Switching to a single rear license plate with a front barcode sticker system could significantly reduce costs for New York and all U.S. states while maintaining effective vehicle identification. In New York, with approximately 11.5 million registered vehicles, producing one metal plate (around $5) and a barcode sticker (about $1) instead of two plates ($10–$16) could save roughly $46 million per registration cycle. Nationally, with 280 million vehicles, savings could reach $1.12 billion. Barcode stickers are scannable by license plate readers, less intrusive for vehicle aesthetics, and cheaper to replace. States like Ohio already use single plates, showing this cost-effective, environmentally friendly approach is feasible...
