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Dates announced for low digit license plate lottery, including both in-person and online

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Dates announced for low digit license plate lottery, including both in-person and online

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Delaware’s Tag-A-Palooza is back for all of those coveting a low digit license plate across the state.

The state’s unique annual lottery for low digit tag numbers will offer two ways to have a chance for the much-wanted plates: online and in-person.

That means you have two routes with one as a random lottery and the other as first come, first served.

Each year, registrations expire for the now-available low digit plate numbers, whether it be the death of the plate holder or a simple lapse in registration. The Department of Motor Vehicles then saves all the open low digit numbers each year and release them all in one week during the annual Tag-A-Palooza.

Once someone obtains a low digit tag, they can swap their blue and gold tag for a black and white porcelain reproduction tag, which is only available for plate numbers 86999. Numbers 200000 and lower can be used for black and white stainless steel reproductions.

The black-and-white tags were used by Delaware before the color scheme moved to the more colorful blue and gold variety in 1958.

Here is how the giveaways will work this year.

Online lottery registration now open

The online lottery giveaway will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12 through Friday, Nov. 15 with random drawings held on each of the four days.

To be eligible, drivers must register online at dmv.de.gov/taglottery. Registration opened Monday at 8 a.m. and closes  at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3. There is a limit of one registration per drivers license/identification card.

So what exactly is up for grabs?

The department will randomly select winners for eight different types of plates for each of the four days, officials said.

Each day will offer 260 PV plates (personal vehicle five digit, numbers only plates for vehicles under 10,000 pounds), along with separate allotments of trailer, PC, commercial, recreational trailer, recreational vehicle, motorcycle and street rod plates.

In-person lottery details

While the online lottery is random, the return of the in-person giveaway means there is also a first come, first served option.

Each of the four DMV locations across the state will host its own in-person giveaway, starting at 9:00 a.m. until the allotted plates are gone.

The dates are Tuesday, Nov. 12 in Red Lion (2101 Mid County Drive), Wednesday, Nov. 13 in Dover (303 Transportation Circle), Thursday, Nov. 14 near New Castle (2230 Hessler Boulevard) and Friday, Nov. 15 in Georgetown (23737 DuPont Boulevard).

Advance registration is not required for in-person giveaways, but you will need to present a valid driver’s license or identification card and Delaware registration to be eligible.

Inventory for the in-person events is limited to 100 PV license plates per location.

You might want to get there early. Possibly really early.

“There is no set time when people can begin lining up. On occasion, people do arrive and begin lining up early, even overnight,” Department of Motor Vehicles spokesperson Kathryn Beasley said.

Why are they so popular?

The Delaware low digit tag subculture thrives due to a mix of tradition, cachet and, well, money.

The lower the number, the more money the plate number is worth on the auction block or in a private sale.

While having a low number worth thousands of dollars is nice for a possible payout, the flash of only-in-Delaware prestige that it comes with is even a bigger draw in some circles.

While the lowest tags are almost always passed down from family member to family member, sold or auctioned off, there’s always hope that a lower digit tag could end up in the lottery.

However, you can only go so low. The top three tags are used by the state’s top in-office officials ― No. 1 belongs to the Delaware governor, No. 2 to the lieutenant governor and No. 3 to the secretary of state.

How much are plates worth?

According to the thedelaware3000.org, a website that estimates plate values, these are the current estimated values of low digit plates.

  • 4-9: $800,000-$1,500,000
  • 10-29: $600,000-$750,000
  • 30-99: $250,000-$600,000
  • 100-399: $75,000-$130,000
  • 400-999: $40,000-$75,000
  • 1000-1999: $15,000-$25,000
  • 2000-3999: $9,000-$14,000
  • 4000-9999: $5,000-$9,000
  • 10000-19999: $1,500-$2,500
  • 20000-29999: $1,000-$1,200
  • 30000-99999: $500-$1,000

A new way to show off your low digit tag

The only company authorized by the Division of Motor Vehicles to manufacture official reproduction black and white porcelain and stainless steel license plates is now selling customizable coffee mugs.

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The Delaware Historic Plate Co. quietly began selling black-and-white coffee mugs in recent months for $24.99, allowing the customer to choose the number on the mug.

You can get an 11-ounce ceramic mug with your license plate number or even your birthday, possibly making for a very Delaware stocking stuffer around Christmastime.

The rules for the plates on the mugs are a lot looser than the actual plates, which sell for $120.

The mugs can be printed with not only a license plate number or birthday, but also a person’s name or a business name – pretty much anything.

When it comes to the actual black-and-white license plates, you can purchase the Delaware Historic Plate Co. reproductions only if your tag number is low enough.

As for the mugs, they offer ones that depict both the porcelain and stainless steel tags.

Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).

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