GOVERNMENT & POLICY

Indiana nets $12.9M from optional ‘blackout’ plate sales to fund BMV modernization

According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the governor’s office reported on Oct. 5, 2026, that sales of the optional all‑black license plate generated $12.9 million toward a five‑year modernization of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The blackout plate launched in August 2025; the BMV says it has sold more than 380,000 since then and about 314,000 are on the road.

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

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

According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the governor’s office announced on Oct. 5, 2026, that sales of the optional “blackout” license plate generated $12.9 million to put toward a five‑year BMV modernization plan. The BMV began offering the plate in August 2025; the agency reported it has sold more than 380,000 blackout plates in the year since launch and BMV spokesman Greg Dunn said about 314,000 are on the road. The optional plate carries a $45 added charge at initial registration and on annual renewals, and the plates display white numerals and letters on an all‑black background.

The report says Governor Mike Braun directed a five‑year modernization of the agency’s roughly 20‑year‑old tracking and records software in an executive order in 2025. The agency completed a comprehensive systems review last year with recommended improvements or replacements. The BMV has already added more 24/7 BMV Connect kiosks statewide and purchased new payment machines that accept tap‑to‑pay and digital currency, and the article says pay raises are planned for many customer‑facing BMV employees.

WHY IT MATTERS

What happened: Indiana collected $12.9 million from sales of an optional “blackout” license plate design and intends to apply that money to a multi‑year technology upgrade at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). The blackout plate is an optional design that adds $45 to registration and renewal fees; the state reported more than 380,000 sales since the design launched in August 2025.

How it works: The extra fee on the optional plate creates a dedicated revenue stream that the governor’s office has said will help pay for a five‑year program to modernize the BMV’s roughly 20‑year‑old tracking and records software. The agency has already completed a comprehensive review that produced recommendations, installed additional 24/7 kiosks and bought new payment machines that accept tap‑to‑pay and digital currency. The article also reports planned pay raises for many customer‑facing employees.

Why you should watch: If you use BMV services, these revenues and the planned upgrades could affect how and where you complete registration work over the next five years. For example, the increased kiosk footprint and newer payment options are steps the agency has already taken. The next things to watch are detailed spending plans from the governor’s office or the BMV and specific timelines or milestone announcements for software replacements or other system rollouts.

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