It's a decision every Arizonan with a car must make at least once: Which license plate do I choose?

There's a new option seemingly every year, giving drivers a chance to show the world what they care about, from organ donation to veterans to sports teams to colleges.

Arizona has dozens of special plates to choose from. Most of them cost $25, and $17 of that goes to an affiliated cause, like a charity or government agency. If you personalize the plate on top of getting a special one (for example, a Future Farmers of America plate that says "FARMBOY"), that's a $50 total initial fee.

It's not the Arizona Department of Transportation that decides which special license plates exist. Arizona lawmakers have to pass bills to create them, sometimes at the behest of the outside group that would benefit. The governor has to approve the bills.

Some come with requirements. To get a veteran plate, you have to be a veteran or the immediate family member of one. Other military plates, like those for Legion of Valor, Purple Heart and Pearl Harbor survivors, have similar requirements.

One special plate recently made headlines. The "In God We Trust" plate, which more than 10,000 vehicles carry, supports the Alliance Defending Freedom, a controversial group based in Scottsdale.

A Democratic lawmaker proposed getting rid of the plate, but has so far not been successful.

The energy efficiency plate, which is blue with clouds, only has an $8 application fee, but drivers have to have a specific type of hybrid electric vehicle. The number of vehicles that can get plate is capped at 10,000, and the cap has already been met. Bearers of that plate do get a special privilege, though: They can drive in the HOV lane no matter how many people are in the car.

There are more than 4.4 million normal, non-specialty plates, called "owner pleasure" in the Arizona Department of Transportation's database.

Choose your favorite rivalry

The plates also provide an outlet for rivalries.

Multiple universities have special plates, but the University of Arizona has the most, data from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows.

Arizona State University has second-most, followed by Northern Arizona University. Grand Canyon University comes next, then the Thunderbird School of Global Management, then Midwestern University, and then the University of Phoenix.

You can do it for professional sports teams, too. The Arizona Cardinals have the most by far, followed by the Arizona Diamondbacks, then the Phoenix Suns. The Arizona Coyotes come next, then Phoenix International Raceway, and finally the Southwest PGA.

The Boy Scouts of America also count more specialty plates than the Girl Scouts, but both have less than 500.

Most common plates

Here are the most popular special license plates in Arizona, as of June 30, 2018:

Veterans (money goes to Arizona's Department of Veterans Services): 75,862

Arizona Cardinals (money goes to Cardinals Charities): 65,563

Military support/Freedom (money goes to Arizona's Department of Veterans Services): 34,825

Arizona Highways magazine (money goes to Arizona Highways magazine): 28,681

First responder (money goes to 100 Club of Arizona): 24,035

Least common plates

Several of the least common specialty plates have unique requirements because they are affiliated with military recognition or branches. There are only three Legion of Valor plates and 30 Pearl Harbor survivors plates. There are 101 National Guard plates.

If you remove the military plates, here are the five least common plate options:

Barrett-Jackson (money goes to Barrett-Jackson Charities): 319

Girl Scouts (money goes to Girl Scouts - Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, Inc.): 135

Health sciences (money goes to Midwestern University): 134

Arizona Historical Society (money goes to Arizona Historical Society): 118

University of Phoenix (money goes to Apollo Group Inc.): 96

Do you have a special license plate? Why? Explain it to reporter Rachel Leingang by email at rachel.leingang@gannett.com or by phone at 602-444-8157, or find her on Twitter and Facebook.

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