Indiana BMV directs $12.9M from optional ‘blackout’ plate sales to five-year modernization plan

According to an Oct. 5, 2026 report by the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles said it collected $12.9 million from sales of an optional “blackout” license plate first offered in August 2025. The optional design adds $45 to initial registration and to annual renewals; more than 380,000 plates have been sold since launch, with sales through the end of 2025 topping 90,000 and initial‑month sales near 22,000. A BMV spokesman estimated about 314,000 blackout plates are currently on the road.

The BMV told the Chronicle the $12.9 million will go toward a five‑year modernization that Gov. Mike Braun ordered to replace 20‑year‑old tracking and record‑support software. A comprehensive review completed in 2025 produced 13 recommended initiatives. The agency cited planned investments including added 24/7 BMV Connect kiosks, new tap‑to‑pay and digital‑currency payment machines, an AI chatbot, automated personalized notifications, upgraded branch cameras, digital driver’s licenses and pay raises for many customer‑facing employees.

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