GOVERNMENT & POLICY

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

According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles reported that sales of the optional all‑black license plate have generated $12.9 million toward a five‑year BMV modernization plan; the plate launched in August 2025 and the agency has sold more than 380,000 to date.

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 fees will fund five-year modernization — AI illustration · Not a photograph of the reported event.

According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles reported on Oct. 5, 2026 that sales of the optional “blackout” license plate — a plate with white numerals and letters on an all‑black background first offered in August 2025 — have produced $12.9 million toward a five‑year BMV modernization plan. The agency said it has sold more than 380,000 blackout plates since the design launched, and about 314,000 are currently on the road, the story reported.

The BMV added a $45 fee to initial registrations and annual renewals for the blackout design. The agency told the Capital Chronicle the revenue is being used to invest in people and technology; examples given include planned pay raises for many customer‑facing employees, new payment machines that accept tap‑to‑pay and digital currency, and additional 24/7 BMV Connect kiosks bought so far this year. The article also notes Gov. Mike Braun issued an executive order directing a five‑year modernization of legacy BMV systems.

WHY IT MATTERS

This development matters to Indiana drivers and businesses that interact with the BMV because it links a voluntary plate option to concrete, agency‑reported upgrades. The blackout plate is optional; people who choose the design pay an extra $45 on new registrations and renewals. The BMV reported that money from those fees — $12.9 million, per the Capital Chronicle — is being applied to a five‑year modernization effort that the governor directed, focused on staff and technology.

What that looks like in practice, based on the agency’s statements, includes raises for many front‑line BMV employees, replacement payment machines that accept contactless payments and certain digital currency options, and more around‑the‑clock kiosks to handle routine transactions without staff. For a resident, the immediate choice is whether the $45 fee is worth the blackout plate look; the reported tradeoff is that the fee revenue is being used for improvements intended to shorten lines, add payment options and expand self‑service access.

Watch for the BMV’s future updates tied to the five‑year modernization timeline: the agency’s rollout schedule for the stated pay raises, additional technology purchases and any formal reports detailing how the $12.9 million is allocated across those projects.

Report a correction · Editorial standards · Our source directory

BusinessIndy examines this development and its implications for Indiana businesses and communities using the linked sources.

Related coverage

Companies in this story

Current

Explore the topic

Reader discussion

Join the discussion. Every comment is checked before publication. Community rules and appeals