WYOMING — New specialty license plates rolled out by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) at the beginning of 2026 raised over $30,000 for Wyoming search and rescue (SAR) organizations in a statewide auction.

The auction for the new SAR specialty license plates, hosted by WYDOT, offered residents the opportunity to bid on low-numbered license plates, as well as a plate with the number “307” — the Wyoming area code. The auction raised $33,784 from the sale of 12 SAR plates. According to WYDOT, proceeds from the auction will go into the state’s SAR account, which is administered by the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security.

The 307 license plate raised $5,700 in bids during the statewide auction. Photo: WYDOT

“WYDOT is proud to have helped facilitate this fundraiser for these potentially life-saving operations,” said WYDOT Deputy Director Taylor Rossetti in a statement.

WYDOT noted that the plate with number 307 drew $5,700 in bids before the auction closed. The specialty plates come with a required initial fee of $180 — $150 of which goes directly to the state SAR fund. According to state law, the money in Wyoming’s SAR account is used for reimbursement of expenditures for certain operations around the state, training programs, administration, and acquisition and maintenance of equipment.

According to the Jackson Hole News&Guide, state SAR teams completed 377 missions in 2024 and 427 missions in 2025. Teton County Search and Rescue received over 150 calls for service in 2025.

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.