Somewhere in a garage in New Jersey, there’s a dust-covered Buick Riviera that’s still rocking a classic blue license plate. And good news for fans of the vintage plates: There’s a chance they could return. 

State Senator Kristin Corrado reintroduced a bill last month that would bring back the iconic blue license plates that ruled Garden State roads throughout the 1980s—and that you still see glimpses of on old cars today. 

The bill, S-3265, is now awaiting consideration by the Senate Transportation Committee, marking the third time the senator has pushed this legislation since 2020.

If approved, blue plates would not replace the yellow ones we’ve been using since the 90s. Instead,  drivers could purchase them as specialty items for $50 upfront, plus a $10 annual fee. 

The plates would replicate the exact design issued between 1979 and 1991. That distinctive baby blue background with sand-yellow lettering that some New Jerseyans can’t get enough of.

The bill came about after a constituent approached Corrado with the idea. Turns out, plenty of residents—especially classic car enthusiasts—are nostalgic for the old design.

Before any plates get manufactured, the Motor Vehicle Commission requires 500 applications to cover the $25,000 production cost. Revenue from plate sales would help fund state transportation projects.

The blue plates aren’t the oldest in New Jersey—they replaced the iconic cream-colored plates with black lettering that had were used throughout the 60s and 70s. 

Corrado’s 2020 version of the bill actually passed the Senate Transportation Committee, but died in the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Now, with a newfound surge of enthusiasm, it gets another chance. So if you’ve got a vintage car that’s begging for the baby blue plates, or just want them for your modern vehicle, there’s hope.

The 80s could partially return to New Jersey—at least in the form of vintage plates.