Using TypeScript to Obtain One of the Rarest License Plates (2025)

In the realm of license plates, a select group of combinations stand out as particularly rare. A curious individual embarked on a quest to obtain one of these elusive plates. After researching the history and rarity of such plates, the individual's curiosity was piqued. The challenge was to find out just how rare these plates could truly be.

The individual discovered PlateRadar as the primary resource for information on license plate availability. However, PlateRadar restricts access to rare plates behind a paywall, discouraging potential buyers. To bypass this obstacle, the individual delved into the workings of PlateRadar's automated system.

Florida, unlike some states, allows individuals to check a license plate configuration before visiting the tax collector's office. This feature provides the necessary information to determine if a desired combination is available. The website also supports multiple combinations at once, eliminating the need for lengthy waits at government offices.

Upon closer inspection, the individual noticed that the website's backend was built using ASP.NET Web Forms. While this posed a potential hurdle for automated scraping, the lack of rate limiting and CAPTCHA allowed for unrestricted requests. The individual developed a TypeScript script that automated the process of checking plate availability, submitting requests manually to minimize detection.

The script quickly identified available combinations, such as WEBSITE, SITE, and CAPTCHA. However, the most coveted plate was EO, a two-letter combination. The individual's efforts were thwarted when EO became unavailable within days of discovery. Undeterred, the individual decided to check availability of all two-letter combinations.

To their surprise, another two-letter combination, HY, became available. After a lengthy wait at the tax collector's office, the individual successfully reserved HY as their unique license plate.