three ways to get a plate in November
Online Auction – November 8 to 17
An online auction for plates PB00002 to PB00025 will be held November 8 to 17. The auction is the only opportunity to bid on 24 coveted low-numbered Pickleball State Sport plates. Low-number license plates are desirable to collectors as a way of showing they were among the “First 25” to purchase these plates. Plates can be gifted. Winning bidders must be registered owners of vehicle(s) registered in Washington state and will be responsible for Washington Department of Licensing special plate registration and renewal fees. Find your lucky plate on the auction site. Bidding starts November 8 at 9 am.
Raffle for plate #1 at the License Plate Bash – November 15
A chance to win inaugural license plate PB00001 is available to the public at the License Plate Bash. This fundraiser features open play and a round robin tournament on 11 courts at Side Out Tsunami in Seattle. Open Play is available for $20, with local pros participating, including PPA’s Ella Cosma, Seattle Tsunami’s Eric Le and UW Husky Pickleball Club co-president Cosmo Anthony-Mostad. The tournament entry fee of $100 includes a five-game minimum, state sport hat and license plate-themed keychain. Players and spectators can enter the raffle for $10 per ticket (multiple tickets allowed). Raffle prizes include license plate PB00001, Westside Pickleball league spots at Side Out Tsunami, Lake Washington cruises for six, free coaching sessions with local pros and more.
Player at SMPA’s Seattle Metro Classic at Shoreview Park 
Sample personalized license plate 
Team paddle tap at SMPA’s Seattle Metro Classic 
License plate up for bid at SMPA auction Nov 8 
Group paddle tap after game at SMPA’s Seattle Metro Classic 
Sample personalized license plate 
State Sport hat available at SMPA’s License Plate Bash Nov 15 
Sample personalized license plate 
Keychain available at SMPA’s License Plate Bash Nov 15 
10-plate special license plate coalition 
SMPA Director John Rankin and SMPA volunteer David Yamata getting license plate signatures
DOL Delay – Plate availability delayed to November 19
The Department of Licensing has postponed plate availability starting with PB00026 as well as personalized plates until November 19. The plate was originally slated to be available on November 1. DOL Licensing Services Manager Sina Talalemotu told SMPA, “We have been updated by our business partners that the plate is actually in the final stages of programming. We have currently removed the Pickleball plate from our webpage until it is available in our system but will have the page updated once it is live.”
about The state sport license plate
A true grassroots effort, the state sport plate started with an idea, the belief that our state sport deserves a state license plate. Thousands of supporters signed the petition and many contacted their representatives. The state sport plate took three years to pass the Washington State legislature, but with the help of a special coalition of nine other special plate organizations, we succeeded.
While it may seem unusual that it took three legislative sessions to pass a special plate license bill, the organizers of the Mount St. Helens plate faced even greater hurdles, requiring six years to achieve legislative approval. In the 2025 legislative session, 13 special license plates were passed, and a moratorium placed on new special plates until 2029. Read about obstacles we experienced throughout the legislative process here: Specialty plates are just idling in the Legislature | The Seattle Times.
Proceeds from DOL state sport license plate sales will support the construction and maintenance of public dedicated pickleball courts throughout Washington State. Proceeds from the fundraiser and online auction will cover operating expenses and accelerate the revenue stream from license plate sales to benefit pickleball.
Reach out to SMPA with license plate questions at Info@wapbplate.org.
Seattle Metro Pickleball Assn (SMPA) owns the copyright to the Pickleball State Sport license plate image.
About Seattle Metro Pickleball Association
Founded in 2017, the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association (SMPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building a thriving and welcoming pickleball community, expanding public access for generations to come.
Washington’s leading organization providing superior programming, funding, and guidance for pickleball, SMPA envisions a vibrant region where the sport is part of community life—welcoming all ages and abilities, and inspiring joy, connection, and resilient communities.