Michigan License Plates Peeling? This Could Be the Reason

We've all been behind a car with a peeling Michigan license plate and probably wondered "how does that even happen?"

Chances are it's not the driver's fault.

SEE ALSO: Ranking Michigan's License Plates Over the Past 50 Years

There's evidence from other states that might suggest it's a defect in the plate that could be prevented.

Why Is My License Plate Peeling?

All of Michigan's license plates are made by inmates at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility in Adrian, Michigan. CQQL.net has a pretty good primer on the process.

The state works with a variety of contractors for different parts of the license plate manufacturing process, including the aluminum sheeting and graphic sheeting that are used in production.

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According to CQQL.net, Michigan plates are made using "a roll of graphic sheeting from a private vendor (currently 3M Corporation) (that) is applied to the unpainted aluminum. The graphic sheeting comes from a roll 12" wide and 900 feet long, and has an adhesive backing that sticks to the aluminum."

That adhesive backing may be an issue on some Michigan plates.

The state of New York, which also used to use graphic sheeting supplied by 3M Corporation in the production of its license plates, had the same peeling problem in the 2010s.

Officials in New York didn't outright call out defective adhesive on 3M's graphic sheeting as the reason it ended its contract with the company, but reports of peeling license plates ended after the state went with a new supplier, according to syracuse.com.

Read into that what you will.

What to Do If My Michigan License Plate Is Peeling?

It's illegal to roll around with a peeling license plate, according to the Michigan Secretary of State's Office.

If your plate is peeling, take it to your local Secretary of State office. According to the state, "a license plate may be replaced at no fee if it is deemed to have a manufacturing defect and it is within five years from the date the plate was first issued."

If the damage is deemed not to be the cause of a defect in the plate, replacement will run you $5.