U.S. won’t have emoji on license plates any time soon

Image: composite: Reviver auto / aap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

7NWM61?. 

What if that could be your license plate number? 

In Queensland, Australia, the more than 3.5 million licensed drivers in the state can decide to pay for an emoji to appear on their car plates from March 1.

Until the laughing, heart-eyed, and sunglass-wearing smiley faces make it onto plates, you can design, mock up, and pre-order your future plate through the plate customization company Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ). 

You have to include three letters and two numbers in your plate combo, and you only get one emoji. The emoji choices are: 

 The plates cost $336 ($A475) each, and could look something like this:

In the U.S., plates will stay emotionless — for now. A California DMV spokesperson said, “It would require legislation for California to start offering emojis on license plates.” In other words, don’t hold your breath.

But digital license plate company Reviver Auto is more optimistic about emoji-decorated plates making it to America.

Reviver CEO Neville Boston said in a phone call, “I think that’d be interesting to do with the plates as a way of personalizing them.”

Using the digital ink LTE-connected plates, which are available in California and Michigan and soon Arizona, Boston sees a possible emoji-filled future, “with the way [Reviver] technology is it can happen sooner than later.” Already custom and charity plates are available through the digital platform. 

Boston says he sees little pushback in the coming years as long as law enforcement can clearly read the plate number. “First and foremost you got to make sure they’re readable,” he stressed multiple times.

Beyond that, it’s “an opportunity to be creative,” he said. So creative that the Australian license plate company is running a contest for the best emoji use. Winner gets an iPhone XS Max and an “emoji package” worth $1,419 (A$2,000) ?.

Meanwhile, everyone outside Australia keen for an emoji plate will have to be patient.