NYS DMV On-line Custom Plates Look Up FAQs

Who can look up and order custom picture plates on-line?

Anyone can look up a custom plate and personalized number. However, to order your plates on-line, you must have one of the following types of vehicle:

passenger vehicle
small commercial vehicle - including vans, pick-ups and sport utility vehicles (SUVs)

Please note! - You cannot order "plates for the disabled" on-line.
Plates with the International Symbol of Access must be ordered through our Custom Plates Unit.

If you want to order a custom picture plate for a motorcycle or other type of vehicle not listed above, or if you have plates for the disabled, call the Custom Plates Unit at 1-518-402-4838 for assistance.

Which plate designs are available on-line?

We offer a large selection of custom plates on our web site. However, there are some plate designs which you CANNOT look up or order on-line:

No plates which must be ordered directly from the sponsoring group -
(for example, Firefighter and College plates)
No plates which may be ordered only by members of the sponsoring organization -
(for example, Masons and Coast Guard Auxiliary plates)
No plates which require you to submit documentation -
(for example, Emergency Services, Military and plates with the International Symbol of Access )

For more about individual plate designs and their availability, visit our Custom Plate Gallery, where you will find ordering information, pricing and a sample image for each design.

Can I look up a personalized plate number for a plate that is not available on-line?

Even if you cannot get your plate on-line, you can still use our Custom Plate Look Up to search for a personalized number for your plate. Here's how:

First, check the Plate Gallery to make sure that your design can be personalized.
Start a Custom Plate Look Up or choose "Order Now" from the plate gallery.
Select any one of the design choices that are listed (it doesn't matter which one).
Enter the plate number you want to get.

If the combination is available, then you can apply for it when you order your plate by phone, by mail or at a DMV office. Remember to specify your personalized plate number when you call, or write it on your order form.

What can I use for my plate number?

You can choose to let DMV give you an "assigned" plate number, or you can specify your own "personalized" plate number. If you choose to personalize your plate, you will pay an additional fee. If you decide to request a personalized combination, you must explain what the combination means or what the combination represents. The DMV reviews requested personalized plate combinations. The DMV is not required to issue a requested plate. You can read the DMV regulations for restrictions on personalized plate combinations.

You can put up to six (6) characters on your plate, including:

letters, A through Z,
numbers, 0 through 9,
and spaces.

You cannot put a state image on a custom plate.

Use of spaces:

Spaces may be used to control the placement or grouping of characters on your plate, as in "BLU J". Each space counts as one character.

Restricted combinations:

Plates that may give the appearance of an official plate or are in the configuration of special registration classes will not be issued. You can read the DMV regulations for restrictions on personalized plate combinations.

In addition:

Do not use the letter "O" between two numbers to make what appears to be a number, as in "2O3", "2OO3", or "JAN2OO3".
The letter "I" cannot be the first or last characters on a plate when the rest of the characters are all numbers, as in "I45678" or "45678I".
Do not use the number zero (0) between two letters to form a word, as in "P00L" and "P0LE".
Do not combine the number zero (0) and the letter "O" to form a word or number, as in "PO0L" or "2O03".

How can I see what a plate will look like?

There are two ways to see a sample of your plate:

Browse the Plate Gallery:
The Plate Gallery is our on-line catalog of custom plate designs. You'll find pictures of sample plates along with pricing and ordering information for each design. Plates with an "order" button can be personalized and ordered on-line...click the button to start a Custom Plate Look Up.*
Do a Custom Plate Look Up:
Use our Custom Plate Look Up to search for a personalized number for your plate. Choose your design, enter a letter/number combination, then see a picture that simulates how your plate will look.*

* Note that some designs are not available for on-line look up. The Plate Gallery includes instructions for ordering these plates.

Once I find a custom plate that I like, how do I order it?

Ordering your plate is easy. You can order it on-line, by phone or by mail. Here's how:

On-line *	Just click on the "Order Now!" button beneath the picture of your plate, and use your credit card to place your order over the Internet. Be sure to read our checklist of what you'll need if you want to order your plate on-line.
Phone* or Mail	See information on "ordering your plates by phone or mail" to see complete instructions for ordering your plates by phone or by mail, as well as a table showing the standard fees that are charged for each type of custom plate.

* Note: If you are planning to order your plates on-line or by telephone, please be
sure to have your current vehicle registration and credit card information ready.

My address has changed since I last renewed my registration. Can I order plates on-line?

No, you should NOT order your plates on-line if you have changed your address without notifying DMV. Otherwise, your new plates and registration documents will be mailed to your old address, and the post office may not forward them.

Instead, you can follow these instructions to order your plates by phone or mail.

The mail-in order form (CP-62.1) includes a checkbox for changing your address. However, this will update only the registration of the vehicle you are ordering plates for. To update your other DMV records, including your NYS driver's license (or non-driver ID) and any other NYS vehicle registrations you may have, you will need to send a letter or submit a "Change of Address" form (MV-232), which can be downloaded from the DMV Forms page.

Do NOT e-mail your address change request!
See Name or Address Change for instructions on changing your address with DMV.

I am temporarily living away from the address on my current registration. Can I still order plates on-line?

You may order your plates on-line if your mail will be accepted at the address on your current registration. Otherwise, call our Custom Plates Unit at 1-518-402-4838.

My name has changed since I last renewed my registration. Can I order plates on-line?

No, you should NOT order your plates on-line if you have changed your name without notifying DMV. Otherwise your new registration will be issued with your old name.

To change your name with DMV, you must bring supporting documentation to your local DMV office. You may also renew your registration and update your license during that visit.

For more information, see Name or Address Change in the DMV FAQs section.

My registration expires soon. Can I order plates on-line?

Whether or not you received a renewal notice, if your registration expires in 60 days or less, you MUST renew your registration before you can order your plates. These are separate transactions, each with their own fee. Once you have custom or personal plates, you will pay both fees the next time you renew your registration. (Go to Registration Renewal to renew your registration.)

How much does a custom picture plate cost?

You will pay the same for your custom plate whether you order it on-line, by mail or by phone. There is no additional charge for ordering your plates on-line.

While basic rates apply for most of our custom plates, some designs may cost more. To see individual pricing and ordering information for specific plate designs, visit our plate gallery. You can order most custom plates when browsing the plate gallery.

How do I pay for my plates?

You can pay for your plates using one of the following credit cards:

American Express®
Discover Card® / Novus®
MasterCard®
VISA®

DMV will also accept debit cards (or check cards) issued by Visa® and MasterCard® if they do not require you to enter a PIN, or Personal Identification Number.

How will I know what amount is being charged to my credit card?

You will be shown the plate order fee before you are asked to complete the transaction. The fee amount is also shown on the confirmation that you receive after submitting your order. Your credit card statement should also identify a charge for "DMV".

Is it safe to use my credit card on the Internet?

DMV uses SSL (secure socket layering), which is the industry standard for Internet commerce. It encrypts your credit card and personal information to ensure security of credit card transactions. Your credit card information will ALWAYS be encrypted during a DMV Internet Office Transaction. [DMV Privacy and Security Statement]

Why do I need an order number?
- How will I know if my transaction worked?
- Will I get a receipt?

If your custom plate order is successful, then after a few moments you should see a confirmation page displaying an order number, the fee amount you were charged and other important information about your transaction. Alternatively, if we are unable to process your transaction, you will see an error message giving an explanation of the problem, along with instructions for resolving the error and an order number, if applicable.

In either case, you should write down your order number!

Remember... You will need your order number if you contact us about your transaction.

After your plate order has been processed, we will attempt to send you an e-mail confirmation using the address you entered on the payment screen. This e-mail confirmation will also include your order number.

Note... Your confirmation is NOT a receipt and does NOT constitute legal proof of a valid registration. Your only receipt and proof of current registration is the receipt stub and window sticker that DMV will mail to you.

How long will it take to get my new custom plates and registration?

Your new custom plates will be mailed separately from your registration document. You should allow 6 to 8 weeks for the custom plates to arrive. Your registration document should arrive before your custom plates.

If you do not receive your new custom plates and/or registration documents, you may contact the DMV Custom Plate Unit at 518-402-4838. Be aware that any confirmation you receive on-line or by e-mail is not legal proof of a valid registration. The only legal proof of a current registration is the receipt and window sticker that the DMV mails to you.

Can I cancel my on-line custom plate order?

No. Once a plate order has been accepted by the DMV Internet Office, it cannot be canceled on-line. You will have to call the Custom Plate Unit at 1-518-402-4838 for assistance.

What are the hours to look up and order plates on-line?

You can normally look up and order custom plates on-line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most orders will be processed immediately.

However, for your convenience, some plate orders may be accepted and held for processing the next business day. This includes, but is not limited to, transactions conducted on weeknights between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or on weekends. When this happens, your order confirmation will say "accepted." Once your plate order has been fully processed, you will be sent a "processed" notification by e-mail.

Step 1...	Choose a plate type. Choose from "Professional Sports", "Tourism/Regions of New York" and "Organizations/Causes". For example, "Tourism/Regions of New York"
Step 2...	Pick a category. Choose a category within the plate type you selected in Step 1. For example, "Capital District"
Step 3...	Select a design. Choose a design from the category you selected in Step 2. For example, "Saratoga"
Step 4...	Choose a plate number. Try your own combination, or let DMV assign one for you. For example, "PLATES"
Then...	See a sample of your plate. If you like it, you can order your plate on-line! * Tip! - If you ever need to contact us about your transaction, be sure you know your order number.

Overview... Build yourself a custom plate in 4 easy steps.

Checklist... What you'll need to order plates on-line.

Questions... about custom plates look up and ordering.