Local Pride
Want to own the ultimate Austin license plate? It'll cost you.
The ultimate symbol of Austin pride can be yours — if the price is right. A one-of-a-kind Texas vanity license plate reading AUSTIN is up for grabs in the Great Plate Auction through November 30.
The annual online auction hosted by My Plates, Texas' official vanity license vendor, features 50 unique plate messages, ranging from GRANDPA to GO SPURS, with a minimum bid of $500 each.
As of publish time, the bid for the one-of-a-kind Capital City plate is $2,300, but it could go much higher. The most expensive Texas license plate — 12THMAN — sold for a cool $115,000 in 2013. HOUSTON, the priciest city plate, went for $25,000, and DALLAS sold for $7,500. The question now is how much is Austin pride really worth?
Each license plate is awarded for a five-year term, and the owner gets first dibs on renewing the plate. Vanity plates are also legally transferable. Winners can choose from more than 100 designs, but we think the classic black and white makes the boldest statement.
The Great Plate Auction closes November 30 at 8 pm. Proceeds from the sale benefit the state's General Revenue Fund, which is used to support a variety of Texas projects.