Replace or Transfer Personalized Plates

There are a variety of circumstances that allow you to replace or transfer your personalized plates. Call the Custom Plates Unit at the phone number below to replace or transfer your personalized plates. You cannot replace or transfer personalized plates by mail or at the DMV. 

Old or Damaged Personalized Plates

To replace your personalized plates that are old or damaged or replace your plate with the new Excelsior style, contact the Custom Plates Unit at the phone number below.

You must pay a fee:

• $28.75 for passenger vehicle plates
• $16.25 for motorcycle plates

Get Different Personalized Plates or Picture Personalized Plates

To replace your current personalized plates with new custom plates or personalized plates, you must call the Custom Plates Unit. You will need to pay a fee.

Replace Personalized Picture Plates with Different Picture Plates

If the category of plate you want allows personalized combinations that contain the number of characters on your current plates, you can have the combination (your personalized plate number) on your new custom plates. Most picture plates require a $31.25 annual personalized fee in addition to the $31.25 custom plate fee. You must also pay a plate fee for the new plates, but you will get credit for the custom plate fees you already paid on your current registration. (Note: The online custom plate order system does not give credit for the custom plate fees you already paid on your current registration. Contact the Custom Plates Unit at the phone number below before placing your order online so we may charge only the fees that are necessary.)

For example, you have "IMJOE" standard series personalized plates with an annual fee of $31.25 (or $62.50 per 2-year registration). You order IMJOE on a New York Yankees plate and pay the $62.50 annual customer plate fee ($125 at the next 2-year renewal in addition to other renewal fees), plus plate and document fees.

You can transfer your personalized plates to a new vehicle you have purchased. If the registrant and registration class will not change, instruct the automobile dealer to transfer your personalized plates to your new vehicle. If you purchase the vehicle in a private sale, ask DMV to transfer your personalized plates when you register the vehicle.

If your vehicle has personalized plates and you take the vehicle off the road, you can store your personalized plates at most DMV offices. The policy to store vehicle plates differs by office. Ask your local DMV office about its storage policy.

When you surrender your plates, you will receive a receipt (form FS-6T) that displays "Stored at Local Office". Verify the information listed on the receipt and keep it in a safe space. DMV will indicate on the registration record that the vehicle plates are stored. To register the vehicle again, or to use your stored personalized plates to register another vehicle, visit the office that has your vehicle plates. Make sure that you bring the receipt (form FS-6T) and the other documents you need to register your vehicle.