INDIANA -- A new, minimalist "Blackout" license plate has become a massive revenue generator for Indiana, raising over $1.3 million since sales began on August 8, the state announced Thursday.

The high-contrast, black-and-white plates, which feature white letters and numbers on a black background, have proven immensely popular, with more than 40,000 plates purchased by Hoosiers in just over two months.

The revenue generated from the plate is earmarked to fund a crucial modernization effort at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), specifically to update the agency's aging 20-year-old digital operating system.

Governor Mike Braun issued an executive order on March 31 calling for the creation of the license plate as part of a strategy to improve customer service. The extra funds will support a comprehensive five-year plan for the BMV's digital and technological modernization, with the first review scheduled for completion by December 31.

"This is an excellent example of our state agencies finding creative, entrepreneurial ways to provide value to Hoosiers while generating revenue to serve them better," said Governor Braun.

The plate's design is a nostalgic nod to simple mid-20th-century license plates and is available in at least nine other states. The Indiana General Assembly authorized the plate's creation through House Enrolled Act 1390, which became law on May 6.

The "Blackout" plate incurs an additional $45 fee in addition to the standard registration fee. Crucially, $34 of each $45 fee goes directly to the BMV to fund technology upgrades and the modernization strategy.

For motorists who wish to swap their existing plate for the "Blackout" design before their current registration expires, they may do so by visiting a BMV branch and paying the $45 specialty fee plus a $9.50 replacement fee.

The "Blackout" plate is now one of more than 140 designs available in Indiana. Similar specialty plates, which range from the 4-H Foundation to the National Wild Turkey Foundation, direct extra fees to support various organizations, colleges, and the military.

Indiana's 'Blackout' license plate sales top $1.3 million to fund BMV tech upgrade | WBIW