The Evolution of License Plates: From Metal Tags to Digital Screens

Cars are going electric, and so are license plates.

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Car enthusiasts take pride in customizing their vehicles. They come up with outstanding designs that make their automobiles stand out so that they also reflect the owner’s inner self. License plates have long been part of an auto that can’t be changed or modified as they are an essential part of vehicle identification. However, they’ve been evolving alongside the industry itself. 

There was a humble beginning when they were just simple metal tags. Now we observe that they have transformed into cutting-edge digital screens. Thus, they have undergone considerable changes in design and functionality alike. As their purpose is to identify vehicles, some drivers make adjustments by applying anti-radar stickers. Drivers invest in license plate ghost covers wishing to become invisible to speed cameras and LPRs. Thus, car enthusiasts make beneficial changes on their own. 

The history of license plates is fascinating as well as the innovations that shape their future. Let’s find out how the design and functionality of license plates have changed over time.

The early days

In the US, the story of license plates began in the early 1900s. That was the time when vehicles were becoming more common. When they became more widespread, the government realized that it was crucial to have an opportunity to track ownership and regulate traffic. At first, license plates were simple handcrafted identifiers. 

However, the idea of using identifiers came up in France originally, a decade before they were introduced in the States. The Paris Police Ordinance has introduced the world’s first plates. Since then, every vehicle mast has been displaying numbers for identification. 

In the US, the first state to issue government-mandated plates was Massachusetts. They were made of iron and covered with porcelain enamel.

Early license plates were pretty basic. The biggest disadvantage was that they were prone to wear and tear. In this regard, drivers had to make their own. Each driver made plates in their own fashion. Some people painted their registration numbers on wood. Other drivers used leather and even tin. As vehicles became more popular, the demand for durability grew.

Standardization and mass production

In a short period of time, by the 1920s, plates were in mass production. They were made of stamped steel. And this made them cheaper and more durable. Authorities started to add unique characteristics to them. There were embossed letters and numbers which improved visibility. More than a hundred years later, drivers take advantage of legal anti-speed camera solutions and Nanofilm Ecoslick to impair visibility to stay undetectable. 

In the 1940s, there was another upgrade. Governments started to use reflective coatings so that plates stay visible even at night. Such materials became standard in many nations. 

A little later, license plates became a canvas for regional pride, especially in the U.S. States began to incorporate different symbols, scenic images, and slogans. Thus, they became collectibles for many car enthusiasts. 

With the rise in vehicles on the roads, there appeared a need for efficient registration systems. Such necessity led to the introduction of annual registration tags and barcodes.

Digital revolution

The current century has brought drastic changes in license plate technology. We observe how static identifiers have transformed into digital license plates. Those electronic displays can be programmed to put information on view.

There are lots of companies that offer such an innovative solution to car enthusiasts. However, Reviver has pioneered the tech. They offer the following features: 

  • Modern plates can change registration information when it’s changed and even alert police officers if an automobile is reported stolen; 
  • When there are accidents on the road or other emergencies, plates can display alerts like “Road closed ahead”, or other short and important messages; 
  • Plates play a significant part in security and theft recovery efforts as they have built-in GPS that allows owners to track their automobiles. 

The usage of cutting-edge license plates

Although this is in its infancy, they’re gaining more popularity. More and more drivers become aware of digital plates, and become more knowledgeable about their benefits. Car enthusiasts realize that it’s beneficial in many ways, including enhanced security, sustainability efforts, and convenience. 

Many states, including California, Arizona, and Michigan, have approved of their use already. Other states are still exploring the technology. The statistics promise a great future for the new technology as the market is predicted to grow to about $3.5 billion by the next 6 years. 

Challenges 

The future looks promising but not without challenges. Here’s what causes concerns: 

A lot of people believe that identifiers serve as a tool for mass surveillance. This leads to the fact that more and more people opt for legal speed camera blockers for license plates. As modern plates incorporate GPS trackers, it’ll raise even more privacy concerns in the future.

Digital plates cost more than regular ones. Their price can reach up to $1000. The more features will be added to them, the more the expenses will be. 

To sum it all up

License plates have come a long way since their introduction. Early there were just painted numbers and now we see digital screens. Still, they serve one purpose – to identify vehicles. More and more people find benefits in digital license plates. However, their usage raises concerns as well.