Indiana BMV channels $12.9M from optional ‘blackout’ plate into five‑year modernization plan

The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported Oct. 5, 2026 that the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles has collected $12.9 million from sales of the optional “blackout” license plate and is directing that revenue toward a five‑year agency modernization effort. The story says the blackout plate, offered since August 2025, adds $45 to initial registration and annual renewal fees; the BMV told the paper it has sold more than 380,000 plates in the year since launch and that about 314,000 are on the road.

The article lists planned uses for the funds reported by the agency, including pay raises for many customer‑facing BMV employees and technology upgrades: new payment machines that accept tap‑to‑pay and digital currency, added 24/7 BMV Connect kiosks, and other improvements identified in a systems review (13 initiatives such as an AI chatbot, automated notifications, upgraded branch cameras and digital driver’s licenses). Gov. Mike Braun and BMV Commissioner Kevin Garvey were quoted saying the revenue is being invested in people and technology.

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