Want to see your art on Kentucky vehicles? How to get your pet design on a license plate
Kentucky’s special spay and neuter license plate is set to get a new look after more than two decades — and you could be the one to design it.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture announced in a press release Monday the department is holding a contest for Bluegrass State artists to redesign the spay and neuter license plate, which currently shows several paw prints and a cat and dog cuddled up together.
Proceeds from the sales go to the Animal Control and Care Fund with the goal to reduce the stray population in Kentucky by spaying and neutering pets. Sales have led to the creation of $600,000 worth of grants that have helped more than 17,000 pets get spayed and neutered, according to the press release.
“With 411 animal shelters and animal welfare organizations in Kentucky, it’s obvious we, as a society, need to do more to control the population. Since February is Spay and Neuter Awareness Month, this is the perfect time to refresh our design and send a call out to local artists,” Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell said in the press release.
The deadline to enter your design into the contest is Sunday, April 20. All entries can be in AI, PSD and PDF format and must be sent to Michael.Grant@ky.gov.
The department of agriculture has a template available to help artists with their designs.
How do I get a specialized license plate in Kentucky?
Anyone with a vehicle registered in Kentucky can apply for a specialty license plate.
There are more than 60 special license plate designs listed on Drive Kentucky’s website, which include a bobcat, a butterfly and a cardinal, just to name a few. The cost of choosing a specialty plate for your vehicle supports the organizations and efforts behind each design.
The cost depends on the design and can vary from $31 to $46. There’s also a personalization cost of $25 for those who choose their tag numbers or letters. Kentucky’s current spay and neuter design cost $31, plus any personalization costs if applicable. The renewal cost is the same.
Plates are available for purchase at county clerk offices. Requests for personal plates are given on a first-come, first-served basis, Drive KY’s website says. All letters except “I,” “O,” “Q” and “U” can be used in personalized plates, as well as numbers, spaces and dashes.
The state does review personalized plate requests, and some are rejected.
Special license plates have to be renewed on the vehicle owner’s birth date every year. Renewal is available in person and online. To renew online, you need your vehicle’s title, plate number and a form of electronic payment.
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