CALIFORNIA, USA — San Francisco 49er fans could eventually be showing their team pride across California with a special 49er-themed license plate.
In May 2022, the 49ers launched a campaign in partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to create the special license plate with the tagline: “Faithful to State Parks,” according to the partnership's website.
As of February 2, they needed 4,325 more preorders with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by May to make a special license plate a reality.
The 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.
Proceeds from the Bay Area team’s plates will benefit the CNRA and its efforts to expand access to outdoor recreational spaces in California, the team said.
The DMV cannot issue the special license plate unless 7,500 applications for vehicles with valid California registration are placed by the deadline, according to state law. The deadline is May 2, the DMV told ABC10 Thursday.
The DMV received 3,175 prepaid applications as of Jan. 25, the agency said. The 49ers need 4,325 more orders to be placed to get the license plate printed.
The upfront cost of a regular plate is $50, plus a $3 nonrefundable processing fee, the DMV said. It would cost $40 to renew annually.
The upfront cost of a personalized plate is $103, plus a $3 nonrefundable processing fee, the DMV said. It would cost $83 to renew annually.
Currently, the DMV offers specialty plates that help support agriculture education, arts education and Late Tahoe preservation. See a full list HERE.
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The Los Angeles Rams’ attempt
In December 2021, the Los Angeles Rams launched a campaign to create their specialized plate, according to the DMV.
The DMV said the Rams Foundation in October 2023 terminated its efforts to secure 7,500 applications. In 22 months, the team collected 1,055 prepaid applications, the DMV said.
“The Rams’ plate sponsor is working on refunds for customers who submitted prepaid applications,” the DMV said.
Should enough 49er plate orders come in before the deadline, the DMV said it would take some time to get them printed.
“After the DMV reviews and validates the applications, it generally takes 10 to 12 months to implement programming from the date the 7,500 valid prepaid plate applications are received,” the DMV said in a statement.
Preorders for the special license plate can be placed HERE.
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