At least two .com license plates exist in Austin.
I recently got a DNW.COM license plate thanks to Texas now allowing dots on license plates.
This past weekend I was leaving a parking lot when I spied this:
Yep, that’s a four character .com license plate.
In a way, a four character .com is rarer than a three character — when it comes to license plates in The Lone Star State.
DNW.COM is technically a six character license plate because the dot isn’t counted. UXRX.COM is seven, and the state only opens up seven character plates for short windows of time.
Interestingly, UXRX.com isn’t launched yet. I guess forking out hundreds of dollars for a license plate is one way to make sure you follow through with starting your business.
A word to the wise before you go get a personalized “domain plate”: it’s like putting your phone number in big font on the back of your car. I’m not advising against it…just think about it before you do it.
Rob says
@andrew
be careful. i put a “www.” at the front of, and “.com” at the end of my license plates (in a different font of course so that there was no confusion). someone (i believe it was an ex-friend of mine) came one night and stole the plates. so either use those one way screws which are hard to remove, or better yet make a steel or brass custom plate holder which can be bolted through the bumper/boot – that way they will be much harder to steal. for sure someone one day will do it just for kicks or out of jealousy.
John says
That’s Sweet
Talk about Baller advertising
What was cost?
Good idea for states to have auctions on the ones more than one person wants.
But, the proceeds that result should be used to reduce debt only …
Illinois could use a lot of that
Andrew Allemann says
@ John –
They price it cleverly. It’s $195 for one year, $500 for 5 years, or $600 for ten years. So you end up getting it for ten years 🙂
They also did an auction for some of the top terms. Not sure how much is raised.
Misato says
Let’s see Google, Microsoft, or Lego, probably the 3 biggest UDRP filers and/or domain copyright complaintants, try and sue over a .com plate. Since they are plates with .com and not domains with .com, the have no jurisdiction. =D
Henry says
Now, as more and more states emulate it, watch your 2, 3, and 4 character names get pricier especially in .com. There is more reason to hold on to your short names. This is one area even if you are not able to win the short name plate of your 2, 3, or 4 character domain name, you will still come out a winner with free advertising on somebody else’s dime. Of course that’s assuming that the person that got the name plate is actually using it on a vehicle that’s out and about for you to benefit from the exposure.