Delaware's License Plate Rated The Ugliest In The Country

By Chelsea Karnash

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – When it comes to license plates, Americans want rainbows, cowboys and…rocks. What they don't want is boring.

That's the takeaway from a new report from CarInsurance.com. that ranks the attractiveness of various state license plates.

In a survey of 2,000 adults across the country, nearly one-third ranked Wyoming's plate among the top five favorites in the country.

The plate, which shows a rider astride a horse wearing a cowboy hat, was ranked the most attractive in the country. Second place went to Hawaii's rainbow emblazoned plate, and Utah's red-rock arch came in third. Alabama and Oregon rounded out the top five.

Meanwhile, Delaware's plain blue and gold plate denoting it "The First State" was ranked the least attractive by almost half of respondents. Similarly bland designs from the 50s such as Arkansas' white diamond and Virginia's extremely plain white plate with black type also ranked low.

"The standard-issue plates are plainer and plainer, because all of the optional ones are filling in the interest," Jeff Minard, a research historian with the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, told CarInsurance.com. "Today's Texas is black on white and just says, 'Texas.' The bigger states have to consider cost. Plain is easier."

Of course, that doesn't explain Delaware's choice.

To read the full report, click here.