Persons who apply for or renew their vehicle license plates at the Vienna License Office in the courthouse, will be getting the new Missouri red, white and blue license plates that commemorate the state’s bicentennial, its 200 year anniversary as a state in 2021. 

Vienna License Office Manager Stephanie Plassmeyer said her office has been giving out these plates since October 15. Everyone is issued these new plates at a cost of $1.68 per plate to be paid by the customer.

Plassmeyer said most people really like the red, white and blue plates although other people say they are very plain. Some people said they were tired of the old bluebird plates because the bluebird sitting on top of a hawthorn, the state’s flower, was too small to really see very well. 

The new design celebrates the state’s bicentennial. It features red wavy lines on top of the plate, and blue wavy lines at the bottom. These represent Missouri’s rivers. The state seal can be seen in the middle of the plate. 

It is reported the new license plates will cost the state about $17 million. To offset the cost, consumers will be charged an extra $1.68 per plate—$3.36 for two regular plates, and the charge for personalized plates is $7.54.

Missouri residents voted on some of the possible bicentennial plate designs. However, the plates voted on were not approved because the Missouri State Highway Patrol wanted white backgrounds to make it easier for troopers to read the license plates. Several plate designs were tested by the patrol and the current bicentennial design was selected because it offers the best readability during both the day and the night.