WHEATLAND – For the first time in decades, Wyoming is changing the vehicle license plate design to white lettering on a dark background. The last time the color combination was used was the 1971 series which had a black background. This time around, the generic plate features the Wyoming State Flag in the background and a red line encompassing the outside of the plate. The plates also feature a plug for tourism, with the website travelwyoming.com and Wyomign promotion catch-phrase, “That’s WY,” in the bottom righthand corner.
The outgoing plates had an image of Green River Lakes near Pinedale in the background and was issued as the 2017 series. Every eight years, Wyoming has a new issue (series) of license plates, changing the look and design of the plate. Counties have the option to hold back a sequence of numbers to act as a reserve for residents to keep the same number on their vehicle which they have currently, if they renew their plates in 2025.
Platte County treasurer Kristi Rietz said she is reserving all numbers from 1 – 5,000 for cars and trucks; plates 1 – 1,000 for trailers, motorcycles and ATVs; plates 1-200 for campers; plates 1 – 100 for commercial vehicles; and plates 1 – 50 for handicap.

Rietz said she and the staff at her office have handed out many plates, and encourages anyone who wants to keep their plate number to make sure they come in when they get a registration renewal notice.
“Please renew when your plate is due to hold onto your reserve number. We will hold all the reserve numbers until December 31, 2025, but they will be released Jan. 22, 2026 on a first-come, first-serve basis,” she said.
The plates do not cost anything if you get a regular plate, Rietz explained, but if anyone wants a specialty plate, there are several samples at the Treasurer’s office at the courthouse. Most of the specialty plates cost an extra onetime fee; others, like the Wyoming conservation plate featuring an antelope require an annual fee to keep the plate. In the case of the conservation plate, the extra fee is donated to the Wyoming wildlife conservation fund. Some of the other specialty plates include a fee which goes to specific scholarships or funds. Some of the plates must have proof of qualification to obtain.
There are over 20 specialty plates, including armed forces veteran, national guard, tribal, EMT, firefighter, former prisoner of war, disabled veteran, combat wounded, pearl harbor survivor, gold star family, purple heart recipient, wildlife conservation, donate life, rodeo, emergency responder, University of Wyoming.
“People can keep their old plates or bring them into the courthouse, and we will send them along with the county’s stock of old plates to WYDOT. They recycle them to make more license plates,” Rietz said.
Rietz added, she and the staff at the treasurer’s office will be happy to answer any questions about the new plates.