Nebraska License Plates

[almighty_tuna]

Okay, let's look into plate specific math here. (I can't believe I'm typing this. I should've just said you were right and moved on)

There are 10 choices for each digit giving 10 x 10 x 10 = 1000 possible three digit numbers. There are 26 letters in the alphabet so there are 26 x 26 x 26 = 17576 possible 3 letter "words". Since any three digit number can go with any three digit "word" there are 17576 x 1000 = 17,576,000 possible plate combinations.

We all know that there are some 3 letter word combinations that the DMV has deemed verboten, so for argument's sake let's say that removes 1,000 potential combinations from the overall set of 3 letter words. We're still left with 16576 x 1000, or 16,576,000 possible license plates.

Now, the only Nebraska counties with the ABC-123 format are Douglas, Sarpy, and Lancaster counties, representing approximately 1,100,000 people. Even if half of that cohort bought a brand new vehicle every year and never reused a plate combo, chose a specialty plate, or a custom plate, we wouldn't run out of plates until 2033.

Now, the real answer here is that Nebraska didn't release all plate combinations at once, or sequentially. Christ, pick up a Google every once in a while.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_r ... f_Nebraska

[Brad]

Your right about now starting with AAA. I was thinking of my train plates, Creighton, then the UP, and others since, that series did start with AA, AB, AC etc. Been over a decade since I had the regular plates.

[ChadJK]

You don't think they will start over at AAA? There has to be a lot of un-used letters in there with people moving and selling cars.

I always assumed they would just invert it and go with "NNN LLL."

[damonhynes]

There are approximately 225,000,000 license plate combinations in the "LLL NNN" format. Even with the strictest of pearl-clutching standards to remove some questionable combos, I think we'll be just fine.

They started off on AAA and I just saw Yxx yesterday, so "the end is nigh" for the LLL NNN format.

They didn't start at AAA, I believe it was UAA.

[nebugeater]

There are approximately 225,000,000 license plate combinations in the "LLL NNN" format. Even with the strictest of pearl-clutching standards to remove some questionable combos, I think we'll be just fine.

They started off on AAA and I just saw Yxx yesterday, so "the end is nigh" for the LLL NNN format.

Some states also switch from LLL NNN to NNN LLL

[ChadJK]

They didn't start at AAA, I believe it was UAA.

The plate design has changed, but so far as I know the numbers have been sequential for 20+ years (probably since they dropped the 1-, 2-, and 59- off the plates for Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy). I've had DEV, NUM, WAG and others over the years and all in alphabetic order. Maybe my alphabetic order has just been a coincidence. *shrug*

[damonhynes]

They didn't start at AAA, I believe it was UAA.

The plate design has changed, but so far as I know the numbers have been sequential for 20+ years (probably since they dropped the 1-, 2-, and 59- off the plates for Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy). I've had DEV, NUM, WAG and others over the years and all in alphabetic order. Maybe my alphabetic order has just been a coincidence. *shrug*

I feign ignorance--my family has had vanity plates for 15+ years so my recollection may be skewed!

[S.O.Boy]

There are approximately 225,000,000 license plate combinations in the "LLL NNN" format. Even with the strictest of pearl-clutching standards to remove some questionable combos, I think we'll be just fine.

They started off on AAA and I just saw Yxx yesterday, so "the end is nigh" for the LLL NNN format.

They didn't start at AAA, I believe it was UAA.

Wikipedia says it was NAA 001

[GenX]

You don't think they will start over at AAA? There has to be a lot of un-used letters in there with people moving and selling cars.

I always assumed they would just invert it and go with "NNN LLL."

That combination is used for movie cars in Nebraska.

[ChadJK]

I always assumed they would just invert it and go with "NNN LLL."

That combination is used for movie cars in Nebraska.

Perhaps, but not exclusively. I know this because I seem to regularly be behind a car that has the plate "555 BAE" which I assume is a custom message plate.

[lisanstan]

Regarding front plates. It costs $50 to not have a front plate. They give you a sticker that goes inside your windshield on the drivers side. I just bought a really nice car and the salesman asked if I wanted the front plate holder installed or if I wanted to pay not to have one. I had no idea it was even an option.

Since buying my car, I’ve seen other owners who have to have a front plate try to find the perfect spot to mount it that doesn’t interfere with sensors and cover grill vents.

Yes, I chose no plate so I didn’t have to mar the sporty front view of my car.

[skinzfan23]

I didn't even know that was an option.

[ChadJK]

Regarding front plates. It costs $50 to not have a front plate. They give you a sticker that goes inside your windshield on the drivers side. I just bought a really nice car and the salesman asked if I wanted the front plate holder installed or if I wanted to pay not to have one. I had no idea it was even an option.

Since buying my car, I’ve seen other owners who have to have a front plate try to find the perfect spot to mount it that doesn’t interfere with sensors and cover grill vents.

Yes, I chose no plate so I didn’t have to mar the sporty front view of my car.

Here's the law on not having a front license plate:
Nebraska Revised Statute 60-3,100

One license plate shall be issued, upon request and compliance with this subdivision, for any passenger car which is not manufactured to be equipped with a bracket on the front of the vehicle to display a license plate. A license decal shall be issued with the license plate as provided in subdivision (ii) of this subdivision and shall be displayed on the driver's side of the windshield. In order to request a single license plate and license decal, there shall be an additional annual nonrefundable registration fee of fifty dollars plus the cost of the decal paid to the county treasurer at the time of registration. All fees collected under this subdivision shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Highway Trust Fund.

If I had to guess the number of vehicles without a front plate that DID pay the fee AND actually display the sticker then I'd say it's maybe half. Seriously, start looking for vehicles without front license plates and then start looking for the corresponding decal they should have displayed in their windshield

A front license plate shouldn't interfere with sensors. Since most states in the US (including the more populated ones like CA, TX, and NY) require a front license plate, then I am sure most cars designed for use in the US have sensors designed around having a front license plate. Now, if you're trying to mount it in a non-standard location for aesthetic reasons, then you may cause sensor issues.

[GenX]

Also, if the vehicle was ever issued two plates, you can’t go down to a single plate. A buddy of mine ran into this issue. I have yet to even see what the sticker looks like.

I get a kick out of the people that take their front plate off and put it in the corner of the windshield, which stands out even more and still results in a citation for improper display.

[lisanstan]

The sticker is a small square about 2x2”. It’s clear with dark blue printing so it’s almost invisible unless you’re looking for it. You’d have to be standing next to the car to see it. My understanding is the dealer here (Onyx) never attaches a front plate holder before asking the customer.

[Big E]

Regarding front plates. It costs $50 to not have a front plate. They give you a sticker that goes inside your windshield on the drivers side. yadaa

You also have to go to the DMV every year in person to renew. Can't do it online.

Worth it.

[Big E]

Okay, let's look into plate specific math here. (I can't believe I'm typing this. I should've just said you were right and moved on)

There are 10 choices for each digit giving 10 x 10 x 10 = 1000 possible three digit numbers. There are 26 letters in the alphabet so there are 26 x 26 x 26 = 17576 possible 3 letter "words". Since any three digit number can go with any three digit "word" there are 17576 x 1000 = 17,576,000 possible plate combinations.

We all know that there are some 3 letter word combinations that the DMV has deemed verboten, so for argument's sake let's say that removes 1,000 potential combinations from the overall set of 3 letter words. We're still left with 16576 x 1000, or 16,576,000 possible license plates.

Now, the only Nebraska counties with the ABC-123 format are Douglas, Sarpy, and Lancaster counties, representing approximately 1,100,000 people. Even if half of that cohort bought a brand new vehicle every year and never reused a plate combo, chose a specialty plate, or a custom plate, we wouldn't run out of plates until 2033.

Now, the real answer here is that Nebraska didn't release all plate combinations at once, or sequentially. Christ, pick up a Google every once in a while.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_r ... f_Nebraska

LOL this may actually be my all time favorite STFU post I've ever seen on this site.

[mrsticka]

They should've just added another number like this:

Old:
1-A1234
1-AB123

10-A123
10-AB12

New:
1-A12345
1-AB1234

10-A1234
10-AB123

[Coyote]

New Nebraska license plates display small difference from old, expired plates



Everyone knows they’re out there — drivers with expired license plates on their cars. The new plates don’t look much different from the old ones, unless you know what to look for. It used to be easy to quickly point out the difference between license plates, some commemorated by the U.S. bi-centennial, which were used from 1976-1983. Or, other, more colorful plates, like the sunset ones used for two years from 2002-2004, among many others. All colorful, all distinctly different.

[Athomsfere]

Also, if the vehicle was ever issued two plates, you can’t go down to a single plate. A buddy of mine ran into this issue. I have yet to even see what the sticker looks like.

I get a kick out of the people that take their front plate off and put it in the corner of the windshield, which stands out even more and still results in a citation for improper display.

IME no one cares or gets any trouble from it.

I went years without one before the sticker law and a couple after: Never even a warning.

[Brad]

I get a kick out of the people that take their front plate off and put it in the corner of the windshield, which stands out even more and still results in a citation for improper display.

IME no one cares or gets any trouble from it.

The problem with putting the plate in your window is when you get in a wreck and that plate moves from the window to your forehead...

[Louie]

I get a kick out of the people that take their front plate off and put it in the corner of the windshield, which stands out even more and still results in a citation for improper display.

IME no one cares or gets any trouble from it.

The problem with putting the plate in your window is when you get in a wreck and that plate moves from the window to your forehead...

Thats some Final Destination stuff there ha

[Athomsfere]

I get a kick out of the people that take their front plate off and put it in the corner of the windshield, which stands out even more and still results in a citation for improper display.

IME no one cares or gets any trouble from it.

The problem with putting the plate in your window is when you get in a wreck and that plate moves from the window to your forehead...

Yeah, I didn't do that either. It just lived in my trunk with my car kit: Cables, windex, paper towels, Armor All wipes, quart of oil, windshield fluid, coolant.

For me, I've always thought front plates were dumb. When I moved here and bought a new car, I also bought a tow hook mount for the front plate. A few weeks later someone "tagged" my mount in a parking lot. When it was time to replace the plates, a straight plate would fit, so I just tossed it in the trunk.

After a couple of years of no tags, I just did the same thing on the new car without even trying a new mount.

I wouldn't recommend it. But for me the risk vs reward was fine.

[GenX]

I get a kick out of the people that take their front plate off and put it in the corner of the windshield, which stands out even more and still results in a citation for improper display.

IME no one cares or gets any trouble from it.

The problem with putting the plate in your window is when you get in a wreck and that plate moves from the window to your forehead...

Yeah, I didn't do that either. It just lived in my trunk with my car kit: Cables, windex, paper towels, Armor All wipes, quart of oil, windshield fluid, coolant.

For me, I've always thought front plates were dumb. When I moved here and bought a new car, I also bought a tow hook mount for the front plate. A few weeks later someone "tagged" my mount in a parking lot. When it was time to replace the plates, a straight plate would fit, so I just tossed it in the trunk.

After a couple of years of no tags, I just did the same thing on the new car without even trying a new mount.

I wouldn't recommend it. But for me the risk vs reward was fine.

State Troopers are about the only ones that will bother to pull you over for it. Just stay away from the I-80 Q street off ramp, they like to set up checkpoints there.

[Athomsfere]

State Troopers are about the only ones that will bother to pull you over for it. Just stay away from the I-80 Q street off ramp, they like to set up checkpoints there.

I always assumed it was a secondary offense: You can't get pulled over for that alone. But they will watch you like a hawk to find a primary offense...

[nebugeater]

State Troopers are about the only ones that will bother to pull you over for it. Just stay away from the I-80 Q street off ramp, they like to set up checkpoints there.

I always assumed it was a secondary offense: You can't get pulled over for that alone. But they will watch you like a hawk to find a primary offense...

I don't think it's a secondary offense, and you can get pulled over for just this. I also believe that if you are parked on a public street, you can get towed.

I do believe that during the height of COVID, there was some flexability given

[Louie]

I do believe that during the height of COVID, there was some flexability given

There absolutely was. We had a car abandoned in front of our house that took about 4 months to get towed. The car auction houses were closed, so the impound lots were full, so they couldn't really tow cars anywhere.

[GenX]

State Troopers are about the only ones that will bother to pull you over for it. Just stay away from the I-80 Q street off ramp, they like to set up checkpoints there.

I always assumed it was a secondary offense: You can't get pulled over for that alone. But they will watch you like a hawk to find a primary offense...

Improper display of plates is a primary offense. Window tint, however, is a secondary offense (in Nebraska, primary in Iowa).

[Athomsfere]

State Troopers are about the only ones that will bother to pull you over for it. Just stay away from the I-80 Q street off ramp, they like to set up checkpoints there.

I always assumed it was a secondary offense: You can't get pulled over for that alone. But they will watch you like a hawk to find a primary offense...

Improper display of plates is a primary offense. Window tint, however, is a secondary offense (in Nebraska, primary in Iowa).

Way to make me feel like a criminal with my lack of front plate and dark tint... But currently carless so I'm not breaking any rules!

[GenX]

State Troopers are about the only ones that will bother to pull you over for it. Just stay away from the I-80 Q street off ramp, they like to set up checkpoints there.

I always assumed it was a secondary offense: You can't get pulled over for that alone. But they will watch you like a hawk to find a primary offense...

Improper display of plates is a primary offense. Window tint, however, is a secondary offense (in Nebraska, primary in Iowa).

Way to make me feel like a criminal with my lack of front plate and dark tint... But currently carless so I'm not breaking any rules!

I have dark tint and have run/would run without a front plate if my bumper didn't already have two holes in the bumper. I just didn't advertise it by putting it in my front window.

[nebugeater]

Looks like some hard-hitting legislation was passed yesterday.

By 2029, Nebraska will not be issuing Front license plates.

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/10 ... a-by-2029/

By the start of Nebraska’s next license plate cycle in 2029, the state could only issue drivers a rear-facing license plate and allow multiyear registrations.

State lawmakers gave near-unanimous approval Thursday, on a 46-0 vote, to approve Legislative Bill 97 led by State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha. It included the new license plate change from State Sen. Brad von Gillern of the Elkhorn area (originally LB 297) and the multiyear registration allowance from State Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk (originally LB 543).

Show me the math to save 200 tons of Aluminum.

His bill could also have an environmental benefit, von Gillern said, reducing 200 tons of aluminum mined. At least 26 other states no longer require front-facing plates.

[Original]

approx 2,400,000 cars in Nebraska, according to Google.
0.22 lbs per license plate, according to Google.

528000lbs of aluminum just on direct math.

264 tons.

Additionally, this should also give a ever-so-slight aerodynamic improvement to cars with a cumulative state-wide decrease in energy consumption for driving, which is a plus.

[Brad]

So what happens if you drive to a state that still requires two? Or are the last state to do this?

[Louie]

So what happens if you drive to a state that still requires two? Or are the last state to do this?

My understanding is that the license plate laws are bound to the issuing state not the state you are driving in at any given time.

[GenX]

So what happens if you drive to a state that still requires two? Or are the last state to do this?

My understanding is that the license plate laws are bound to the issuing state not the state you are driving in at any given time.

This. I most often encountered it with window tint when I was in Iowa. Mine was darker than the legal limit in NE, where the car was registered, but in Nebraska it’s a secondary offense, meaning they can’t pull you over for it. In Iowa, they allow almost no tint and it’s a primary violation, but the only ones that bothered to pull you over for it were State Troopers. As long as you were within NE limits, you were fine.