California was the first state to start a pilot program for digital license plates, but now it’s coming out of the pilot program and going statewide for anyone who wants one. Thanks to a recent bill (AB-984) just passed, it is now legal for anyone in the state of California to use a digital license plate.
Your options for buying a digital record are limited to just one company: Reviver. As of today, Reviver says there are about 10,000 California cars running around with its license plates as part of its pilot program. That number will no doubt increase as more becomes known about the new law that allows anyone to buy them.
If you’ve never seen or heard of Reviver digital records, know that they use a monochromatic HD display that can be switched between light or dark modes (black or white background). They run on batteries — Reviver claims a five-year battery life — but if you’re a commercial customer, Reviver offers a wired solution that uses power from the vehicle’s 12-volt battery.
Why would you want one? The biggest reason is probably aesthetics. You may like the monochromatic look of your car more than any of the other plate options available. You can also write a personal message that appears on the bottom part of the board. “Renewal” can be set to happen automatically, so your digital display will show the year and month your registration is good for – no sticker needed. Reviver says its plates will operate in temperatures between minus-40 degrees and 176 degrees Fahrenheit.
Features that Reviver says will be coming in the future include family services and alerts, stolen vehicle reporting and recovery locations, toll systems integration, vehicle diagnostics, and maintenance alerts, additional DMV transactions, and integration of parking and other payment services.
How much is all this going to cost you? You can only subscribe to the record starting today and it will cost you $19.95 per month for 48 months. If you prefer to do one flat fee, a four-year subscription costs $215.40. The wired commercial board can be purchased for $24.95 per month or $275.40 for four years. Professional installation of said plate costs $150.
Related video: