A new specialty license plate design just overtook every other one in Colorado, raising millions for nonprofits and helping hundreds during a tough year
Specialty license plates have long been a quiet form of automotive expression, but one particular style is now drawing more than its share of attention. Black specialty plates are surging in popularity across the US, and in Colorado, one of the many states offering them, they’re now outselling every other specialty plate in the state combined.
Not only do they offer a more understated look, but the fee from each one goes to a good cause. It’s a win-win for all involved.
Read: The One License Plate Indiana Drivers Are Fighting To Get
Launched in January 2023, Colorado’s black plates carry a $25 annual fee. That money doesn’t disappear into the general fund. Instead, it goes straight to the Colorado Disability Funding Committee, which then distributes the proceeds to nonprofit organizations working with people living with disabilities.
Black Plates by the Numbers
By the end of 2025, more than 486,000 vehicles in Colorado had been registered with black plates. In that year alone, they generated $12.15 million. These plates now account for 7.69 percent of all plates issued in the state. For comparison, Colorado also offers blue and red versions to support the same cause. While those are still on the road, they brought in a comparatively modest $880,000 last year.
One of the many nonprofits benefitting from this funding is the Home Builders Foundation, a group focused on adapting houses for people with disabilities. In 2025, the organization completed modifications on 176 homes.
“It’s not an easy time, the economy is not the best, and the home building industry is not the best,” director of community engagement at the Home Builders Foundation, Alice Wurst told 9News. “So, finding other ways to find funding like this license plate is such a blessing for us that we are proud to say we’re growing at a time when other nonprofits are struggling, we’ve been able to grow this past year.”
“To know there’s something there that you can count on from year to year really helps us plan our budget and how many people we’re going to reach,” she added.
Colorado offers dozens of specialty plates options, including designs that recognize nurses, honor firefighters, and promote cancer awareness. And it’s not just Colorado getting in on the trend. Other states with black plate programs now include Indiana, Texas, Iowa, New York, Tennessee, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
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