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Vanity License Plates for Electric MINI Coopers

Discussion in 'Cooper SE' started by insightman, Sep 14, 2020.

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  1. Sep 14, 2020 #1
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    The Tesla and Volt owners had a big head-start on grabbing up all the obvious custom license plates for electric cars. I know some people are reticent to have their license plates on the 'net for all to see, but it would seem that vanity plate owners would be happy to show them off.

    Here's a Secretary of State image of the vanity plate I ordered along with the custom license plate frame that is now at the mercy of the reduced-service USPS. I saw "Elektro" in the description of the MINI Cooper SE on a German website. Before that, I was thinking of ECOMINI as a slight double-entendré. For 20 years my gen-1 Insight hybrids wore IGO ECO plates, which would also work for a pure electric car.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2020
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  2. Sep 14, 2020 #2
    Puppethead

    Puppethead Well-Known Member

    Twin Cities, MN
    I'm planning on my first-ever vanity plate, but I can't order it until I get my regular plates (still waiting for them after 30 days!). I tried real hard to get the dealer to file vanity plate paperwork for me at time of purchase, but they refused. Our DMV systems are a mess due to "upgrades" a few years ago, so I don't fault the dealer.

    I have to keep my ideas to myself until I get an approved plate, though.
     
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  3. Sep 14, 2020 #3
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    A very good plan, IMHO. Make a list of all your candidates so you can reveal them after your application is approved. Are you able to check online to see what plates are not already taken (or forbidden)?

    Being a vain person, I've spent a lot of time on Michigan's Secretary of State web page, checking on available vanity plates. Years ago I acquired a large PDF file of license plates Michigan has deemed unacceptable (many are unacceptable because they might be the number/letter combos used for regular license plates). It's amusing to peruse.
     
  4. Sep 15, 2020 #4
    Toi

    Toi Well-Known Member

    Seattle, WA
    I drive just asshole-ish enough that I think having a 'memorable' plate would be a detriment to my normal antics. :D
     
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  5. Sep 15, 2020 #5
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    One of my most useful personalized plates was the TOYATO plate on my old Toyota. It was a great joy to throw away parking tickets written for a Toyota plated TOYOTA. A rare instance when dyslexia can be helpful.
     
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  6. Sep 15, 2020 #6
    Toi

    Toi Well-Known Member

    Seattle, WA
    nice... a guy around here had a 0O0O0O plate for a while before they took it away because the toll readers couldn't successfully determine his plate.
     
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  7. Sep 15, 2020 #7
    Puppethead

    Puppethead Well-Known Member

    Twin Cities, MN
    No way in my state to see what plates are taken, I've relied on Find By Plate, it's how I discovered my original choice of "NOICE" was already taken. I'm actually glad since I feel my new choice is better.
     
  8. Sep 15, 2020 #8
    Puppethead

    Puppethead Well-Known Member

    Twin Cities, MN
    Reminds me of this XKCD comic (great science-y comic):

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. Sep 15, 2020 #9
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    Michigan plates don't allow the letter oh. You can't tell the zero from an oh on the plate, but it's obvious it's a zero on the registration slip. Vanity plates cannot be all-numeric, so the 0000000 plate would not be available.
     

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  10. Sep 16, 2020 #10
    Matt Shumaker

    Matt Shumaker Active Member

    Our plate is "MINI EL"

    In Illinois, EL plates are for electric cars. However, vanity plates can eliminate the EL if you would like. However, no one thought to ask for MINI EL. So, we got it.

    Oh, my Model 3 plate is "TESLA EL".
     
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  11. Dec 26, 2020 #11
    Puppethead

    Puppethead Well-Known Member

    Twin Cities, MN
    Finally got my vanity plate! It was crazy, my state's DMV is a mess due to pandemic and major software replacement.

    I submitted the request form at the end of September and heard nothing until I called the DMV early November. All I could be told was it was issued mid-October but would take 6-8 weeks to be sent. It took until December 26th to show up – I had almost given up hope of seeing it. Mounting the plates, front and back, tomorrow. I think the name "MÉTÉORE" (French for "meteor") is fitting for my red SE with yellow accents, plus the way the car performs.

    Here's what the plate looks like (sadly no diacritical marks).

    license.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2020
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  12. Dec 26, 2020 #12
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    Blue Sharpie
     
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  13. Aug 30, 2021 #13
    NewGreen

    NewGreen Member

    Insightman's idea for a plate holder gave me an idea...I don't need a custom plate, just the plate holder! I just ordered one on Amazon! (My car should arrive in a few weeks.) My license plate holder will say: No Gas Needed--I'm very green! (and the car is British Racing GREEN!!)
     
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  14. Aug 30, 2021 #14
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    Your @NewGreen forum name makes double-sense now that we know the color of your SE. I've been calling myself Insightman since ordering my first (of 3) Honda Insight in 1999. I use the eMINIman moniker on other forums, but even though the last Insight was replaced with a MINI Cooper SE I am sticking with @insightman on InsideEVs (my favorite forums) for historical continuity.
     
  15. Aug 30, 2021 #15
    2814-6890

    2814-6890 Member

    Tampa, FL
  16. Aug 30, 2021 #16
    fasttr

    fasttr Member

    I’m keeping my current vanity plate since it has worked with my previous cars and will work with my SE… XCLR8S. In Texas you can search for available plates. I got mine in 2014.
     
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  17. Aug 30, 2021 #17
    polyphonic

    polyphonic Well-Known Member

    Truly genius. I love it!
     
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  18. Aug 31, 2021 #18
    vader

    vader Well-Known Member

    I managed to get a pretty good plate - "MINI SE". I had the first one, so got it before anyone else tried :)
     
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  19. Aug 31, 2021 #19
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    Photo, please. I've never seen an Australian vanity plate.
     
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  20. Aug 31, 2021 #20
    NRG

    NRG New Member

    Hi All,
    I got lucky with my DMV issued plates... the last three letters are NRG. I figured that's not bad for a car powered by electric energy.
     
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