: those often come with use restrictions. Delaware, for example, limits vehicles registered with special antique plates to club activities, exhibits, tours, and parades, not general daily driving.8Delaware Code Online. Special Antique Motor Vehicle Plates and Street Rods Check what category of plate you’re actually ordering before you commit, because the color may be the same but the rules very different.
Dark blue plates do have one practical weakness worth knowing about: the dye can fade or peel over the years, and a washed-out plate is harder for officers and cameras to read. If yours gets to that point, most states let you order a duplicate set with the same number or new plates with a new number for a modest fee. Driving with an illegible plate can draw a fix-it ticket in many jurisdictions, so it’s worth handling before it becomes a stop.