License Plates in Indiana feature a variety of colors and designs that reflect different registration categories, specialty programs, and plate options. Standard plates use an official state design, whereas specialty and personalized plates can feature distinct backgrounds, colors, graphics, and identifying elements. The appearance of a plate may also change over time as Indiana introduces new designs or updates existing series. Knowing these differences can help vehicle owners identify common plate types and recognize the visual features associated with each option.
License Plates can vary based on the vehicle type, registration category, and plate selected by the owner. Indiana offers standard, specialty, personalized, military, veteran, disability, and other plate options, each with its own visual appearance and identifying details. Colors and graphics can help distinguish one plate category from another, though the registration number remains a key identifier. Reviewing current Indiana plate designs can help drivers recognize available options and understand how different registration categories are represented.
What Does the Current Indiana License Plate Look Like?
The current Indiana license plate used for the standard passenger design has a recognizable Covered Bridge graphic background with blue lettering. Indiana’s official historical license plate collection identifies the 2017–present standard design with these visual features. The overall appearance combines Indiana imagery with clearly displayed serial characters, creating a design that is noticeably different from several earlier standard plates.
The Covered Bridge Background
The most recognizable feature of the current Indiana standard plate is its Covered Bridge graphic background. Rather than using a plain single-color base, the plate includes imagery that gives the design a distinctive Indiana visual identity. The covered bridge artwork forms the main background element, while the registration information and plate characters are placed over the design. This combination allows the plate to function as both a vehicle registration identifier and a recognizable state plate design. The official Indiana historical collection specifically describes the 2017–present plate background as “Graphic – Covered Bridge.”
Blue Lettering and Plate Numbers
The current design uses blue lettering for its visible characters. The serial number is displayed prominently so that the plate can be read and identified. The blue lettering creates visual contrast against the graphic background while displaying the registration sequence. Indiana requires plate text, numbers, and stickers to remain fully visible and not be obscured by frames or covers.
How the Current Standard Plate Differs From Older Designs
Older Indiana license plate designs used noticeably different backgrounds and lettering. For example, Indiana’s historical collection identifies the 2008–2012 design with a dark-blue Indiana State Flag background and white letters, while the 2013–2016 plate used a white background featuring a Bicentennial emblem with black letters. The current 2017–present standard plate changed this visual approach by introducing the Covered Bridge graphic and blue lettering. These changes show how Indiana’s standard plate appearance has evolved over time, even though every plate continues to serve the basic purpose of identifying a registered vehicle.
How Indiana License Plate Colors Have Changed Over Time
Indiana plate colors have changed significantly throughout the state’s license plate history. Early and mid-century plates used strong contrasting color combinations, while later designs gradually introduced more detailed graphics, state imagery, and themed backgrounds. Indiana’s historic plate collection documents backgrounds and lettering in blue, red, black, green, white, gold, and other combinations across different periods. Modern Indiana license plate designs now range from the Covered Bridge standard plate to distinctive specialty designs and the newer Blackout option.
Early Indiana License Plate Colors
Early historic Indiana plates showed considerable variety in their color schemes. Different periods used combinations such as yellow and black, dark blue and white, pink and green, and black and yellow. These changing combinations made plates from different eras visually recognizable. Unlike many modern designs, earlier plates generally focused more heavily on contrasting backgrounds and lettering rather than detailed scenic graphics. Color was therefore an important part of the plate’s overall appearance. The changing combinations also make historical Indiana plates useful for identifying different periods of vehicle registration history.
Mid-Century Color Changes
Indiana continued changing its license plate colors during the mid-twentieth century. The official historic collection shows particularly strong variation during the 1960s, including blue backgrounds with white lettering, red and white, black and gold, green and white, and several white-background combinations. For example, Indiana used a blue background with white letters in 1960, a red background with white letters in 1961, a black background with gold letters in 1962, and a green background with white letters in 1965. Later in the decade, white backgrounds appeared with black, red, and blue lettering. Indiana also introduced reflective sheeting in 1966 to improve nighttime visibility.
Crossroads of America Design
The Crossroads of America design marked a stronger move toward detailed graphic backgrounds. Used from 1998 through 2007, this design featured a graphic background identified by Indiana’s official historic collection as “Crossroads of America” with dark blue lettering. This approach differed from earlier plates that primarily relied on solid background colors. The graphic created a more recognizable visual identity while the dark blue serial characters remained prominent. The design helped establish the transition toward the more detailed visual styles seen on later Indiana standard plates.
Indiana State Flag Design
Indiana’s standard plate design changed again for the 2008–2012 period. The official historical collection identifies this plate with a dark blue Indiana State Flag background and white lettering. The use of state imagery made the plate visually different from the previous Crossroads design. The white characters provided strong contrast against the darker background, helping the serial information remain clearly visible. This design placed Indiana’s state identity directly into the overall plate appearance.
Bicentennial Plate Design
The 2013–2016 Bicentennial plate used a noticeably lighter appearance. It featured a white background, a Bicentennial emblem, and black lettering. The design created a sharp contrast with the previous dark-blue State Flag plate. Instead of using a dark background with light characters, the Bicentennial design used a light background and darker serial characters. The commemorative emblem also gave the plate a specific historical theme connected with Indiana’s Bicentennial period.
Covered Bridge Design
The 2017–present standard-era design features a Covered Bridge graphic background with blue lettering. This combination remains one of the most recognizable modern Indiana plate appearances. The scenic graphic background gives the plate a more detailed visual identity than older solid-color designs. At the same time, the blue lettering displays the serial characters over the artwork. The Covered Bridge design represents the continuing shift from simple color combinations toward more graphic-based Indiana license plate designs.
Indiana Specialty License Plate Designs
Indiana specialty license plate designs create much more visual variety than the standard plate alone. The Indiana BMV organizes available designs into categories including organizations, colleges and universities, military plates, and other distinctive options. Each design can use its own graphics, emblems, colors, and background elements.
Organizational Plate Designs
Organizational plates can feature designs associated with participating groups and causes. Their visual appearance may include an organization’s name, logo, emblem, colors, or other identifying graphics. Examples listed by the BMV include plates connected with organizations such as the 4-H Foundation, 500 Festival, Alzheimer’s Association, and other recognized groups. The available designs can change, so the official BMV plate list is the best place to review current options.
College and University Designs
College and university plates allow eligible drivers to select a design connected with a participating educational institution. These plates can display school-related colors, names, symbols, or graphics that make them visually different from the standard Indiana plate. Indiana’s official plate categories include numerous college designs, including options associated with universities such as Ball State, Butler, Purdue, and Notre Dame.
Military Plate Designs
Indiana military plates provide designs connected with military service, veterans, medals, branches of the armed forces, and related recognition categories. Their graphics and emblems can vary significantly depending on the specific plate. Some military plates have additional eligibility requirements or required forms. Indiana BMV also states that its military plate selection includes options for military personnel, Hoosier veterans, and civilians supporting the armed forces.
Other Distinctive Plate Designs
Indiana also offers other plate designs that do not fit neatly into the main organization, college, or military categories. These alternatives expand the range of available backgrounds and appearances. Because each plate can have different eligibility requirements, fees, and personalization options, drivers should check the specific plate listing before applying. The official BMV list provides category and fee information for currently available plates.
Blackout Design
The Indiana Blackout license plate is a modern alternative design featuring an intentionally simple appearance. Indiana launched sales of the Blackout plate on August 8, 2025, making it a newer addition to the state’s available plate options. Its visual style is very different from the graphic-based Covered Bridge standard design.
What Does the Indiana Blackout Plate Look Like?
The Indiana Blackout plate uses an all-black background with white lettering. Its design removes the detailed scenic graphics found on the Covered Bridge plate and instead uses a simple, high-contrast appearance. The BMV describes the design as featuring a sleek black background with white text. This minimalist approach makes the Blackout plate visually distinctive among modern Indiana license plate options.
How the Blackout Plate Differs From the Standard Plate
The current Covered Bridge design uses a graphic background with blue lettering, creating a scenic and traditional appearance. The Blackout plate takes the opposite approach by using a plain black background and white characters.
| Feature | Standard Covered Bridge Plate | Indiana Blackout Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Covered Bridge graphic | Solid black |
| Lettering | Blue | White |
| Appearance | Scenic and detailed | Minimalist and simple |
| Visual style | Traditional Indiana imagery | Modern black-and-white design |
Is the Indiana Black License Plate a Specialty Design?
The Blackout plate should not simply be described as an organizational specialty plate. The Indiana BMV’s official license plate list categorizes Blackout as a Standard plate. This distinguishes it from organization and college Special Group Recognition designs. It is still an alternative plate option with its own appearance and additional plate-related fees, but its official category matters when describing it accurately.
Can the Indiana Blackout Plate Be Personalized?
Yes, the Indiana BMV provides personalization options for eligible Blackout plates. The official BMV information lists a $45 personalization fee for the Blackout plate, separate from applicable plate and registration charges. Personalized messages must still meet Indiana’s character and formatting requirements. For more information, see the Indiana Personalized License Plates page.
How to Identify an Indiana License Plate Design
You can often identify an Indiana license plate design by examining several visible features rather than looking only at the serial number.
- Look at the Background: Check whether the background uses a solid color, a scenic graphic, a state image, or a themed design. The Covered Bridge and Blackout plates are easy examples of dramatically different backgrounds.
- Check the Lettering Color: Lettering provides another useful clue. Historic Indiana plates have used white, gold, red, blue, and black lettering against different backgrounds.
- Identify Any Graphic or Image: Look for a bridge, emblem, flag, logo, university symbol, or military image. These elements can help identify the plate category or historical design period.
- Look for a Specialty Emblem: Organizational, college, and military plates may display names or symbols connected with their particular theme.
- Compare the Overall Appearance: Finally, compare the complete design, including the background, lettering, graphics, and emblem. Looking at all these elements together is more reliable than identifying a plate from one color alone.
Standard vs Specialty vs Blackout Indiana Plate Designs
Indiana offers several visually different plate options. The easiest way to distinguish them is by looking at their category, purpose, and overall appearance.
| Plate Type | Main Purpose | Typical Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Plate | General vehicle registration | Primary statewide design |
| Specialty/Distinctive Plate | Recognition of organizations, colleges, military themes, and other categories | Category-specific graphics and emblems |
| Blackout Plate | Alternative standard plate option | Black background with white lettering |
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions answer common searches about Indiana license plate colors, designs, standard plates, and the Blackout plate. Indiana plates have changed considerably over time, with older designs using different color combinations and modern options featuring graphic backgrounds, specialty themes, and alternative appearances.
What color is the current Indiana license plate?
The current Indiana license plate standard design is commonly recognized by its Covered Bridge graphic background and blue lettering. The Indiana standard plate design introduced for the 2017–present era moved away from simpler solid-color backgrounds and uses scenic imagery as part of its appearance. The exact appearance can differ for specialty and alternative plate options, so not every Indiana plate currently on the road has the same Indiana license plate color or background design.
What does the Indiana Blackout license plate look like?
The Indiana black license plate, officially known as the Blackout plate, has a simple and modern appearance. It features a black background with white lettering, creating strong visual contrast without the detailed graphics used on the standard Covered Bridge design. The minimalist style makes it easy to distinguish from other Indiana plate options. The Blackout plate became available in 2025 and provides an alternative design for eligible vehicle owners.
Why do Indiana license plates have different designs?
Indiana license plate designs differ because the state offers multiple plate categories and visual options. The standard plate provides the primary general design, while specialty designs can represent organizations, colleges and universities, military recognition, and other approved categories.
Different designs may include:
- Organization logos or emblems
- College and university graphics
- Military and veteran recognition imagery
What is the standard Indiana license plate design?
The standard plate is the primary Indiana license plate category rather than a design connected with a particular organization, university, or military program. The current Indiana license plate standard-era design features a Covered Bridge graphic background with blue lettering. This gives the plate a recognizable statewide appearance. Indiana also offers alternative standard options, including the Blackout plate, while specialty and distinctive plates use separate designs, graphics, and themes.
Have Indiana license plate colors changed over time?
Yes, Indiana plate colors have changed significantly throughout the state’s history. Older plates used many combinations, including yellow and black, dark blue and white, red and white, green and white, and black and gold. Later designs introduced more detailed graphics and state imagery.
The major visual evolution includes:
- Early plates: Strong contrasting color combinations
- Later designs: State imagery and graphic backgrounds
- Modern plates: Covered Bridge and alternative Blackout designs