Michigan Becomes Third State To Approve Digital License Plates

Michiganders can now waste their hard-earned money on a digital license plate as the state has become the third to authorize the use of technology for private consumers and commercial vehicle business owners.

Reviver, the company behind the “RPlate,” wrote today that it has received legislative approval to sell digital license plates to customers in Michigan. Although the plates have so far only been authorized for use in Michigan, Arizona, and California, if you register them in one of those states, they will be recognized by law enforcement in all other states as well as in Mexico and Canada.

Available in two versions, the plates come as either a do-it-yourself kit that includes a battery that lasts five years or, if you opt to have it professionally installed, it can be hardwired to the vehicle.

Read Also: Colorado Might Be The Next State To Green-Light Digital License Plates

The cost of these digital license plates is steep, though. Reviver says that the battery-powered plate costs $19.95 per month while the hardwired option costs $24.95. That’s as compared to a regular metal plate, which costs as little as $5 – in any case, the price of registering the plate with the state is not included.

Reviver argues that unlike with a boring old metal plate, its digital plates offer more features. You don’t, for instance, need to go through the harrowing ordeal of putting a sticker on your plate, because it can be automatically updated. That said, if you aren’t the most organized person in the world, that might present a new issue because if you’re a little late renewing your plate the digital one will automatically display as invalid, Car and Driver reports.

The digital plate will do more than tell on you, though; it can also be tracked. Reviver writes that the plates can be found if your car gets stolen, which I suppose might bring car owners some peace of mind. The plates can also display Amber Alerts thanks to their cellular data connection.

The company also offers an RFleet product, which bundles plates and offers a suite of features tailored to the needs of commercial vehicle fleet managers.

Consumers can purchase the plates through Reviver’s website as well as at some dealerships that are partnered with the company. The state of Michigan does not get revenue from the sale of the digital plates. Reviver says that it is in talks with 10 additional states to legalize the sale of its products.

“We are beyond excited to make digital license plates available to all drivers in Michigan,” said Neville Boston, Reviver co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer. “I want to thank the state legislators and government representatives, as well as the many other transportation officials and partners throughout the state for working with us to help make this a reality—we are thrilled to reach this milestone.”