---
title: "Australian License Plates Can Now Include Emoji"
description: "## License to Emoji"
date: "2019-02-20"
modified: "2019-02-20"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/australia-emoji-license-plate"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
tags:
  - "australia"
  - "emojis"
  - "license plates"
  - "the digest"
---

# Australian License Plates Can Now Include Emoji

![As of March 1, drivers in Queensland, Australia will be able to include one of five emoji in their license plates — a startling break from tradition.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/australia-emoji-license-plate1.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Tag Hartman-Simkins\</em\>*

## License to Emoji

It's the natural evolution of the vanity license plate: emoji.

As of March 1, drivers in Queensland, Australia will be able to include one of five emoji in their license plates: laughing out loud, winking face, sunglasses, heart eyes, and the classic smiley face.

"For quite some time we’ve seen that you can support your favourite team or your favourite town with a symbol on your number plate," Royal Automobile Club of Queensland spokeswoman Rebecca Michael [told 7News Brisbane](<https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/queensland-drivers-set-to-get-emoji-number-plates/news-story/ec0fc157acd77a2ac8d79621a1d16b06>). "And using an emoji is no different."

## Cool Sunglasses Face

If you drive a vehicle in Queensland, you can pre-order your own customized plate right now on [the website](<https://www.ppq.com.au/emoji>) of government-approved plate vendor Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ.)

Drivers will like need to pay a fee somewhere between $160 to $500 in Australian dollars to get the new emoji, according to *7News*.

## Mo' 'Mojis, Mo' Problems

One problem remains: police could be thrown off by the unusual new plates.

"How do you write down the emoji in your number plate after an accident?" Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts [asked the *Brisbane Times*](<https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/queensland-drivers-can-soon-add-emojis-to-their-personalised-plates-20190219-p50yor.html>).

**READ MORE:** [Queensland drivers set to get emoji number plates](<https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/queensland-drivers-set-to-get-emoji-number-plates/news-story/ec0fc157acd77a2ac8d79621a1d16b06>) \[*new.com.au*\]

***More on license plates: [A "Smart" License Plate: To Buy or Not to Buy?](<https://futurism.com/digital-license-plate-rplate>)***

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)