Motorsport Related License Plates

Published July 13, 2026 - AutoMobilia E-Newsletter
By David Rubin

Motorsports Related License Plates

Many people enjoy collecting license plates that reflect a secondary interest. For me, searching for and collecting motorsports-related license plates fills that need.

In 1999 New York State offered one of the first regular-use license plates for NASCAR fans, featuring the NASCAR logo and the livery of several top-tier drivers. The state has redesigned its NASCAR plates since their initial release, keeping these special plates attractive and current. Eleven other states have released their own NASCAR plates (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia). Since 2001 Florida has offered three styles of NASCAR “fan” plates, but they never featured any drivers. Pennsylvania offered NASCAR plates for a few years and then stopped. 

Above: This Mark Martin license plate is probably from 1999, as the series started with 100NAS, making this just the 42nd NASCAR plate issued by the state of New York. Martin recorded 40 NASCAR Cup Series victories, 35 of which were achieved driving the No. 6 car for Roush Racing. Standard 6"x12" size and valued at around $40.

Finding NASCAR license plates to decorate your shop or family room is easy, but finding a specific driver plate may require some patience. NASCAR plates do not carry high values, though, due to their good availability on internet auction sites.
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Other license plates with motorsports themes include ones representing particular racetracks or races. For example, New York sells a plate honoring Watkins Glen International, and Wisconsin sells a Road America plate. In Indiana, the Indy 500 is celebrated with two plates: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum plate and a “500 Festival” plate. Colorado has a beautiful regular-use license plate celebrating the Pikes Peak Hillclimb.

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Above: This example is the first version of Florida’s NASCAR license plate, initiated in 2001. This plate is signed by driver Danica Patrick, notable for making history by becoming the first woman to win a pole position in the NASCAR Cup Series at the 2013 Daytona 500, and for being the only female driver to win a top-tier IndyCar Race (2008 Japan Indy 300). Standard 6"x12" size, valued at around $75.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is particularly fruitful with plates for pace cars and other supporting vehicles. During big races like the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400, IMS issues dozens of plates for short-term use. The Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix ran at IMS only from 2000 to 2007, so those tags are less common.
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To my knowledge, standard-sized, road-legal, racing-themed plates are mostly distributed only in the United States, but in 1985, to celebrate the first Formula 1 race in Australia, the state of South Australia issued two sets of F1 license plates – first a very limited number of black plates with white numbers, and then white plates with black numbers were released. The latter were more available, but still limited. I was lucky enough to obtain a white plate through a trade with a fellow license plate collector from Down Under. I have never seen the black version in person.

Above: This early (pre-1966) Indianapolis 500 Pace Car plate is seen in an image from the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association’s (ALPCA) archives, used with permission. This plate is 6"x12" and valued at around $350-$400.

A Brickyard 400 Official Pace Above: Car plate from 1994. Standard 6"x12" size, valued at around $50-$100.

Above: An Indianapolis 500 Official Pace Car plate from the year 2000. Standard 6"x12" size, valued at around $50-$100.

Above: This 2002 plate is for a U.S. Grand Prix support vehicle. Standard 6"x12" size, valued at around $50-$100.

Above: This plate is from the Veteran Car Club of Belgium Rally in 1968. It is made of pressed fiberboard and measures 14.5"x8". It is valued at around $50.

Above: A 2025 Colorado Pikes Peak Hillclimb “Race to the Clouds” plate, standard size of 6"x12". This plate is not currently eligible for online sales because it is too new, but it would be worth around $50 if you can find one privately.

Above: This 1985 Australian Formula One Grand Prix Adelaide plate in white measures 14.6"x 5.3" and is valued at around $75-$100 in this condition.

Elsewhere overseas, Rally Plaques, used to identify vehicles participating in organized road rallies, offer another great collectible category. Road rallies, oftentimes held on temporarily closed public roads, are timed events that have cars running against the clock instead of each other. Speed, cornering ability, and good navigation are important factors in these races. Each car participating in a rally is bestowed a special license plate, produced just for the event, that features the car’s rally number for identification. These plaques have a great look to them and usually include an event sponsor’s logo for added visual interest.

I contacted Michael Umansky of Classically Driven Ltd. at ClassicallyDriven.com to learn more about the demand for rally plaques, as my collection and my experience with these things are limited. He shared that he is “surprised that these don't have a larger following, but the buyers are always very happy. They look amazing as decor pieces/wall hangers. With the exception of Rallye Monte Carlo plates and some others, the majority of these are very affordable compared to signs and other categories of automobilia. You can pick up nice ones in the $100-$250 range.” 

While searching for motorsports-themed license plates is fun, be on the lookout for fakes and reproductions. They’re out there, so be careful.

​David Rubin

Above and Below: Michael Umansky of Classically Driven Ltd. sent these images and an explanation: “Ten photos of different plates in my inventory/collection. All shown are from the Netherlands. Many plates have drilled holes that I believe are from use. Most of these plates measure approximately 6.75"x12.25" (sizes vary slightly). Many are metal, but some are plastic, and the 1969 Drie Provincien Rit with Coca-Cola advertising is a wood-type material (particle board). You can pick up nice ones in the $100-$250 range.” 

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