Venus Flytrap License Plate

North Carolinians now have a new specialty license plate to choose from at the DMV, thanks to a bill passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in late June and signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper on July 3, 2024.

The Home of the Venus Flytrap specialty plate features one of our state’s most iconic plants, the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). Known around the world but native only to a 90-mile inland area around Wilmington, NC, the Venus flytrap is a North Carolina treasure. But habitat loss and poaching are making this incredible carnivorous plant harder and harder to find.

Proceeds from this specialty plate will go to the North Carolina Botanical Garden Foundation, Inc. The Foundation will use the funds to support native plant conservation and the restoration of healthy landscapes across North Carolina. PLEASE NOTE: The Garden will not be issuing plates or processing applications for the plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the paper application work?
Download the application here, then print it out. Enclose a check – $30 for a regular (numerical) plate or $60 for a personalized plate – and mail it to:

North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles
Special License Plate Unit
3155 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27697-3 155

Will the Home of the Venus Flytrap specialty plate be available to order online at the DMV?
Yes, but it will take several more weeks before online ordering is available. We’ll update this page when we have more specifics about online ordering!

I preordered the plate. What do I need to do to get it?
If your vehicle and address are still the same, the DMV will send you your plate when it’s ready – no need to do anything else! If your vehicle and/or address have changed, the DMV will contact you for updated information. If your car registration is due in the next three months, the DMV will reach out to take care of renewing the registration before sending the plate. If you still have questions about your plate order, please call the NCDMV’s Special Plates Unit at 919-615-8450.

Where does the money go?
For each $30 specialty plate that is renewed each year, the NCDMV keeps $10 and the North Carolina Botanical Garden Foundation, Inc., receives $20. The Foundation will use the funds to help conserve native plants and restore healthy landscapes across North Carolina by supporting organizations like the North Carolina Botanical Garden and Friends of Plant Conservation, Inc. Learn more about work to save the Venus flytrap in this article from Endeavors.

Who designed the plate?
The plate was designed by Preston Montague, a Durham-based artist, educator, and landscape designer.

What do the “DM” letters on the plate stand for?
DM represents Dionaea muscipula, the scientific name of the Venus flytrap.