Personalized plates

Personalized license plates may be purchased and used on most vehicle types currently licensed in Washington State.

To see if the plate you want is available, look up personalized plates.

What can I put on my personalized plate?

You may get personalized license plates with 1–7 characters (letters, numbers, hyphens, or spaces). Motorcycle and small trailer plates may have up to 6 characters.

Restrictions

Personalized license plates cannot:

• contain unusual characters (#, %, &, @, +, !,etc.).
• contain invalid letter and number combinations.
• suggest vulgar, racial, ethnic, or indecent messages.

Background design

Standard personalized plates use the mountain background shown above. For an additional fee, you may request Personalized plates with a special background design.

How to apply

Standard personalized plates

1. Check to make sure that the personalized plate you want is available and that your choice meets personalized plate requirements.
2. Complete a Personalized License Plate Application Form.
3. Submit your application and all licensing fees by:
   • Mailing them to:
     Vehicle Licensing
     Department of Licensing
     PO Box 9909
     Olympia, WA 98507–8500
   • OR
   • Taking them to:
     King County Licensing Section
     500 4th Ave. #401
     Seattle, WA  98104

Personalized plates with a special background design

To find out how to get personalized plates with a special design plate background, see Personalized plates with a special background design.

Fees

The total cost of your personalized plates will depend on the type of vehicle you are licensing. Please contact your local vehicle licensing office to determine the exact cost of your personalized plates.

Type of vehicle	Personalized plate cost
Passenger vehicles	$49.75 plus standard licensing fees
Motorcycles	$47.75 plus standard licensing fees
Trailers	$47.75 plus standard licensing fees

Note: These fees apply if you want personalized plates with a standard background. You must pay an additional special design plate fee when you get personalized plates with a special design background.

How to renew

To renew, pay all licensing fees plus $32 and:

• Renew online.
• Renew in person at a vehicle licensing office.
• Renew through the mail by following the instructions on your vehicle renewal notice.