Vanity license plates drive me crazy. Especially when I can’t figure out the cryptic six or seven letter message the car owner is expressing. Sometimes the car owner helps out with a hint or two posted on the license plate frame.

I always wanted to get a vanity plate for my new car, but I’m usually intently focused on negotiating the best possible deal and forget about the plate.

In California, the Department of Motor Vehicles gives you a second chance to order vanity plates for your new or used car. You can order special interest plates through www.dmv.ca.gov or by calling 1-800-777-0133.

The purchase price and annual renewal fees help support nonprofit organizations. Currently, California special interest plates support seven different organizations:

• www.yosemitefund.org — Yosemite plates support trail repair and wildlife protection,
• www.kidsplates.org — Supports children’s safety programs throughout California,
• www.coastforyou.org — Funds coastal access trails, beach cleanups and wetland restoration,
• www.cac.ca.gov — Art plates fund art programs for children in schools and communities,
• www.tahoecons.ca.gov — Tahoe plates fund critical restoration to the Lake Tahoe area,
• www.cdva.ca.gov — Veterans plates fund statewide veteran service offices,
• www.dmv.ca.gov — California Memorial plates support California’s antiterrorism Fund and scholarships for children of Californian’s who died in 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The Arts License Plate is the most popular specialty plate in California with over 125,000 plates sold since it was introduced in 1994. Nearly half of the proceeds from the purchase and all of the renewal fees contributed to more than $7 million raised for the California Arts Council.

Vanity license plates are available year-round so you don’t need to wait until your car registration is up for renewal to purchase one. Besides supporting your favorite nonprofit organization, you also can drive us crazy by trying to figure out your personalized message to us.

(c) 2005 by Howard Young