State Orders 494,897 America 250 License Plates

North Carolina's DMV has ordered plates honoring the nation's 250th anniversary, with the design approved under a July law signed by Gov. Josh Stein.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in National Parks

Photograph of misty Blue Ridge Mountain ridgelines in North Carolina with a winding two-lane road through green forest in the foreground. — North Carolina's DMV has ordered 494,897 America 250 license plates, a commemorative design approved under a July law signed by Gov. Josh Stein. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you pay extra for a special state license plate celebrating America's 250th?

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has ordered 494,897 America 250 license plates from the N.C. Correctional Institute for Women in Raleigh. The General Assembly directed the DMV to design and produce the plate in early July 2026, and Gov. Josh Stein signed the bill into law on July 7.

Why it matters

The plate adds a commemorative option to the state's basic license plate lineup, which the General Assembly also expanded through a separate bill. Drivers who want the design will need to wait, as the plate is not yet available.

The DMV ordered 494,897 plates for a little more than $1.3 million, with no extra charge once owners pay title and registration fees. The First in Freedom plate, introduced in 2015, has about 1 million in circulation, while 1.6 million In God We Trust plates have been offered since 2019.

The players

Josh Stein

Josh Stein is the Governor of North Carolina, who signed the bill directing the America 250 plate into law.

North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles is the state agency responsible for issuing vehicle registrations and license plates, and it is ordering and distributing the America 250 plates.

The details

The General Assembly ordered the DMV to design the plate, which features the words America 250 at the top above images of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Lin Cove Viaduct, a cardinal, dogwood flowers, the N.C. State Capitol, the Wright Brothers' plane, and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The DMV is working to distribute the plates to more than 130 license plate agency offices statewide by Jan. 1.

Early July 2026: General Assembly orders the DMV to create the America 250 plate.
July 4, 2026: America's semiquincentennial passes before the plate is ready.
July 7, 2026: Gov. Josh Stein signs the plate bill into law.
Jan. 1, 2027: DMV targets distribution to more than 130 agency offices.
Around the start of 2027: America 250 plate expected to become available.

Seasonal Patterns

North Carolina's commemorative plate program has grown alongside its earlier First in Flight and First in Freedom designs, with about 5.6 million First in Flight plates in circulation. The America 250 order of 494,897 plates is a smaller run than those established series.

Drivers who want the America 250 plate will need to wait until the DMV distributes it, expected around the start of 2027. Owners pay no extra charge for the plate once they have paid all title and registration fees.

The takeaway

The America 250 plate lets North Carolina drivers mark the nation's semiquincentennial on their vehicles at no added cost beyond standard fees. Those interested should check with their local license plate agency once distribution begins.

What happens next

The DMV plans to distribute the America 250 plates to more than 130 license plate agency offices by Jan. 1, with the plate expected to become available around the start of 2027.