7 Character Number Plates

AUSTIN — Beginning this week, Texans have a little more leeway to get personal with their number plate. Number plates may now contain seven characters, rather than six. The only catch: The first letter must be a T.

The so-called T number plate gives drivers a second chance to nab names and words claimed long ago by other drivers. Kim Miller Drummond, a spokeswoman for My Plates, the company selling the plates for the Department of Motor Vehicles, said 43 were sold Monday, the first day they were offered.

Among them were T GOLDEN, T RANCHR and T MIZZOU. But plates bearing an extra character won’t come cheap. Expect to pay $95 a year, or up to $495 for 10 years