One of the Pacific Northwest’s most famous volcanoes is getting the spotlight in a new Washington state license plate that promises to be a “head-turner.”
The Washington state Department of Licensing officially made a new Mount St. Helens specialty plate available last week, capping a yearslong effort that involved a last-minute design change and multiple attempts at approval in the Washington state Legislature.
The vibrant green license plate features a look at the north side of the famed volcano, which erupted violently in 1980. The plate also features a mountain goat and forested slopes.
Proceeds from sales of the new specialty plate will benefit the Mount St. Helens Institute, which operates volunteer and education programs, community science initiatives, trail maintenance and restoration work at the volcano.
The institute called the new plate a “head-turner” that will directly support its initiatives at Mount St. Helens.
Lawmakers first tried to get approval for the license plate in 2019, attempting to make it available for the 40th anniversary of the eruption, but the legislation repeatedly stalled. The Legislature finally approved the plates in 2025 in a bill that also greenlit plates featuring Smokey Bear and a pickleball design.
The new designs add to a plethora of specialty license plate options in Washington.
Washington drivers can get the new Mount St. Helens plate for a $30 annual fee in addition to other state renewal fees. The Mount St. Helens Institute will get $28 of that money, the Washington State Department of Licensing said.
The new plates are also customizable, opening the door for all kinds of possibilities.
