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The glovebox guide

How to Play the License Plate Game

The License Plate Game has been a road trip tradition for generations. The objective is simple:

Spot license plates from as many different U.S. states (and Canadian provinces, if you choose) as possible before you reach your destination.

There are no official rules—every family has their own traditions. At SpotTheStates, we call them Road Rules. Use ours, tweak them, or create your own!

Agree before departure

Our Road Rules

  1. 01

    The first person to spot the plate gets it.

    Call out the state as soon as you see it. If two people shout at the same time... that’s a family decision!

  2. 02

    Each license plate only counts once.

    Once you’ve spotted a state, it’s yours for the rest of the game. Spotting another plate from the same state doesn’t earn additional credit (unless you’re playing with custom Road Rules).

  3. 03

    Any valid license plate counts.

    Standard plates, specialty plates, vanity plates, organizational plates, collegiate plates, conservation plates, and other official state-issued designs all count.

    Many families also count temporary license plates. Others don’t. Pick the rule that works best for your game.

  4. 04

    Decide whether trucks count.

    Some families count passenger vehicles only.

    Others count everything on the road—including pickup trucks, commercial trucks, buses, RVs, trailers, and motorcycles.

    There’s no right answer—just agree before the game begins.

  5. 05

    Decide if Canadian plates count.

    If you’re traveling near the border or simply want a bigger challenge, include Canadian provinces and territories.

    SpotTheStates lets you play either way.

  6. 06

    Play honestly.

    Only count plates you actually see.

    Half the fun is the excitement of spotting an unexpected Alaska or Hawaii plate before it disappears down the highway!

Make it your own

Optional Road Rules

Want to make the game even more interesting?

Points Mode

Rare plates are worth more points than common ones.

No Repeats

Once someone claims a state, no one else can.

Team Play

Divide the car into teams.

Weekly Challenges

Complete themed challenges to unlock rare plates for My Garage.

Time Trial

See how many different states you can find in one hour.

Vacation Mode

Play for your entire road trip instead of a single drive.

The most important rule

Have fun.

Every road trip is different, and that’s what makes the License Plate Game so enjoyable. Feel free to invent your own Road Rules, adjust the difficulty, and create family traditions that you’ll remember for years to come.

Start spotting plates