Beginning in January of 2008, all twenty of Kentucky’s nonprofit, independent four-year colleges and universities will have entirely new, campus-designed plates available for purchase from Kentucky County Clerks offices. This is the first time that these institutions that constitute the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) have been able to design their own distinct Kentucky license plates for purchase by alumni, students, faculty, staff, and other supporters of their institutions.

The license plates are designed to increase awareness of independent higher education options in Kentucky and to raise funds for student scholarships; $10 from the sale of each plate goes directly back to the campus to support student scholarships.

The plates have proven extremely popular among supporters of Kentucky’s independent colleges and universities, raising more than $129,000 dollars through 2006 (calendar 2007 figures will be available in early 2008). There is a friendly competition among the institutions – nicknamed the “battle of the bumpers” – to see which campus can sell the most plates annually. AIKCU anticipates that the new designs will increase interest in the plates and the competition, ultimately raising more money to support students.

“We are thrilled that our campuses have gotten a chance to make these plates their own,” said Gary S. Cox, AIKCU President. “We’re looking forward to increasing sales and further raising the visibility of our institutions by putting more of these on the road, and most importantly, raising more money for student scholarships.”

The first independent college and university plates hit Kentucky highways in 2002. AIKCU worked with the General Assembly to establish the “Independent Higher Education” Kentucky license plate series during the 2000 General Assembly. However, under the statutes and regulations that existed at the time all AIKCU member colleges and universities had to share a common plate background and color scheme, with individual campuses differentiated by their logo stickers and individual taglines.

Fast forward to the summer of 2007. The common design has surpassed its state-mandated five year life cycle. Combine that with advances in license plate printing technology and cooperation between AIKCU and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and Kentucky’s independent colleges and universities finally got the long-desired opportunity to make their plates distinctive.

“We’re grateful to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the staff there for making this possible,” said AIKCU’s Cox. “The new plates look terrific and are a visible reminder of the great diversity we have in the independent sector.”

The new plates for all twenty colleges and universities and the association will go on sale through all Kentucky County Clerks offices in January for January birth month renewals and new issues. Plates cost $44 upon initial issue, including the $10 for student scholarships (because these new plates replace the previous version, all Independent Higher Education plates will be $44 during the first year). Renewal is $31 in subsequent years. Current plate holders interested in renewing early should check with their local County Clerk about renewal policies.

To find contact information for your County Clerk, visit the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Licensing System website.

View all twenty new campus license plates (PDF).