New cardinal license plate for Ohioans now available

COLUMBUS — A new northern cardinal vehicle license plate is available for purchase from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The new image was created in celebration of the plate’s 20th anniversary.

The cardinal license plate costs $25 in addition to the yearly vehicle registration fee, and $15 from the sale of each license plate supports Ohio’s wildlife diversity. Wildlife conservation plates can be registered only to passenger vehicles, noncommercial trucks, motor homes and trailers

The original northern cardinal wildlife license plate was released in 1997. It featured artwork by famed Ohio wildlife artist John A. Ruthven. Born in Cincinnati, Ruthven, now 92, has been hunting, fishing and painting for most of his life. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original cardinal license plate, Ruthven created new artwork for a redesigned license plate.