A picture plate or professional plate is a vehicle plate that has the words "New York" and a picture or logo next to the plate number.

Some personalized picture plates are available for an additional fee.

Custom plates reserved for professional groups and emergency services organizations serve to identify the registrant as a member of that group. The plates come with no special rights or privileges. 

Online

You can order many picture plates online.

If you wish to purchase plates for people with disabilities that have the Universal Symbol of Access, you must contact the Custom Plates Unit. 

All professional and military/veteran plates and some organization picture plates require you to provide proof or certification that you are eligible. These plates must be ordered through the organization or the Custom Plates Unit.

To order picture or professional plates online:

• You must have a valid New York State vehicle registration in the passenger, commercial, or motorcycle registration class that does not expire within 60 days.  
• The mailing address on your vehicle registration record must be your current mailing address. 
• Your vehicle registration record must match your current name if your name has changed.  
• You must provide your current plate number, the 3-letter registration class code, and the first three letters of your last name. See a sample registration document.
• You must have a credit card that DMV accepts, and a valid email address for confirmation purposes.  

By Mail

To order picture or professional plates by mail, use the Application for Custom Plates (PDF) (CP-30).

Mail the completed form and your payment to the Custom Plates Unit.

By Phone

To order picture plates by phone, you must contact the Custom Plates Unit.

At a DMV Office

You can order most picture plates at your local DMV office. 

Professional plates can only be ordered from the Custom Plates Unit with proper proof or certification.

You will receive new registration documents that show your current plate number and your new plate combination within 30 days of ordering your personalized plates.

Allow at least six weeks for your new plates to arrive.

Your new registration documents will be mailed separately from your new custom plates.

If you do not receive your registration documents or custom plates, contact the Custom Plates Unit.

To exchange custom plates for standard series plates

• complete a Vehicle Registration/Title Application (PDF) (MV-82)
• bring the form, the plates and your New York State Driver License to a DMV office
• pay a one-time plate exchange fee of $28.75, and surrender your plates

We will then issue your vehicle a set of standard series plates.

You can store your picture or professional plates at most DMV offices.

You will receive a receipt (form FS-6T) when you surrender your plates.  Verify the information listed on the receipt, make sure that the receipt displays the words "Stored at Local Office,” and keep this receipt.  We will indicate on the registration record that the vehicle plates have been stored.

To register the vehicle again, or to use your stored picture or professional plates to register another vehicle, you must visit the office that has your vehicle plates. Make sure that you bring the receipt (form FS-6T) and the other documents required to register your vehicle.

A detailed information packet about the custom plate (picture plate) development program, including the Request for the Development of Custom Plates (PDF) (MV-415), is available for organizations looking to create a plate.