State General-Issue License Plate Gets New Look

NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - It may seem like the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is going from Technicolor back to back-and-white, but officials say they're changing the look of the state license plate for good reason.

The new general-issue license plate is called the "Texas Classic."

Gone are the read and blue colors and scenic backdrops. The Texas Classic is white with black lettering. The Texas star is in the upper left-hand corner and a small state silhouette sits in the middle of the plate number.

TxDMV officials say the new plate design is meant to increase public safety.

The plates will include two new embedded security threads that will make it easier for law enforcement officials to spot legitimate plates. 
The symbols on the new plates are also bigger, with the numbers and letters being a full inch wide and more than 2 and a half inches tall.

Along with the new plate comes a new license pattern. Plates will now be issued with three letters followed by four numbers. Administrators say the pattern change is meant to help make the license plate number easier to remember.

If the new license plate is just too generic for you, drivers always have the option of purchasing a specialty license plate.

The new Texas Classic plates are being shipped to all 254 Texas county tax offices, but they won't be issued to the public until the current license plate inventory is used up.

If you currently have a multi-colored, general-issue plate and just can't bear to let go you can take time to adjust. Vehicle owners that have the current plates will be able to keep them until they are due for mandatory replacement; which is required every seven years.

Click here to find out more license plate information from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.