LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan drivers will soon have a new way to show their patriotism – right on their bumpers.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently announced the return of the state’s iconic red, white, and blue license plate to mark America’s upcoming 250th birthday. The limited-edition “semiquincentennial” plate will be available to order starting Jan. 2 and will remain on sale through the end of next year.

Retro plates.

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According to Benson, the plate is meant to honor the nation’s founding and history. The design is a modernized version of the popular 1976 bicentennial plate, which once earned Michigan a coveted “Plate of the Year” award from an automobile license plate collectors association.

The plate revival is made possible by Public Act 317 of 2023, signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which also brought back other legacy designs from the 1970s and ’80s.

Patriotism, with a side of pothole repair.

Drivers opting for one of the three legacy plates will pay a one-time $55 fee, which includes a $50 contribution to the Michigan Transportation Fund – because nothing says fun and freedom like fixing potholes that the governor should have fixed years ago. Annual renewals will cost $10 in future years.

Michiganders can order the plates online at michigan.gov/SOS, through a dealership when purchasing a vehicle, or by scheduling an in-person visit to a Secretary of State office.

In short: Michiganders get a collectible plate and the state gets a little extra road money.