JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — A nationwide shortage has suspended prestige and novelty license plate manufacture in Wyoming.
It’s not a shortage of convicts; plenty of felons doing time breaking rocks and making license plates. No, it’s an ongoing short supply of aluminum that has Wyoming Department of Transportation temporarily suspending all orders of custom-made tags. Standard plates remain available through your local county treasurer’s office.
Orders made before May 11 could be affected. You better call and find out the status of your “EEW A BUG” or your “SKRRRT.”
The limited supply and rising costs of aluminum are like everything else—tied to the year or more of COVID restrictions. Most of us stopped going to the bar and chugged six-packs (or cases) at home. With more and more micro and boutique breweries canning beer now, the demand is even higher now than ever before.
A tight supply of aluminum has been noted in the U.S. for at least two years now.
WYDOT says they hope to reopen applications for vanity plates and novelty plates later this summer.
