New Empire State Number Plate

When the state budget was proposed last year, Gov. David Paterson included a provision to charge motor vehicle owners an additional $25 for mandatory new number plates. Tens of thousands of people opposed being forced to switch to the “Empire State” number plates and, eventually, the governor backed down. The fee was supposed to have raise $129 million.

They’re back!
The Empire State number plates haven’t gone away. They are still available for anyone who wants them — for the $25 fee. New Yorkers are no longer required to buy them when they renew their registration, and anyone can keep their old plates. But when you register for new plates or if you lose one or a set of older plates, only the Empire State plates will be available, and they will cost you an additional $25.