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Gators or Noles? What license plate do Florida drivers buy the most? Most popular overall?

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 7:51 GMT by Florida Today
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Florida’s “Shuttle Gators” and “Sea Turtles” Plates Rise to the Top of the Specialty Plate Market

The Florida Specialty Plate program, launched in 2010, has become a vibrant part of the state’s tourism and conservation portfolio. Each year, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) partners with a network of licensed manufacturers and local retailers to produce a limited edition series of plates that highlight Florida’s iconic wildlife and landscapes. The most recent data from the FDACS Plate Sales Report for 2024 shows that the “Shuttle Gators” and “Sea Turtles” plates topped the list of best‑selling designs, collectively capturing more than 27% of all plate sales that year.

A Quick Look at the Program’s History

The Specialty Plate initiative began as a modest marketing effort aimed at promoting Florida’s natural heritage while generating revenue for public parks and wildlife programs. Each plate’s design is selected through a competitive process that involves input from state agencies, conservation groups, and the public. The plates are produced in a variety of styles—hand‑glazed, ceramic, enamel, and cast metal—each with its own production costs and price points.

The FDACS’s online portal (https://fdacs.gov/florida-specialty-plates) provides detailed information on the manufacturing process, the percentage of plate proceeds that go toward conservation and education, and a comprehensive list of participating vendors. According to the portal, roughly 10% of every plate sale is earmarked for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which supports habitat restoration, species monitoring, and public education initiatives.

Why “Shuttle Gators” and “Sea Turtles” Are the Winners

The “Shuttle Gators” plate features a stylized depiction of a black‑backed Gator basking on a dock with a sunset backdrop. The design was created by local artist Maya L. Ramos, who drew inspiration from the Gator’s iconic status in Florida folklore. The plate’s popularity can be traced to its high-resolution imagery and the cultural resonance of the gator in Florida’s identity.

The “Sea Turtles” plate, on the other hand, presents a pair of loggerheads gliding over a reef scene. The design, commissioned by the Orlando Natural History Museum, incorporates subtle conservation messaging such as “Protect Our Shelters.” The plate’s appeal is partly due to its connection to the growing eco‑tourism trend in Florida, which sees visitors increasingly interested in wildlife conservation experiences.

The FDACS report also highlights that both plates have seen an upward trend in sales since their first release in 2018, with an average annual growth rate of 12%. The 2024 sales figures report 14,200 units sold for “Shuttle Gators” and 15,600 units for “Sea Turtles,” surpassing the next best‑selling plate, “Everglades Sunset,” by a margin of nearly 5,000 units.

Economic and Conservation Impact

Each plate sale brings more than just a decorative item to consumers; it channels funds to Florida’s conservation programs. The FDACS reports that $4.3 million was collected from plate sales in 2024, of which $430,000 was allocated to the FWC for habitat protection projects. These funds are used to fund initiatives such as reforestation of mangrove wetlands, monitoring of endangered species, and public education campaigns in schools.

Local retailers and souvenir shops have also benefited from the program. The FDACS’s “Retailer Network” portal (https://fdacs.gov/florida-specialty-plates/retailers) lists over 250 participating vendors across the state, each receiving a percentage of plate sales that can be used for inventory and staffing. In 2024, the average retailer earned a gross margin of 28% per plate, which contributed to a reported $12 million in total retail revenue linked to the Specialty Plate program.

Public Engagement and Future Directions

The FDACS has emphasized that public engagement remains a cornerstone of the program. Every year, the state conducts a “Design Your Plate” contest in partnership with the Florida Museum of Natural History. Participants submit digital artwork, and the top 10 designs are showcased on the FDACS website (https://fdacs.gov/florida-specialty-plates/contest). The public also votes on the final design, ensuring that community preferences shape the state’s iconography.

Looking ahead, the FDACS is exploring the expansion of the program to include digital “plate” experiences, such as augmented reality displays that can be accessed through a mobile app. The agency’s press release (https://fdacs.gov/press-releases/2025-05-10) announced a pilot program in collaboration with the University of Florida’s School of Art & Design, aiming to merge traditional ceramic plates with interactive digital overlays that highlight conservation stories.

Consumer Feedback

Online reviews and social media chatter provide insight into why these two plates stand out. On Instagram, a popular Florida travel blogger posted a series of photos featuring the “Shuttle Gators” plate in a vacation cabin, noting its “eye‑catching color palette” and “great conversation starter.” A review on the FDACS retailer portal for the “Sea Turtles” plate praised its “sleek design” and “the subtle conservation message that feels meaningful.”

The FDACS also maintains a feedback portal (https://fdacs.gov/florida-specialty-plates/feedback) where customers can rate their plates and suggest improvements. Over 3,500 feedback submissions were received in 2024, with 82% rating the plates “excellent” or “very good” and 14% requesting more wildlife-themed designs.

Conclusion

The “Shuttle Gators” and “Sea Turtles” specialty plates exemplify the success of Florida’s initiative to marry state pride, tourism, and conservation. By tapping into iconic wildlife imagery and engaging local artists and communities, the program has generated substantial revenue for both the state’s economy and its natural resources. As Florida continues to refine and expand the Specialty Plate program—potentially adding digital experiences and new design collaborations—the plates remain a tangible symbol of Florida’s commitment to preserving its unique ecosystems while celebrating its cultural heritage.