The mortgage is gone and the kids are grown, and you finally have enough dough to buy that luscious Lexus or beautiful BMW.
Now, for the first time in your life, you've decided on a personalized plate to do the car justice.LIBR8TD .
Gotcha.
The only trouble is, you're sure some smarter person years ago thought up the exact same thing.
Maybe not.
With the click of a mouse, you can now check a statewide database offered by the Utah Tax Commission to see if your bright idea has already been taken.
Last month, the "Utah Personalized Plate Search" went online at www.state.ut.us/serv/upps and allows vehicle owners to search the available combinations for Utah vanity plates.
From the convenience of home, users can view selected combinations against the backdrop of the variety of plates offered, including the Olympic, Centennial, Ski Utah! and special group plates.
The user first selects a type of plate and then enters a letter-number combination. Vehicle owners may select up to seven letters or numbers on Ski Utah! and Centennial plates and combinations of up to five characters for Olympic, disabled or special group plates.
Janice Perry Gully said new system is quicker, making it easier for both motor vehicle owners and state employees. "This will significantly shorten the process," she said.
Prior to going online, the process involved the owner picking a top choice, followed by two others. The request was mailed in and then checked by employees to see if the combination was already taken. About three weeks later, vehicle owners would find out via mail if they could have their top pick on a vanity plate or if they had to resort to a second or third choice.
Gully said the Web site provides an instant answer and also provides prospective vanity plate owners a chance to see what the combination will look like against a selected background.
For right now, if the requested combination is available, users can download a mail-in application to purchase the plate. At some point later this year, Gully said online ordering will be available and plans are in the works for an online motor vehicle registration renewal service.
Auto dealers, lenders, insurers and towing companies can already subscribe to a service and do an online search of motor vehicle titles and registrations.
You can reach Amy Joi Bryson by e-mail at amyjoi@desnews.com