Illinois’ Classic 80s Plates Are Back–Here’s How To Request Them

I've never been someone who "yucks someone else's yum," but I've got to be honest when I say that the Illinois license plates from the early 80s through the very early 2000s (like the plate pictured above) really don't do anything for me.

There's nothing but a mostly-white background and some dark blue letters. If you're all about simplicity, I can see where you'd find them attractive, but other than that reason, I just don't get it.

I thought the plates that followed the 80s plates were much nicer, with the faint portrait of Abraham Lincoln in the middle of a white background with blue at the bottom and red numbers. Even our current plates with half of Lincoln on the left side and a cityscape along with the Capitol building silhouetted in the background are better (to me, anyway).

House Bill 3391 Passed Unanimously In The General Assembly, Allowing Illinois Vehicle Owners To Revert Back To Retro License Plates

It would've been nice to see the requirement of having both a front and a back license plate get dropped in favor of just a back license plate, but I guess you can't have everything.

(Click here to learn why Illinois insists on both front and rear license plates, and which states don't)

For those wondering why this is even a thing when Illinois has so many other problems that the General Assembly could be dealing with instead of making retro plates available to drivers again, there is an economic component to this move.

The More People Who Want These Plates Start Buying Them, The More Money The State Of Illinois Rakes In

According to UnionRayo.com, these vintage/retro/classic Illinois license plates are proving to be quite popular:

The idea was driven by Republican representative Jennifer Sanalitro and passed without opposition. The design is not new: dark blue letters on a light blue background, with the inscriptions “Illinois” and “Land of Lincoln.” The cost: $40 when requesting it and $27 for renewal.

It may seem like just a visual whim, but this measure could have an economic goal behind it. The state expects to generate more revenue from those who want to personalize their cars with a vintage touch, appealing to the memory of the 80s. And the truth is that many are already preparing to order it, so it’s not such a bad idea.

As for who is eligible to order the new/old plates, anyone vehicle owner with a registered vehicle can do it. It's basically the same principle as ordering a vanity plate, but in this case, the design has already been approved.