New Hampshire License Plates

The first time you register your vehicle with the New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Motor Vehicles, you will be given New Hampshire license plates for your motor vehicle. By displaying the New Hampshire license plates on your automobile with a current decal, it will show that you have a valid New Hampshire registration. There are four major types of New Hampshire license plates:

• Passenger Vehicles

• Motorcycles

• Commercial Vehicles

• Trailers

Within each category, there cannot be duplicate plate numbers. If you do end up getting the same number and letter combination, the two New Hampshire plates would be on different vehicles such as a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle.

Personalized New Hampshire License Plates

For many years, the state of New Hampshire offered the standard license plate that was white with green lettering that said “Live Free or Die.” If you wish to have personalized New Hampshire license plates, or vanity plates, you can apply for new initial plates by using Form DSMV 40, or the Initial Plates Application. There is an additional fee for initial or vanity plates. New Hampshire provides two different kinds of license plates, in addition to the standard white with green lettering:

• The Moose Plate, the conservation plate. These New Hampshire license plates have a drawing of a moose on them with the state motto.

• Veteran New Hampshire license plates include an American flag as well as the state motto.

Before you choose to get a vanity license plate, you can perform a search with New Hampshire’s Plate Check service to see if the letters and numbers you want are available.

New Jersey License Plates

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission provides New Jersey motorists with many choices of license plates. When you title and register a vehicle in New Jersey, the Motor Vehicle Commission will issue you two New Jersey license plates for the front and back bumper of your car. Trailers, motorcycles, and mopeds are only issued one license plate. Standard-issue New Jersey license plates are yellow with black letters with the state's motto, "Garden State," on the bottom of the plate.

Personalized New Jersey License Plates

By New Jersey law, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission allows drivers to get personalized New Jersey license plates, or vanity plates. A personalized license plate must have at least 3 letters and a maximum of 7 characters (numbers and letters). You can put a message on your New Jersey license plate for a one-time fee of just $50, along with the regular registration fee. In order to get an application for your personalized license plate, you can go to your nearest Motor Vehicle Commission Agency or call (888) 486-3339 to have a copy of the application form sent to you. Additionally, you can apply for personalized plates online through the Motor Vehicle Commission. However, if you are leasing your vehicle, you will not be able to use this method.

Dedicated and Specialty New Jersey License Plates

New Jersey also offers special interest, or dedicated, plates and specialty organization plates. Special interest plates promote different causes. These plates include Animal Friendly, Olympic Spirit, Shore to Please, USS New Jersey Battleship, Organ Donor, United We Stand, and more. Most of these require an initial $50 fee along with a $10 fee to renew it annually. If you want to personalize a special interest plate with up to five characters, it will cost $100 initially with the same renewal fee.

Some nonprofit organizations offer specialty plates for a small fee in addition to the normal registration fees. You can contact the coordinator of that license plate and get their approval. Depending on the organization, these specialty New Jersey license plates can cost from $15 to $50.

New Mexico License Plates

The state of New Mexico provides many different license plate styles to the drivers of New Mexico. In order to get them, drivers must register their vehicles with the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division. After registering your vehicle, you can receive standard New Mexico license plates for your vehicle. You can also get personalized New Mexico license plates that have a customized designs or numbers.

Personalized New Mexico License Plates

You can get personalized New Mexico license plates, which are also called vanity or prestige license plates. For personalized New Mexico license plates, you can choose the phase or word you want on your New Mexico license plate. Typically, the fees for these plates are $17 each year for a one-year registration or $32 each year for a two-year registration. The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division will allow you to put whatever you want on your New Mexico license plate as long as it is not obscene or vulgar. You can use whatever numbers and letters, as well as different punctuation such as a plug sign, apostrophe, or even a blank space. You can have up to seven characters on a personalized New Mexico license plate (six for personalized motorcycle plates).

Specialty New Mexico license Plates

There are many different specialty plates you can get in New Mexico. Here are some specialty plates available:

Santa Fe 400th Anniversary Plate: Open to all state residents. Requires a completed Form MVD 10098 (Application for Santa Fe 400th Plate) and a $37 fee.

Horseless Carriage: Plates for cars, trucks, or motorcycles that are at least 35 years old. There is a $10 initial fee and a renewal fee of $5 every five years.

Collegiate License plates: Plates for alumni of the University of New Mexico or New Mexico State. There is a $37 annual fee.

Military License plates: Recognizes veterans, Purple Heart or Bronze star recipients, and Pearl Harbor. Fees vary depending on the plate. If you need legal advice and assistance, contact New Mexico lawyers.

Kentucky License Plates

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet allows people to personalize their Kentucky license plates in many different ways. They provided many different designs as well as the option to personalize your license plate number. Some of the specialty Kentucky license plates provided include the following:

• Regular issue license plates

• Special issue license plates

• Regular personalized license plates

• Disabled issue license plates

• University issue license plates

• Independent college license plates

• Military issue license plates

• Military motorcycle license plates

• Military motorcycle personalized license plates

• Military personalized license plates

Any standard passenger car such as a car, SUV, van, or pick-up truck, military, or motorcycle Kentucky license plates can be personalized.

Personalized Kentucky License Plates

For passenger car Kentucky license plates, the character combination of the license plate can include 6 characters, both letters and numbers, well as a dash or a space or dash. For motorcycle license plates, they can have up to 5 different characters in combinations including both letters and numbers. However, it is important to note that the combination of characters found on a personalized Kentucky license plate can only be found on one plate at a time. This means that you will not be able to get the same personalized Kentucky license plate for both your family car and your motorcycle.

Depending on the type of application, you will need one of the following forms:

• Form TC96-218 for Personalized Plates

• Form TC96-205 for Disabled Plates

• Form TC96-015 for Special Plates

• Form TC96-207 for Volunteer Fire Fighter Plate

• Form TC96-221 for Judiciary Plates

• Form TC96-220 for Legislative Plates

• Form TC96-228 for Disaster/Emergency Service Plates

Standard personal license plate application fees come with a $25 fee which must be paid at the time of registration as well as a registration fee of $15 when you pick up your license plate. Some specialty plates also have additional fees.

Louisiana License Plates

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Public Safety Services offers people the chance to personalize their Louisiana license plates. They provided various designs and specialty plates as well as the option of choosing your license plate number.

Personalizing your Louisiana Car Registration and License Plates

You can use the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Personalized Plate Inquiry page to find information about regarding ordering personalized license plates. You can also search to see if the plate you want is available. To request personalized Louisiana license plates, your motor vehicle must already be registered in the state. Your personalized message provides seven spaces (six for motorcycles and disabled drivers) for characters including the following:

• At least two letters from A-Z

• Numbers 0-9

• Hyphens, (full and half) spaces, and periods

Both hyphens and periods count as one space and a whole space uses up one of your seven spots. You cannot duplicate an existing personalized license plate. Furthermore, derogatory or profane combinations, patented logos, or special characters cannot be used.

Personalized Louisiana license plates cost $25 each year. There is also an $8 handling fee as well as a one-time $3 fee for various administrative services. All other fees for regular registration are still applicable.
If the personalized Louisiana license plates you want is available to register, you can apply by completing a Request for Personalized License Plate. You can then mail this to the office of motor vehicles along with the necessary fees.

Maine License Plates

Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles provides a wide variety of specialty license plates that are available to anyone, such as popular Black Bear, Lobster, and other vanity plates. Special users can also apply for identification plates, while specialized vehicles in Maine are required by Maine law to obtain specialty Maine license plates.

Maine License Plates of Interest

The specialty plates, or plates of interest include the following:

Public Use:

• Black Bear

• Lobster

• Conservation

• Vanity

Special Users:

• Disabled

• Wabanaki

• Disabled mobile home

• Disabled veteran

Specialized vehicles:

• Special Equipment

• Bus

• Combination

• Horseless Carriage

• Motor Home

• Antique Auto

• Commercial

• Commercial Tractor

• Street Rod

• Farm

• Hire

Vanity Maine License Plates

Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles allows you to obtain vanity license plates for your motor vehicle if you wish to have them. The process is the same as applying for regular Maine license plates. You first must visit your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles and show proof of ownership of your motor vehicle along with proof of insurance. Along with paying the usual fees, you will also need to pay an additional $25 initially and an additional fee each year after paying your registration fee. If you are ordering a specialty plate, that will also be an additional $20. You can search for available vanity plates and order them online through the Bureau of Motor Vehicle’s website.

What to Know About Custom License Plates

In the United States, a license plate is issued by an agency of the state government. The appearances of license plates are often chosen to contain colors, slogans, or symbols associated with the jurisdiction issuing the plate. While you can be issued standard license plates, you may also be interested in receiving custom license plates with a special design or a personalized serial number.

Custom License Plates

In each of the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, drivers can buy extra-cost vanity plates, which are custom license plates that have a custom serial (sequence of numbers and letter). Usually, custom serials cannot not contain obscene or profane messages. However, this standard of what is unacceptable varies between jurisdictions.

In certain jurisdictions, vehicle owners can also pay a fee for specialty plates. With these plates, the plate serial is usually chosen by the licensing agency, but the owner chooses a plate design that is not the same as a normal license plate for that jurisdiction. For example, a student or alumnus of an area university may purchase custom license plates plate with the school’s logo, or a camping enthusiast may decide to pay a fee for a plate showing a nature scene. A percentage of the extra cost of these license plates usually goes to a school or non-profit organization as a donation.

Usually, specialty plates can be purchased without any proof of any particular affiliation or status, with the exception being plates that indicate membership or the ability to use in an emergency like an EMT, amateur radio operator, firefighter or a police officer.

Other custom license plates can indicate certain accomplishments or backgrounds of the driver. For example, a veteran who was a Purple Heart recipient or a prisoner of war may obtain a Purple Heart or POW custom license plate after presenting the necessary documentation of his or her status. Because custom license plates are government issued, under the First Amendment they must be issued as a type to any organization or group that qualifies under equal terms as any other organization to be issued a type of custom license plate.

How to Get Custom License Plates

You can get custom license plates from your local Department of Motor Vehicles. To order custom license plates, your DMV will explain what exactly is allowed in custom license plates in that state. Most states will charge an initial fee as well as an annual fee to have custom license plates. Each DMV has specific forms or ways to sign up for vanity plates. For example, to get custom license plates in New York City, you can search online or call a number to do a license plate search and then order one with a credit card. In California, you can order custom license plates online with a credit card or use a request form along with a money order or a check.

Doing a License Plate Search

Although many sites may advertise their license plate search services, the best way to conduct a license plate search is by going through your local Department of Motor Vehicles. DMVs will not only provide a license plate search services to help you look through custom license plates and custom serials, but they will also help you determine if you eligible to receive custom license plates. Many DMVs provide both online search functions as well as phone numbers that you can call to see if the serial you want is available.

For example, in the state of New York, you can only receive custom license plates if you have a valid registration of a vehicle in New York State. You cannot purchase customized license plates if your registration expires with 60 days of the date or the mailing address of your DMV registration record is not the same as your current mailing address. IF you meet these qualifications, you must then have certain information ready, such as your current license plate number and your registration class code. You must then provide the specifications of your plates. If you are using a custom serial, you must explain what the serial means. You can then pay the DMV with your credit card to purchase your custom plates, which will arrive in the mail.

Returning Custom License Plates

Most states do not require you to surrender your custom license plates if you move out of the state. However, there are some that will ask you to surrender them. If your DMV asks you to surrender your plates, you will usually be able to send them to a provided address without a charge. Some states will also let you surrender your custom license plate if you release interest in your vanity plate in order to switch back to a standard license plate.

Custom License Plate Frames

Another way to personalize your car without getting customized license plates from your DMV is by purchasing a license plate frame. License plate frames as well as license plate holders can be purchased from third party venders. There are many designs for license plate frames, so they are a good way to express yourself with your car. For example, you can designer frames that can be made of different materials. If you are a fan of a particular sports team, you can buy license plate frames to represent that as well. There are also license plate frames with car logo designs. If you wish to show association to an organization, you may be able to find a license plate frame for it. There are license plate frames for countries, military service, sororities and frats, religious affiliation, scenic pictures, funny sayings, and more.

Maryland License Plates

Like other states, the state of Maryland requires drivers to register their motor vehicles with the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. After registering your vehicle, you can receive standard license plates for your motor vehicle. You can also get personalized Maryland license plates that have a customized designs or numbers.

Personalized Maryland License Plates

To request personalized Maryland license plates, also called vanity plates, you can go online through the Motor Vehicle Administration’s website or you can complete Form VR-164, the Application for Special Registration Plates. This completed form can then be mailed to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. You must also send the additional annual fee with the form. This fee can be paid by money order or a check made out to the Motor Vehicle Administration. Finally, you must also include a copy of your current registration card. The process of obtaining custom plates takes about eight weeks.

You can obtain personalized Maryland license plates for passenger cars, trucks 1 ton or less, motorcycles, non-freight trailers, historic vehicles, multi-purpose vehicles, and street rods.

A Personalized Maryland license plate can consist of any combination of characters that do not exceed seven numbers, letters and spaces. Personalized Maryland license plates for motorcycles the disabled can have any combination that does not exceed six numbers, letters, and spaces No personalized plate can contain a diagram, symbol, slash, or any other character.

An additional yearly fee of $50 must be paid with the original registration and each renewal application for that vehicle. For a two year registration or renewal, this fee is $100.00. This additional fee cannot be prorated.

Florida License Plates

Like all other states, the state of Florida requires drivers to register their vehicles. After registering with the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, you can receive standard license plates for your automobile. You can also get personalized Florida license plates that have a customized image or license plate number.

Getting a Personalized Florida License Plate

Personalized Florida license plates can be issued to any motor vehicle lessee or owner or lessee except if a vehicle requires “Apportioned,” “Restricted,” “Wrecker,” or dual truck license plates. Applications for personalized Florida license plates have to be submitted to the license plate agency for prior approval or rejection of your license plate choice to ensure that no obscene or objectionable choices are processed. Aside from the normal costs of standard Florida license plates, personalized plates cost an additional $15 each year for each personalized plate.

Applications for personalized Florida license plates can be submitted at any time of the year. The manufacturer of the plate has 45 calendar days to make and ship the personalized license plate. In general, license plates are issued for that current registration period unless the application is made during an advance registration period, which is three months before the birth month of the owner or designated registration period. When the personalized plate application is sent during the advance registration period and the full registration tax is paid, the personalized Florida license plate will expire the following year. In order to apply, you must fill out the Application for Personalized License Plate, or form HSMV 8304 issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles – Division of Motorist Services. The application should be submitted to your local tax collector office.

Idaho License Plates

When you register your motor vehicle with the Idaho Transportation Department, you will receive license plates. These Idaho license plates are your property, and if you do decide to sell your motor vehicle, you should make sure to remove your Idaho license plates before the transaction happens. Although the state requires you to remove these plates, Idaho also allows you to transfer your Idaho license plates to other vehicles that already own or buy.

The state of Idaho provides many different graphics. The standard one for Idaho license plates can be used for boat trailers, camp trailers, buses, commercial trucks, commercial trailers, mobile homes, motor homes, dealer, loaner, motorcycles, non-commercial trucks, rental trailers, passenger cars, transporter trailers, repossession, wrecker vehicles, and utility trailers. However, there are many specialty plates also available for Idaho license plates. Some of them include the following styles:

• Old timer

• Timber

• Famous potatoes

• Fire fighter

• Veteran

• Peace officer

• Purple hear

• Idaho freemason

• Breast cancer awareness

• Capitol restoration

• Centennial

• Lewis and Clark

• Science and technology

• NRA

• Collegiate

• Support our troops

These plates can also have custom serial numbers. Regardless of what style you choose, there are some rules for each one.

• The personalized Idaho license plate text must be tasteful, regardless of the language.

• Depending on the plate, there are a minimum and maximum amount of characters, letters, and numbers.

• Spaces can be used anywhere on the Idaho license plate, but they are considered a part of the available spacing.

All styles are subject to the standard vehicle registration fees, and the customized plates can have varying costs depending on the style. Certain plates will also require documentation. For example, the Air Force Veteran Persian Gulf Plate requires an applicant to supply a copy of his or her DD-214 or an equivalent form.