What California Personalized Plates Are and How to Order Them

California personalized plates let you choose a custom combination of letters and numbers instead of receiving a random sequence from the DMV. You can request up to seven characters on a standard plate, or fewer on specialty plates. The DMV checks your request against existing plates and a list of words it will not issue — if your combination is already taken or flagged, you will be asked to choose again.

You order personalized plates through the California DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office. The process takes about two weeks after the DMV approves your request. You will pay a one-time personalization fee on top of your regular registration renewal or new registration fee.

Key Takeaways

  • Personalized plates cost a one-time fee of $43 in addition to your standard registration fees, and you renew them every two years like regular plates.
  • You can request up to seven characters using letters, numbers, or a combination, but spaces and most special characters are not allowed.
  • The DMV rejects requests that spell profanity, slurs, or other flagged words, and also rejects combinations already assigned to another vehicle.
  • Ordering online through the DMV website is the fastest method and shows you when ready whether your requested combination is available.
  • If your request is denied, you can submit a new one when ready at no additional charge.

Character Limits and What You Can Use

Standard personalized plates allow up to seven characters. You can use uppercase letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), or a mix of both. You cannot use lowercase letters, and you cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or most other punctuation marks.

Some specialty plates — such as environmental or veteran plates — have different character limits. Environmental plates allow up to six characters, and some veteran plates allow five. When you start your order, the DMV website will show you the maximum for the plate type you select.

The DMV does not charge extra to use numbers instead of letters, or to mix them. A plate reading "ABC1234" costs the same as one reading "ABCDEFG".

How to Order 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 vehicle registration number and current driver's license or ID number. The system will ask whether you are renewing an existing registration or registering a new vehicle.

Enter your requested combination in the search box. The website will tell you when ready whether it is available. If it is taken or flagged, try another combination. You can test as many combinations as you want at this stage without paying anything. Once you find one that works, proceed to payment. You will pay the $43 personalization fee plus your standard registration fees by credit card or debit card.

After you complete payment, the DMV will mail you a confirmation notice. Your new plates will arrive within two weeks. If you need the plates sooner, you cannot expedite a personalized plate order — standard processing time is fixed.

Ordering by Mail or at a DMV Office

You can also order personalized plates using form REG 17, available on the DMV website or at any DMV office. Fill in your requested combination and mail the form with a check or money order for the $43 fee plus your registration fees to the address listed on the form. Processing takes about four weeks by mail, which is longer than online ordering.

If you go to a DMV office in person, bring your vehicle registration, driver's license or ID, and payment. A staff member can check availability on the spot and process your order when ready. You will still wait two weeks for the plates to arrive by mail, but you avoid the mailing step.

Both methods require you to know your vehicle registration number before you start. If you do not have it, bring your vehicle title or a recent registration notice.

What Happens If Your Request Is Denied

The DMV denies personalized plate requests for two main reasons: the combination is already in use, or it contains a word or phrase on the DMV's rejection list. The rejection list includes profanity, slurs, and other terms the state considers inappropriate for public display. The DMV does not publish the full list, so you may not know why a specific request was denied until you try it.

If your request is denied, you will receive a notice in the mail explaining that it was not issued. You can submit a new request when ready at no charge. There is no limit to how many times you can try, and you do not have to wait for the first denial notice to arrive before submitting another request online.

If you believe your request was rejected in error, you can contact the DMV by phone or through its website to ask for clarification. The DMV rarely overturns rejections, but it will explain which rule your combination violated.

Renewal and Ongoing Costs

Personalized plates renew on the same schedule as regular plates — every two years in California. When you renew, you pay your standard registration renewal fee plus another $43 personalization fee to keep the same custom combination. You do not have to re-request the plate or worry that someone else will take it — once issued, your combination is reserved for you as long as you keep renewing it.

If you do not renew your registration, your personalized plate combination becomes available for someone else to request. If you let your registration lapse and then want the same combination back, you will have to request it again and hope no one has claimed it in the meantime.

You can change your personalized combination at any renewal by requesting a different one. There is no penalty for changing it, and you still pay only the standard $43 personalization fee.

Specialty Plates and Personalization

California offers personalized options on most specialty plates, including environmental plates, veteran plates, and plates supporting specific causes. The personalization fee remains $43, but the character limits and base registration fees vary by plate type.

For example, an environmental plate with personalization costs the same $43 fee as a standard personalized plate, but you get only six characters instead of seven. Veteran plates have their own base fee structure, and personalization adds $43 on top of that. When you order online, the system shows you the character limit and total cost for the specific plate type you select.

Not all specialty plates can be personalized. Check the DMV website or call your local office if you are unsure whether your chosen plate type supports custom combinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my personalized plate to a different vehicle?

Yes. You can transfer a personalized plate to another vehicle you own by submitting form REG 138 to the DMV. There is no additional fee for the transfer itself, but you will pay standard registration fees for the new vehicle. The transfer must happen before your current registration expires.

What if someone else requests the same combination I want?

Whoever requests it first and completes payment gets it. The DMV processes requests in the order they are received. If you see a combination you like, order it right away rather than waiting — there is no reservation period.

Can I use numbers that look like letters, like 0 for O or 1 for I?

Yes. The DMV allows you to use actual numbers (0–9) in any position. Many people use combinations like "ABC1234" or "A1B2C3D" to create visual effects. The system treats these as numbers, not letters, so they count toward your seven-character limit.

Do personalized plates cost more to renew than regular plates?

Your base registration renewal fee is the same whether you have a personalized or regular plate. The only additional cost is the $43 personalization fee, which you pay every two years when you renew. If you switch back to a regular plate, you stop paying the $43 fee.

How long does it take to get personalized plates after I order them?

Standard processing time is two weeks after the DMV approves your request. There is no expedited option for personalized plates. If you order online, you will receive a confirmation notice by mail, and your plates will arrive separately within that two-week window.