Wisconsin’s newest state license plate options include a blackout design and a retro yellow design. The new blackout plate features an all-black background with white letters and numbers, and the Wisconsin DOT estimates over half a million could be on the road within three years. The retro yellow or “butter” plate harkens back to the 1970s – black on a yellow background. Both come with a one-time $15 fee, plus a $25 annual registration fee. The DOT fast-tracked the two new license plates so they will be available beginning in early January 2026. The 2025-2027 state budget included $5.5 million to support the new plates, which are estimated to generate more than $25 million for the state’s transportation fund in the first three years.