License plate shortage update
To address an ongoing shortage of standard vehicle Washington license plates, we are temporarily authorizing the printing and use of non-embossed plates.
The transition to non-embossed plates will begin the week of September 23.
Visit our Licensing Express page to learn more.
988 – Prevent veteran suicide emblem
Special plates production delay warning
We're experiencing significant delays in our ability to issue personalized and specialty plates. Due to this delay, you may want to consider waiting to apply for a personalized or specialty plate. We don't have a timeline for when production delays will return to normal.
If you applied and your temporary license plate is expiring soon, visit a vehicle licensing office to get a new one.
We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.
The general public may purchase a prevent veteran suicide emblem. Funds from this emblem go to support the Veteran and Military Member Suicide Prevention Account at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
This emblem can be put on any license plate type and must be displayed on bottom of license plate (see example image):
- Between bolt holes
How to get your emblem
Fill out a Prevent Veteran Suicide Emblem Application and a check/money order for $18 (one-time $8 service fee plus $10 per emblem, payable to the Department of Licensing).
Bring these items to a vehicle licensing office or mail them to:
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9909
Olympia, WA 98507-8500
Examples of fees
- 1 emblem – $18
- 2 emblems – $28
- 5 emblems – $58
- 10 emblems – $108