PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island officially has a new license plate design. A new take on the iconic "wave" design was chosen from the five finalists unveiled by the Division of Motor Vehicles last month.

The new design was created by Willem Van Lancker, a South Kingstown resident and Rhode Island native.

Rhode Island has used the current "wave" design for a quarter-century. The new design "pays homage to the iconic design ... with an elevated twist," Gov. Dan McKee said at the unveiling Wednesday afternoon.

The design was chosen from approximately 940 submissions to the DMV from about 340 people. Walter "Bud" Craddock, the DMV's administrator, said the department opted for a public contest to get Rhode Islanders involved in the process and to save money.

"I think the people of Rhode Island got it right," Craddock said. "We won't have to change too much."

The DMV unveiled the five finalists in March, opening up voting to choose the winning design. About 300,000 votes were cast, Craddock said, about 52 percent of which went to the winning choice.

"People love the wave, they don't want to see it go," he said.

The new plates will begin to be rolled out later this year, the DMV said, distributed with license renewals.

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