What California Custom Plates Cost and How Long They Take

A custom license plate in California costs $50.50 in addition to your regular registration fee. The $50.50 is a one-time personalization fee that applies whether you are ordering a new plate or renewing an existing custom plate. Standard registration renewal fees still explore on top of that amount.

Processing takes roughly four to six weeks from the time the Department of Motor Vehicles approves your request. You will receive your new plate by mail. During that waiting period, you can continue driving with your current plate — you do not need a temporary permit.

If you already have a custom plate and are renewing your registration, you can keep the same plate by paying the $50.50 personalization fee again at renewal time. You do not have to order a new design.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom plates cost $50.50 on top of your regular registration renewal fee, and this fee applies every time you renew.
  • You order through the California DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office — the website is fastest.
  • Your plate design must be seven characters or fewer, cannot contain spaces or special characters, and the DMV will reject it if it is offensive or already taken.
  • Processing takes four to six weeks, and you can drive normally while waiting for your new plate to arrive.
  • If your requested plate is unavailable, the DMV will tell you when ready and you can choose a different design before paying.

Ordering a Custom Plate Online Through the DMV Website

The fastest way to order is through the California DMV website at dmv.ca.gov. Go to the "Plates" section and select "Personalized Plates." You will need your current vehicle registration number and a valid payment method (credit card, debit card, or electronic check).

Enter your desired plate design — up to seven characters. The system will check availability in real time. If your choice is taken, you will see that when ready and can try another design without paying. Once you find an available design you want, you pay the $50.50 fee and your order is submitted. You will receive a confirmation number by email.

The DMV will mail your new plate to the address on your registration. If you need to update your mailing address before the plate arrives, contact the DMV by phone at 1-800-777-0133 or through your online DMV account.

What Characters and Words the DMV Will and Will Not Accept

Your plate can be up to seven characters long. You can use letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), and a single space between characters. You cannot use punctuation, symbols, or special characters like hyphens, apostrophes, or ampersands.

The DMV rejects plates that are offensive, profane, or that could be mistaken for official government plates. Plates that spell out slurs, explicit language, or gang-related terms will be denied. Plates that look too similar to existing plates — for example, using the number 1 instead of the letter I — may also be rejected because they could confuse law enforcement or toll systems.

If the DMV denies your request, you will receive a letter explaining why. You can then submit a new design. There is no additional fee to resubmit — you only pay the $50.50 once your design is approved.

Ordering by Mail or In Person at a DMV Office

If you prefer not to order online, you can request a custom plate by mail. read the "process for Personalized Plates" form (Form DL 44) from the DMV website or pick one up at any DMV office. Fill in your desired plate design, sign the form, and mail it with a check or money order for $50.50 to the address listed on the form.

Processing by mail takes longer than online — typically six to eight weeks total, including mail delivery time. You will receive a confirmation letter once your design is approved, and your plate will arrive separately.

You can also walk into any DMV office and request a custom plate in person. Bring your vehicle registration and payment. The staff will check availability on the spot and process your order when ready. You will still wait four to six weeks for the plate to arrive by mail, but you avoid the mail-in delay.

Renewing a Custom Plate You Already Have

When your registration is due for renewal, you can renew your custom plate at the same time. If you renew online through the DMV website, there is a checkbox option to keep your personalized plate. Select it, pay the $50.50 personalization fee along with your registration renewal fee, and you are done.

You do not need to reapply or wait for approval — the DMV already approved your design when you first ordered it. Your new registration sticker will arrive with your renewal documents, and your plate remains the same.

If you do not renew your custom plate and let it expire, you can reorder the same design later — but only if no one else has claimed it in the meantime. The safest approach is to renew it when your registration comes due.

What Happens If Your Desired Plate Is Already Taken

When you search for your plate design online or submit it by mail, the DMV checks against all plates currently in use across California. If someone else has already ordered that exact design, you cannot have it. The system will tell you when ready if you are ordering online, or by letter if you are ordering by mail.

You have two options: choose a different design and resubmit, or wait to see if the existing plate holder lets theirs expire. There is no waitlist for custom plates, and you cannot reserve a design that is currently taken.

Many people add numbers to the end of a popular design to get around this — for example, if "MYNAME" is taken, you might try "MYNAME1" or "MYNAME22." The DMV will check whether your modified version is available.

Transferring a Custom Plate to a Different Vehicle

You can transfer your custom plate to a different vehicle without ordering a new one. When you register the new vehicle, tell the DMV that you want to keep your personalized plate. You will pay the standard registration fee for the new vehicle, but you do not pay the $50.50 personalization fee again — that fee only applies when you first create the plate or when you renew your registration.

If you sell or trade in your current vehicle, remove the custom plate before you hand over the car. You can keep the plate and install it on your new vehicle, or you can surrender it to the DMV. If you surrender it, that design becomes available for someone else to order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay the $50.50 fee every year?

Yes. The $50.50 personalization fee is due every time you renew your registration, for as long as you keep the custom plate. If you switch back to a standard plate, you stop paying it. If you renew your custom plate and then later decide you want a standard plate instead, you can make that change at your next renewal.

Can I order a custom plate with my vehicle's current registration, or do I have to wait until renewal?

You can order a custom plate at any time — you do not have to wait for your registration to expire. When you order, you pay the $50.50 personalization fee. At your next registration renewal, you will pay the personalization fee again along with your regular renewal fee to keep the plate active.

What if I want to change my custom plate design?

You can order a new design at any time by going through the same process as a first-time order. You will pay another $50.50 fee. Your old plate design will no longer be active, and it becomes available for someone else to order. You do not have to wait for your registration to expire to change the design.

How do I know if my plate design is offensive and will be rejected?

The DMV does not publish a list of rejected words or phrases. If you are unsure, avoid anything profane, slur-based, or gang-related. If the DMV rejects your design, they will explain why in a letter. You can then choose a different design and resubmit at no extra cost.

Can I order a custom plate for a motorcycle or commercial vehicle?

Yes. Custom plates are available for most vehicle types registered in California, including motorcycles, commercial trucks, and RVs. The process and cost are the same. Some specialty plates (such as disabled veteran plates) have their own rules — check the DMV website for your specific vehicle type.