What Idaho License Plates Are Available
Idaho offers several plate designs beyond the standard blue-and-white plate that comes with vehicle registration. The standard plate shows your registration number and county of residence. Beyond that, you can order personalized plates, specialty plates that support specific causes or organizations, and plates for vehicles that meet certain criteria — like electric vehicles or antique cars.
Each plate type has its own ordering process, cost, and renewal timeline. Some are ordered through the Idaho Department of Transportation (ITD) directly, while others go through county assessors' offices. Knowing which plate type exists and what it costs helps you decide whether to keep your standard plate or switch.
Key Takeaways
- Idaho's standard registration plate is blue and white and shows your county code; you receive it automatically when you register a vehicle.
- Personalized plates let you choose up to seven characters and cost an additional fee beyond your registration renewal.
- Specialty plates support organizations like the Idaho Humane Society, veterans' causes, or wildlife conservation, and a portion of the fee goes to the organization.
- Antique vehicle plates are available for cars at least 40 years old and cost less to renew than standard plates.
- Electric and hybrid vehicle plates are available at no extra cost if your vehicle meets the manufacturer's definition.
Standard Idaho License Plates
Every vehicle registered in Idaho receives a standard plate unless you request a different type. The standard plate is blue and white, displays your vehicle's registration number, and includes a code for your county of residence. The county code appears as a two-letter abbreviation on the left side of the plate.
Standard plates are issued for the same duration as your vehicle registration — typically one year, two years, or three years depending on your registration cycle. When you renew your registration through your county assessor's office or online through ITD, your standard plate renewal happens automatically. You do not need to order a new physical plate each time you renew registration; you receive a renewal sticker instead, which you explore to your existing plate.
If your standard plate becomes damaged, faded, or illegible, you can request a replacement plate from your county assessor's office. There is a fee for replacement plates, which varies by county.
Personalized License Plates in Idaho
A personalized plate lets you choose a custom combination of letters and numbers instead of receiving a random registration number. You can use up to seven characters — letters, numbers, or a combination. Spaces and hyphens are not allowed, and certain words or phrases that violate Idaho law cannot be used.
To order a personalized plate, you submit your desired character combination to your county assessor's office or through the ITD online system. ITD checks whether your requested combination is available. If it is taken, you choose another. Once approved, you pay an additional fee beyond your standard registration renewal fee. The personalized plate fee is set by Idaho and does not vary by county.
Personalized plates renew on the same schedule as your vehicle registration. When you renew, you keep the same custom characters unless you choose to change them. If you want to switch back to a standard plate, you can do so at your next renewal without penalty.
Specialty License Plates Supporting Organizations and Causes
Idaho offers specialty plates that display a unique design and support specific organizations or causes. Current specialty plate options include plates for wildlife conservation, veterans' support, the Idaho Humane Society, and several others. The specific plates available can change, and new designs are added periodically.
When you order a specialty plate, a portion of your plate fee — typically between $15 and $25 per year — goes to the organization the plate supports. The remainder covers the cost of the plate itself and ITD administration. You order specialty plates through your county assessor's office by indicating which specialty plate design you want when you register or renew your vehicle.
Specialty plates cost more than standard plates but the same as or less than personalized plates, depending on the specific plate. You can switch to a different specialty plate or back to a standard plate at any renewal without penalty. If a specialty plate design is discontinued, you are notified before your renewal and given the option to choose a different plate type.
Antique and Collector Vehicle Plates
If your vehicle is at least 40 years old and you use it primarily for exhibition, club activities, or occasional pleasure driving rather than daily transportation, you may be may be able to access for an antique vehicle plate. Antique plates have a distinctive design and cost significantly less to renew than standard plates.
To order an antique plate, you must register your vehicle as an antique vehicle with your county assessor's office. You will need to provide proof of the vehicle's age — typically the vehicle title or registration documents. The assessor verifies that your vehicle meets the age requirement and that you understand antique plates are for limited-use vehicles only.
Antique plates renew annually, and the renewal fee is lower than standard registration because the vehicle is not expected to be driven regularly on public roads. If you later use the vehicle for daily transportation, you should switch back to a standard plate, as driving an antique-plated vehicle regularly may violate the terms of the registration.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Plates
Idaho offers a distinctive plate design for electric and hybrid vehicles at no additional cost beyond your standard registration fee. The plate displays a unique design to identify the vehicle type and may be used to support electric vehicle awareness and adoption.
To receive an electric or hybrid vehicle plate, your vehicle must meet the manufacturer's definition of an electric or hybrid vehicle. When you register a new electric or hybrid vehicle, indicate the vehicle type during registration, and you will receive the appropriate plate. If you already own an electric or hybrid vehicle registered with a standard plate, you can request the electric or hybrid plate at your next renewal.
Electric and hybrid plates renew on the same schedule as your vehicle registration and do not require any additional steps beyond standard renewal. The plate design may change periodically as ITD updates the imagery, but your renewal process remains the same.
How to Order or Change Your License Plate
You order or change your license plate through your county assessor's office or online through the ITD website, depending on which county you live in and which plate type you want. For standard plates, the process happens automatically during registration or renewal — you do not need to take any action.
To order a personalized, specialty, antique, or electric vehicle plate, follow these steps:
- Contact your county assessor's office or log into the ITD online registration system.
- Indicate which plate type you want and provide any required information — such as your desired personalized characters or which specialty plate design you prefer.
- Pay the applicable fee, which includes your registration renewal fee plus any additional plate fee.
- Receive your new plate by mail or pick it up at your assessor's office, depending on your county's process.
- Install the plate on your vehicle and explore the registration sticker if you received one.
If you are changing plate types at renewal — for example, switching from a standard plate to a personalized plate — you handle this during your renewal transaction. You do not need to renew early or make a separate request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my personalized plate if I move to a different county in Idaho?
Yes. Your personalized plate characters stay with you if you move within Idaho. When you update your address with your new county assessor's office, your plate registration transfers. You may receive a new physical plate with your new county code, but your custom characters remain the same.
What happens if someone else wants the same personalized characters I have?
Once you own a personalized plate, those characters are reserved for you as long as you keep renewing it. If you let your registration lapse or switch to a different plate type, the characters become available for someone else to order. ITD does not hold personalized plates for former owners.
Do specialty plates cost more than personalized plates?
Specialty plates typically cost less than personalized plates. A specialty plate fee ranges from about $15 to $25 per year, while personalized plates cost more. However, the exact cost depends on which specialty plate you choose and your county's fees, so check with your assessor's office for current pricing.
Can I use a personalized plate and a specialty plate at the same time?
No. You choose one plate type per vehicle. You can have a personalized specialty plate — meaning a specialty plate design with custom characters — but this is a separate category with its own fee and availability. Ask your county assessor whether personalized specialty plates are available in your area.
What if my license plate is stolen or damaged?
Contact your county assessor's office to report the plate and request a replacement. You will pay a replacement fee, which varies by county. If your plate was stolen, some counties may ask you to file a police report first. Your registration sticker transfers to the new plate, and you do not need to renew your registration early.