Learn about the rules for personalized plates, see costs, and begin the application process.
A personalized license plate allows you to choose your own custom combination of letters, numbers, hyphens, and spaces.
How to apply
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Choose which background you want
A standard Washington license plate with a mountain background Your license plate has 2 options for backgrounds:
A standard mountain background
The standard Washington plate comes with a mountain background. There are no additional fees for a standard background.
A special design background
Special design plates are license plates that feature unique backgrounds representing specific organizations, interests, or causes. Choosing a special design background costs an additional fee, and a portion of that fee helps support the organization, cause, or program represented by the plate.
View special design options
Exclusions
Some special design backgrounds have specific characters and an image chosen by the organization that appear on every standard plate. If you personalize your plate, those characters will not automatically appear at the beginning of the plate number.
For example, if you purchase a personalized Seahawks license plate, the plate will not automatically begin with “SH.”
These special design backgrounds cannot be personalized:
- Medal of honor
- Military affiliate radio system (MARS)
- Former prisoner of war
- Disabled veteran
- Horseless carriage
- Restored
- Collector vehicle
- Amateur radio operator (HAM)
- Exempt license plates
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Choose your characters
Your selection must meet all personalized plate requirements, and we will deny applications if they violate our personalized plate standards.
- Character combinations
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Standard-size plates can have between 1 and 7 characters.
Motorcycle and small trailer plates can have between 1 and 6 characters.
Character combinations you can use
Allowed
You can use numbers (0-9), letters (A to Z), dashes, and spaces.
Allowed
You can use up to 7 characters on a vehicle plate.
Allowed
You can use up to 6 characters on a motorcycle plate.
Character combinations you can't use
Not allowed
You can't use special characters that aren't a dash. (&,@,!,#,+,etc.)
Not allowed
You can't use an invalid letter and number combination (see below).
Not allowed
You can't use inappropriate or offensive words.
These letter and number combinations conflict with other special license plates, and cannot be issued as personalized plates:
Letter and number combination
Example
1 letter followed by 4 numbers A1234 1 letter followed by 5 numbers B56789 1 letter followed by 6 numbers C123456 1 letter followed by 4 numbers and 1 letter D1234E 1 letter followed by 5 numbers and 1 letter F12345G 1 letter followed by 3 numbers and 3 letters B294EVR 2 letters followed by 4 numbers IN2006 2 letters followed by 5 numbers GR84112 3 letters followed by 3 numbers ABC123 3 letters followed by 4 numbers ABC1234 1 number followed by 1 letter and 4 numbers 1C2345 1 number followed by 1 letter and 5 numbers 2L84123 1 number followed by 2 letters and 4 numbers 1GR8345 1 number followed by 3 letters and 3 numbers 4GET123 3 numbers followed by 3 letters 123ABC 4 numbers followed by 1 letter 1234U 4 numbers followed by 2 letters 1234ME 4 numbers followed by 3 letters 2008THS 4 numbers followed by 1 letter and 1 number 1234GO 5 numbers followed by 1 letter 12345A 5 numbers followed by 2 letters 12345BY 6 numbers 123456 6 numbers followed by one letter 123456A K, W, or N followed by 1 number and 2 letters (used for HAM plates) K1CK K, W, or N followed by 1 number and 3 letters (used for HAM plates) W1NGS K, W, or N followed by 1 letter, 1 number and 1 letter (used for HAM plates) KN0W K, W, or N followed by 1 letter, 1 number and 2 letters (used for HAM plates) WR0NG K, W, or N followed by 1 letter, 1 number and 3 letters (used for HAM plates) NT2SAY AA-AL followed by 1 number and 1 letter (used for MARS plates) AA2C AA-AL followed by 1 number and 2 letters (used for MARS Plates) AF4JK AA-AL followed by 1 number and 3 letters (used for MARS plates) AL4FUN Any plate starting with AAR or AFA followed by 1 number and 2 letters (used for MARS plates) AFA1BC CWU,EWU,FPO,GRN, LEM, PHS,WSU, or WWU followed by 4 numbers GRN1992 NNN followed by 1 number and 3 letters (used for MARS plates) NNN0ISE - Check personalized plate availability
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Once you decide what characters you want, use our personalized plate checker to see if your plate is available.
After you apply, your plate will be reviewed to make sure it meets all requirements. The plate may still be denied during final review.
You can also choose your character alignment. They can be left-aligned, right-aligned, or centered on your plate. If you select a plate that has a picture on the left (like the U.S. Army plate), the characters will be aligned with the picture, not the plate.
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Complete an application
You'll need to select the form that matches the license plate background you want. You'll also need to make sure your vehicle registration is up-to-date before applying.
If you're completing your application by hand, please write legibly. If we can't read your handwriting and your plate is made incorrectly, you will have to wait for a replacement plate.
Option 1: Personalized standard plates
Standard plates (mountain background) use the personalized plate application form.
Option 2: Personalized special design plates
Each category of special design plates has its own form. On the special design plates page, find the background you want and complete the application at the top of its category.
Plate denials
If you submit an application for a plate that is already taken or doesn't meet our plate standards, your application will be denied.
If your plate application is denied, check the refund box on your application to receive your refund as quickly as possible.
If you don’t check the refund box, we’ll hold your payment for 30 days and contact you to arrange an alternate plate. If we can’t connect with you in 30 days, we’ll refund your payment.
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Determine your plate fees
We charge an additional fee for personalized license plates and special design backgrounds. You’ll need to pay this fee when applying for your plate. The amount does not include your vehicle registration and tabs, which vary depending on the type of vehicle you have. Contact a vehicle licensing office to find out the total cost of your plates.
Fees for new personalized and/or special background license plates
The fees listed below are in addition to your regular vehicle registration.
Vehicle type Personalized only Special background only Personalized AND special background Passenger vehicle $174 $162 $214 Truck $174 $162 $214 Trailer $122 $110 $162 Motorcycle $92 $80 $132 Keep Kids Safe plate N/A Add $5 to amount listed above Add $5 to amount listed above Renewal fees
When you renew your vehicle registration and tabs, you will also need to pay a yearly renewal fee for your custom plates:
- $52 for personalized plates
- $30 for special background plates
- $82 for special background plates that are personalized
Save money by renewing your vehicle registration and applying for personalized plates at the same time
If you do both at once, you’ll pay the personalized plate fee only once. If you apply for personalized plates first and renew your registration later, you’ll pay the fee twice, once when you apply and again when you renew.
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Mail your payment and application
Mail your payment and completed application to:
Application and Issuance Unit
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9909
Olympia, WA 98507-8500.Applications must be submitted by mail. Vehicle licensing offices cannot process applications for personalized license plates. The only office authorized to accept these applications in person is:
King County Records and Licensing Services
201 S Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98104
Get map and directions -
Get your plates
We will mail your plates to the address you specified on the form. Personalized plates take 8 to 10 weeks to be made and sent to you.
After you apply
After you apply, keep these in mind to make sure you’re prepared.
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Renew your plates every year
Renew your personalized plates each year when you renew your vehicle tabs.
We may cancel your personalized plate and make it available to another vehicle owner if you don’t:
- Renew your plate within 45 days of your renewal date.
- Transfer your plate within 30 days of selling, trading, gifting, or no longer owning the vehicle.
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Keep your Good To Go! account up-to-date
Changed your license plate? If you have a Good To Go! electronic tolling pass, update your license plate information on your account to make sure your tolls are charged correctly.
