GOVERNMENT & POLICY

Indiana BMV says $12.9M from optional ‘blackout’ plate sales will fund five-year modernization

Indiana Capital Chronicle reported the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and governor’s office announced that sales of the optional ‘blackout’ license plate, launched in August 2025, have generated $12.9 million to support a five-year BMV modernization plan.

BUSINESSINDY BRIEFBy BusinessIndy Editorial StaffCommentsPublished October 5, 2026 at 12:33 PM EDTLiving story · 2 sources

AI-generated illustration of the topic: Indiana BMV says $12.9M from optional ‘blackout’ plate sales will fund five-year modernization — AI illustration · Not a photograph of the reported event.

Indiana Capital Chronicle reported on 2026-10-05 that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the governor’s office said sales of the optional “blackout” license plate — introduced in August 2025 and bearing white characters on a black background — have produced $12.9 million toward a five-year BMV modernization plan. The article cites BMV figures showing more than 380,000 blackout plates sold since the design launched, about 314,000 are on the road, and the optional plate adds $45 to initial registration and annual renewal fees.

WHY IT MATTERS

What happened and who this affects: The BMV and governor’s office reported that an optional license‑plate design first sold in August 2025 has become a dedicated revenue source. The plate carries a $45 optional fee at purchase and renewal; those extra dollars, the agencies say, are being directed to a five‑year effort to update BMV systems and front‑line operations. For example: the BMV reported more than 380,000 blackout plates sold and about 314,000 in active use, figures the agencies used to total $12.9 million in revenue for the modernization plan.

What “modernization” means here: Governor Mike Braun issued an executive order directing replacement or upgrades to roughly 20‑year‑old tracking and records software. A comprehensive systems review completed last year produced 13 recommended initiatives named by the agency, including an AI chatbot, automated personalized notifications, upgraded branch cameras and a move toward digital driver’s licenses. The BMV has also bought new payment machines that accept tap‑to‑pay and digital currency and added more 24/7 kiosks, and the agencies say pay raises are coming for many customer‑facing employees.

What to watch next: The announcement ties the blackout‑plate revenue to a five‑year modernization timeline directed by the governor’s executive order. Watch for BMV or governor’s office releases that specify implementation schedules, budget allocations from the $12.9 million, and milestone dates for the named initiatives (for example, rollout timing for digital IDs, the chatbot and branch upgrades).

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