License Plates & Placards:

 Obtaining a license plate used to involve nothing more than submitting a registration form and waiting weeks for your generic, two-color license plates to arrive in the mail. But no more―license plates have evolved into metal canvases of personal expression, and the support of worthy causes.

At DMV.org, we understand that wandering through hard-to-find license plate galleries can be frustrating―especially when information about personalized plates, disability plates, special interest plates, and veteran plates is scattered all over. To make it easier to find the perfect plate for your vehicle, our guide to license plates and placards presents information about all the available plates in one convenient place.

Our state-by-state license plate sections zero in on the exact specifics your DMV requires in order for you to get the plates that suit you the best. We even include downloadable application forms for specialized plates, and show you what the fees will cost.

You'll find the necessary steps to take to obtain a permanent disabled license plate or a portable rearview window placard. If you're a military veteran, you'll discover which campaigns your state honors on a license plate―some offer separate plates from every military operation dating back to World War II. You'll need signatures from the Veterans Administration confirming your service for some of these plates, so we'll tell you how that works.

If you're seeking a personalized vanity plate, our state-specific pages provide the forms and explain the fees. Plus, we'll detail how many characters your state lets you use and preview your state's guidelines for avoiding offensive submissions that will be rejected. We'll even link to the online availability tool if your state offers this handy feature; just type in the letter and number combination you want to instantly find out whether it's still up for grabs.

Many states offer specialized license plates whose design reflects the interests of nonprofit organizations, such as wildlife groups or heritage foundations. Some of the money you pay for these plates goes to these groups, so you can enjoy an attractive plate―support a cause you care about at the same time. If these designs are available in your state, you can rest assured you'll find information about them here.