DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — There’s no doubt which of Iowa’s specialty license plate designs is most popular. The state’s “blackout” plates were an immediate hit with drivers when they were first released July 1, 2019. Four months later the simple design — white lettering over a black background — was the state’s most popular. Nearly 50,000 had been issued at that point, well more than the 30,000 University of Iowa plates issued.

Now, almost five years later, 585,772 of the state’s 4,605,643 total plates, about 12%, are blackout, according to Iowa DOT data from the 2023 calendar year. And other states have taken notice. Blackout plates with the regular number-letter combination are $35, plus an annual $10 fee. Personalized versions cost $60, with a $15 annual fee.

Black and gold University of Iowa plates are still the second most popular specialty plates in the state, with nearly 27,000 in circulation, more than 92% of which are personalized. Iowa State is third, with more than 19,000 cardinal and gold plates issued, 92% of which are personalized.

Other colleges with plates include Briar Cliff, Buena Vista, Central, Clarke, Coe, Cornell, Des Moines University, Dordt, Drake, Dubuque, Graceland, Grand View, Grinnell, Iowa Wesleyan, Loras, Luther, Morningside, Mount Mercy, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Palmer, Simpson, St. Ambrose, Upper Iowa, Wartburg and William Penn.

The three most popular Iowa Department of Natural Resources specialty plates, of which a portion of the cost goes to the Wildlife Diversity Program and Resource Enhancement and Protection, feature birds. The most popular DNR plate features a goldfinch, the state bird, with more than 13,000 in circulation. Eagles are next on the list (5,236 total plates), and pheasants are third (4,414).

Other DNR options include deer (4,281) and trout (1,937).