Tell your dad he might want to check it out. In Illinois, if you put a number behind the words, there's an initial extra cost but after that the renewal is the same as any regular plate. Like Phred 1 would be the same as a regular plate but just Phred would be extra....in Illinois that is. Maybe Ohio is similar?

Phred 1 = personalized plate
Phred = vanity plate

Evidently in Illinois vanity costs more than personalization.