License Plate FAQs

You may check the availability of a personalized phrase, letter or number combination through myplates.com, the state's plate marketing vendor's Web site, or through Texas Online. Specialty plate fees are collected in addition to regular registration fees.

Please view our selection of specialty license plates. The license plates section of our Web site gives instructions on how to apply for these plates. For additional assistance, please contact your county tax office. Note: Certain plates, such as military plates, are not available to everyone.

Approximately two to three weeks. the plates will be delivered to your local county tax-assessor-collector for you to pick up. Once a personalized plate selection is approved, it is sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to be manufactured and then shipped to the local tax office.

Yes. If your medical condition meets the legal definition of an eligible disability:

• Submit a completed and notarized copy of Form VTR-214 with your specialty plate order in person or by mail to your local county tax office. ISA orders are not available online.
• The original Form VTR-214 must be submitted when the new plates are picked up at the county tax office.

Yes.

• Only to the same type of vehicle (ex. car to car, truck to truck).
• Between vehicles you own. Your local county tax office will issue a new registration sticker and assist with the transfer.
• To a vehicle purchased from a dealer. Remove the specialty plates and request that the dealer transfer the plates to the new vehicle.
• To a vehicle purchased from a private party. Register the specialty plates with the county tax office when you title the vehicle in your name.

Note: Plates seven years old or older cannot be transferred to another vehicle. New plates must be manufactured due to safety concerns related to the loss reflectivity.

Engineers from the Texas Department of Transportation developed software that enables the use of unique colors and designs, while also ensuring new plates meet law enforcement legibility and reflectivity requirements. This new system affords us more color and design options while continuing to meet safety requirements.

Legibility is the ease in which law enforcement may clearly read a plate's letters and numbers.

Reflectivity allows the plate to be seen from long distances at night and is helpful in locating vehicles at night or off roads.

Specialty plates are typically $30 annually plus $40 for a personalized phrase, letter or number combination. This does not include vehicle registration and local fees.

Your specialty plate renewal will be part of your vehicle registration renewal notice. If you ordered a multi-year plate from My Plates, the renewal notice will reflect that. For all other specialty license plates, the registration renewal notice will include your registration and annual specialty license plate renewal fee.

If you purchase a multi-year specialty plate, nothing will change, and you will receive an annual notice for your vehicle registration only.

Because we must be able to verify you as the vehicle's owner, any online specialty plate order will be delivered to the local county tax office, where they may be picked up.

Charity plates may be ordered in person at a tax office and mailed directly to you.

TxDMV does not offer refunds for specialty plates. These plates are custom manufactured and cannot be reused.

Replacement plates are available through local county tax offices for a $6.00 fee plus a $1 automation fee. Complete and submit a Form VTR-60 to your tax office to receive a replacement.

You do not need to return the plates. Our license plates are recyclable, but we recommend you deface the number before discarding them. The number on the plate is tied to your name and could pose a safety risk if not disposed of properly.

Yes. For a $5 fee, you can also transfer your plates to a new vehicle. Your local county tax office will assist with the transfer and issue you a new registration sticker (regular registration fees apply). Be sure to remove and destroy the registration sticker on your old vehicle when you take off the plates.

Any general issue license plate that is not a passenger car or light truck plate.

Plates may only be transferred to the same vehicle classification, car-to-car or truck-to-truck.

Plates that are seven years old or older (these plates must be replaced due to loss of reflectivity).

No, you may only transfer plates to an eligible car or truck.

Yes.

Yes, if your name has not changed.

A motor vehicle inquiry at the county.

A registration receipt in your name that shows the plate number.

If the seller chooses the recommended option of removing the license plates and registration sticker from the vehicle, you will need to download a Vehicle Transit Permit. This will allow you to legally drive the vehicle to the county tax office to transfer the title and obtain registration (license plates and sticker) for the vehicle or, if the county tax office is closed, to a place of your choice. This permit is valid for five calendar days and only one permit may be issued per vehicle sale.

You also have the option of moving the un-plated vehicle on a trailer (no permit required) if you need to move it prior to contacting the county.

Note: Operating a vehicle on public roadways without valid license plates and a registration sticker is against the law, and the driver is subject to fines by law enforcement.

That's because dealers are required to remove the plates and registration stickers from any vehicles they buy or take in trade. Dealers usually offer to give you the plates (even if you don't plan to transfer). If you don't want to use the plates again you may deface them with indelible black ink or some other method that will prevent someone else using them. Some dealers will dispose of the plates for you.

Plates are replaced every seven years due to the gradual loss of reflective material. If the renewal receipt indicates your plates are seven-years old, the county tax assessor-collector should automatically issue a new set of plates with the new windshield validation sticker at no additional charge when your registration is renewed. The old set of plates should be destroyed to prevent the possibility of fraudulent use.

State and federal laws restrict TxDMV from releasing personal information. Personal information will be released only if:

• There is written consent from the individual
• It can be certified that the information will be used for a lawful, legitimate purpose
  

  Personal information will not be released for any other reason. To request information, fill out a request form and certify the information will be used for a lawful, permitted purpose.