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Instant License Plate Lookup
How To Change Your License Plate Number and What It Costs
Table of Contents
License plates are the most immediately visible identifiers for road vehicles. Plate numbers are issued by each state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Although they can be purely numeric, most license plates are a mixture of letters and numbers unique to the registered owner.
Changing your license plate number can be a tiring process. You must contact various agencies and cooperate with your DMV, which is never fun. The finer details depend on local laws and regulations, but the basic steps are similar across states.
Can You Change Your License Plate Number?
Changing a license plate number is possible across the US. However, some states may restrict the situations in which a vehicle owner can make the request, such as during timely renewals or to address plate damage.
This means that you can't always make a spontaneous request to adjust a plate number, depending on the registering state. Those interested in requesting a license plate number change should check their state's DMV website. These sources post eligibility requirements online, alongside the necessary forms you must submit.
Reasons for Changing a License Plate Number
There are many reasons a vehicle owner would want to change their license plate number. Their motives can range from momentary whims to self-preservation. The most common examples include the following:
Damaged License Plate
Replacing a worn-down or deteriorating license plate presents vehicle owners with a convenient chance to change their license plate number. However, in most states, the default is to keep using the previously issued version.
Personal Preference
Many people want a license plate number that better represents their personality, habits, or beliefs. Others want a funny word that gets a chuckle out of people behind them at a red light or a plate number that's easy to spot in a crowded parking lot.
Changing a plate number due to personal preference is likely the most common reason. These are called vanity plates and allow vehicle owners to exercise more creativity. However, they must also follow state guidelines. Many vanity plates are rejected due to length, vulgarity, or insensitive words.
Theft or Fraud Concerns
Rather than stealing a car wholesale, some criminals only take the license plate. They apply this license plate on other stolen vehicles, making it harder for police to identify them. Unfortunately, the license plate is attached to your identity, causing you to get tangled in frustrating law enforcement interactions.
You must change your license plate number if it's been stolen from your vehicle. The DMV will quickly offer you new plate numbers to avoid confusion in criminal processes. Additionally, most states allow victims to choose another vanity plate number if they already have one.
Safety and Privacy Concerns
Being on the receiving end of someone else's road rage is a terrible experience. They are behind a heavy vehicle and could endanger your life. Worst of all, it's possible to track you down using your license plate.
It is often recommended to change your license plate number if you feel like a dangerous person has gotten hold of it. Doing so makes it much more difficult for them to stalk you or escalate their road rage into violent consequences. Victims of domestic violence should also change their number.
You should also change your license plate number if you've posted a photo of it online. This mistake occurs when you take a picture near your car and don't notice the plate number in the background. Cameras are becoming better at automatically blurring such things through AI, but the technology is not perfect.
How To Change Your License Plate Number
The required forms vary by state, but interested parties can change their license plate number by following these steps:
- Step 1
Contact the Police
This first step is only required for people whose license plate or vehicle was stolen. DMVs are notoriously busy, so you should contact the non-emergency line of the local police station. They will ask you for verification information, such as your name or address.
Taking the initiative here informs law enforcement that your license play may be used in upcoming fraudulent or criminal activity. They can also go over the next steps and potentially fast-track your plate replacement with the DMV.
- Step 2
Gather Identifying Documents
Local DMVs maintain different rules about the types of acceptable identification. Check their website for precisely what you'll need to present. Most locations require a primary and secondary form of identification.
Primary IDs are typically government-issued documents that include a photo, such as permanent resident cards, driver's licenses, and passports. Secondary IDs are things like health insurance cards and utility bills that strengthen your primary ID by showing addresses, birthdays, etc.
Whatever you bring should prove your identity and prove ownership of the vehicle whose plate number you want to be changed.
- Step 3
Visit Your DMV
DMVs are often crowded, so check if you can make an appointment through the phone or the office website. If not, you may have to arrive early in the morning and wait in line for particularly busy locations.
Additionally, you may be able to find a Specialty License Plate Application on their website. Filling this out at home may save you time at the desk. However, these applications are typically meant for customized vanity plates rather than a new, randomly assigned plate number.
If you only want a standard-issue plate, then you should explain your situation to the clerk. This informs them that you are requesting new plate numbers rather than a replacement of your old number.
- Step 3.5
Order Online if Available
Many state DMVs outsource vanity plate manufacturing. Third-party services partner with the government and streamline the process. This makes it very convenient to change your license plate number, albeit slightly more expensive.
These services can bundle your annual renewal fees for vanity plates and update the DMV of any changes to your plate number.
- Step 4
Receive and Install the New Plate
Standard-issue plates are typically available once you submit the application and pay the fees. Vanity plates may take a few weeks to arrive. If you cannot immediately get your new plates, ask about getting a temporary tag for your vehicle. These tags allow you to continue driving while your plates are manufactured and delivered.
How Much Does It Cost to Change Your License Plate?
Getting a standard issue replacement is relatively inexpensive. Most states charge less than $10, but prices may increase based on shipping fees. Since fees vary, it is advisable to check the state's DMV website or contact a local office for specific pricing details.
Vanity plates will be more expensive as they are considered a premium product. These plates are often made from different materials and cost more to manufacture, justifying prices up to a few hundred dollars every year.
Can You Choose Your New License Plate Number?
In most cases, the DMV randomly assigns standard plates. However, you can request a vanity plate number, which is a hand-chosen combination that allows you to express some belief, interest, or joke.
Vanity plate numbers must follow the state's various guidelines. These rules prevent vehicle owners from creating offensive license plates or plate numbers that intentionally reduce readability for law enforcement.
Typically, DMVs offer different forms for custom vanity plate numbers. They may also outsource vanity plate services to other companies, which streamlines the process.
Personalized Plate Rules
The exact rules vary by state, but most jurisdictions have some language protecting against vulgar or hateful license plates. However, these rules are interpreted significantly differently, with some states being much more lenient to sexually suggestive plates than others.
Some symbols, such as periods, dashes, and spaces, can be included in the plate number. Other symbols, like hearts, stars, and state silhouettes, are sparsely available as well. You should check your state's formatting guidelines before placing an order since these unconventional symbols are represented by other devices like "&" or "*" in the ordering process.
Other potentially disqualifying aspects include:
- Endorsements of gangs or criminal acts
- Threatening messages to other drivers
- Encouraging drinking or other DUI activities
- Confusing or easily misinterpreted combinations
Instant Plate Lookup