New York State DMV
Published on New York DMV (https://dmv.ny.gov)

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Vehicle (or license) plates are a metal plate attached to a vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. You will receive plates when you register your vehicle for the first time. 

Excelsior license plates are now available [1]


Get plates for the first time

  • Register your vehicle and get plates  [2]

 

Transfer plates

You cannot transfer your plates to another person. You can only transfer ownership (title or transferrable registration). See information on how to transfer ownership [3]. 

After you sell or give away a vehicle, you can transfer the registration and vehicle plates to another vehicle you own. See the registration page [4] for more information.

I already have New York plates

  • Replace plates [5]
  • Renew plates (registration) [6]
  • Lost, stolen or destroyed plates [7]
  • Peeling plates [8]
  • Damaged plates [9]
  • Check custom or personalized plate order mailing status [10] 
  • Check your vehicle registration (plate) information and status [11]

 


Return plates

  • Surrender (turn in) your plates to the New York DMV [12]



Temporary plates

If you are moving a vehicle that does not have plates yet, you will need

  • In-transit plates [13] 

 


People with disabilities

  • Vehicle plates or parking permits for people with disabilities [14]

 



Picture and Professional Custom Plates

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

  • Learn about picture and professional plates [15]
  • Order picture and professional plates [16] 


Browse plates by category

  • I Love NY Adventure Plates [17]
  • Sports [18]
  • Military and Veterans [19]
  • Counties and Regions of NY State [20]
  • Colleges, Fraternities, Sororities [21]
  • Causes [22]
  • Professions [23]
  • Organizations [24]
  • Motorcycle Plates [25]



Personalized Plates

Personalized plates are standard series plates that have a combination of numbers and letters that you select, for an additional fee in addition to your regular vehicle registration fee.

  • Learn about personalized plates [26]
  • Order personalized plates [27]