BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com/KFGO) – The license plates adorning North Dakota vehicles are starting to show their age. First issued in November 2015, many plates are now in tough shape, prompting an increasing number of requests for replacements.

State Motor Vehicle Director Brad Schaffer reports that approximately 160 requests for new plates are submitted each month. “We probably see around 160 requests a month that are asking for a new plate,” Schaffer said. “And that could be because of the weather, because it was damaged in a crash, or there could be just some peeling on that just because it’s older.”

Schaffer assured residents that obtaining a replacement plate is a straightforward process. “We have a form. You can go onto our website and fill out that form and mail it in to one of our offices or you can go and visit one of our offices,” he explained. “There’s only a $5 charge to receive a new license plate. So it’s pretty straightforward.”

With approximately 1.2 million registered vehicles in North Dakota, maintaining the condition of license plates is a significant task. Since 1933, the plates have been manufactured by state prison inmates at Rough Rider Industries, ensuring a long-standing tradition of production.

As the current series of plates continues to age, the state’s motor vehicle department is prepared to handle the steady stream of replacement requests, ensuring that North Dakota drivers can keep their vehicles properly tagged and road-ready.