New 'Let Freedom Ring' license plates, highway welcome signs highlight Pennsylvania's central role in American history

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania license plates are getting a new look in time for America’s 250th birthday . Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office on Tuesday debuted the new plate design and announced the installation of a set of new highway welcome signs with a theme that highlights the commonwealth’s key role in the nation’s establishment.

The governor says the new “Let Freedom Ring” plates won’t be available until spring of 2025, but that will leave plenty of time for drivers to pick one up for the semiquincentennial anniversary of the founding of the United States of America in 2026.

The new “Let Freedom Ring” highway welcome signs, highlighting Pennsylvania’s role as a focal point of celebration, will be installed at state-border entry points through the coming months. The Shapiro administration is banking on tourism as a major economic engine. A March report from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office looking at the year 2022, which saw 192.4 million people visit the state, shows 486,871 jobs supported, $76.7 billion in economic impact generated, and $4.7 billion in state and local taxes collected.

In all, 37 signs will be installed, the governor’s office said. According to a statement, the first eight went up on U.S. 15 in Adams County; I-295 in Bucks County; I-90, at the Ohio border, in Erie County; I-70 in Fulton County; I-80 in Monroe County; Route 449 in Potter County; I-81 in Susquehanna County; and Route 1015 in Tioga County.

PennDOT will use up its inventory of standard-issue license plates before transitioning to the new design. Drivers can sign up now for email updates from PennDOT about when and how to order the new license plates.