Metro

A gold ‘plated’ rip-off

Here’s the snazzy new license plate that’s been giving New York motorists fits of road rage — because they’ll be forced to pay for it.

The retro gold and blue design, which was unveiled yesterday, will be rolled out next April — along with a mandatory $25 fee for all drivers who renew their registration.

And anyone who wants to keep his or her current plate letter and number combinations will have to fork over an additional $20 — which led some local motorists to fume about getting nickel-and-dimed by government officials.

“They only changed it so they can have another reason to charge us,” said Brian Checko, 24, who was filling his car with gas in the East Village yesterday. “And they’re ugly. It looks like we live in Delaware or something.”

But state officials insisted that the lifetime of the current plates is running out.

After five years, it’s harder for cops to read the plates as they lose their reflective abilities, said state Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner David Swarts.

“Obviously, the general public is concerned about the fee increases, but concerning the state’s multibillion-dollar fiscal problem, this is one way to recoup revenue,” he said.

The plate fees will dump $129 million into the state’s coffers over two years and will also help authorities track down people driving without insurance and with false registrations, Swarts said.

All 12 million motor vehicles in New York will have the new plate by 2012, he added. The current, blue and white plates were introduced in 2001.

Swarts said he expects mixed reviews on the color scheme, which was used from 1973 to 1986.

“I’m hoping they do [like it], because the retro plate has a kind of jazzed-up feel,” he said.

Some drivers said they liked the old-school look — but didn’t want to spend any money on it.

“It looks nice. I remember when my dad had plates like that,” said Mario Aponte, 60. “But I think it’s just another moneymaking scheme for the state.”

tom.namako@nypost.com