• Michigan has been bringing back multiple retro license plates, including a new semiquincentennial design set to go on sale Jan. 2
• The red, white and blue plate honors the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary
• Legacy plate fees provide added funding for road construction and repairs

Michigan is bringing back another retro license plate ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Beginning Jan. 2, Michiganders will be able to order a new red, white and blue semiquincentennial plate that is modeled after the 1976 bicentennial design. 

The plate features updated patriotic elements, including stars and stripes, and will be available through the end of 2026. 

“Our latest legacy plate honors our country’s founding and history along with our ongoing fight for freedom, equality and justice for all,” Secretary Jocelyn Benson said in a statement. 

Related: 

• Michigan’s blue and black retro license plates to return next month 
• From retro to high-tech, Michigan drivers snap up new license plate options

Motorists can buy the throwback plate by paying a one-time $55 fee that includes a $5 plate service fee and a $50 contribution to the Michigan Transportation Fund to support road construction and repairs. 

Renewing any legacy plate will cost an extra $10 annually.

The 1976 bicentennial design isn’t the only retro license plate making a comeback in Michigan. Earlier this year, the state brought back three retro license plates from the 1970s through the 1990s.

The revival stems from a 2023 law signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which also authorized the return of the white-on-blue and white-on-black plates first issued in the 1970s and 1980s, respectively. 

Drivers can personalize the plates for an additional $30, though vanity messages are capped at six characters. All three designs will also be available as disability plates.

Drivers can order the new semiquincentennial plate online at Michigan.gov/SOS, when purchasing a vehicle through a dealership, or by scheduling a visit to any Secretary of State office.

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Michigan’s red, white and blue retro license plate returns next month

by Janelle D. James, Bridge Michigan
December 11, 2025

<h1>Michigan’s red, white and blue retro license plate returns next month</h1> <p class="byline">by Janelle D. James, Bridge Michigan <br />December 11, 2025</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Michigan has been bringing back multiple retro license plates, including a new semiquincentennial design</strong> <strong>set to go on sale Jan. 2</strong></li> <li><strong>The red, white and blue plate honors the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary</strong></li> <li><strong>Legacy plate fees provide added funding for road construction and repairs</strong></li> </ul> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <p>Michigan is bringing back another retro license plate ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.</p> <p>Beginning Jan. 2, Michiganders will be able to order a new red, white and blue semiquincentennial plate that is modeled after the 1976 bicentennial design.&nbsp;</p> <p>The plate features updated patriotic elements, including stars and stripes, and will be available through the end of 2026.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Our latest legacy plate honors our country’s founding and history along with our ongoing fight for freedom, equality and justice for all,” Secretary Jocelyn Benson said in a statement.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Related:&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigans-blue-and-black-retro-license-plates-return-next-month/"><strong>Michigan’s blue and black retro license plates to return next month</strong></a><strong> </strong></li> <li><a href="https://bridgemi.com/quality-life/retro-high-tech-michigan-drivers-snap-new-license-plate-options/"><strong>From retro to high-tech, Michigan drivers snap up new license plate options</strong></a></li> </ul> <p>Motorists can buy the throwback plate by paying a one-time $55 fee that includes a $5 plate service fee and a $50 contribution to the Michigan Transportation Fund to support road construction and repairs.&nbsp;</p> <p>Renewing any legacy plate will cost an extra $10 annually.</p> <p>The 1976 bicentennial design isn’t the only retro license plate making a comeback in Michigan. Earlier this year, the state brought back three retro license plates from the 1970s through the 1990s.</p> <p>The revival stems from <a href="https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2023-2024/billanalysis/Senate/pdf/2023-SFA-0464-E.pdf">a 2023 law</a> signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which also authorized the return of the white-on-blue and white-on-black plates first issued in the 1970s and 1980s, respectively.&nbsp;</p> <p>Drivers can personalize the plates for an additional $30, though vanity messages are capped at six characters. All three designs will also be available as disability plates.</p> <p>Drivers can order the new semiquincentennial plate online at Michigan.gov/SOS, when purchasing a vehicle through a dealership, or by scheduling a visit to any Secretary of State office.</p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://bridgemi.com/quality-life/michigans-red-white-and-blue-retro-license-plate-returns-next-month/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://bridgemi.com&quot;&gt;Bridge Michigan&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/bridgemi.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cropped-android-chrome-192x192-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://bridgemi.com/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=70401&amp;amp;ga4=G-1E2G9MSHX5&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://bridgemi.com/quality-life/michigans-red-white-and-blue-retro-license-plate-returns-next-month/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/bridgemi.com/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;</p> Copy to Clipboard

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