What Connecticut Vanity Plates Cost and How Long They Take

Connecticut vanity plates cost $100 for the initial registration, plus the standard vehicle registration fee that applies to all plates in the state. Renewal is $50 every two years when you renew your vehicle registration. The Connecticut DMV processes vanity plate requests by mail or in person at a DMV office, and the turnaround is typically four to six weeks from the date they receive your completed process.

You can order a vanity plate at the same time you register a new vehicle, or add one to a vehicle you already own. The plate itself arrives by mail once approved. During the waiting period, you continue using your current registration plate.

Key Takeaways

  • Vanity plates in Connecticut cost $100 to set up, then $50 every two years at renewal, on top of your regular registration fee.
  • You choose up to seven characters — letters, numbers, or a combination — but the DMV rejects requests that spell profanity, slurs, or names of government officials.
  • Submit your request on Form J-23 (process for Vanity Registration Plate) by mail to the DMV or in person at any DMV office.
  • Processing takes four to six weeks; you will receive a letter confirming approval or rejection, and approved plates arrive by mail.
  • If your chosen plate is already taken, the DMV will tell you and you can submit a new choice on the same process.

How to Choose Your Plate Characters

Your vanity plate can be up to seven characters long and can include letters, numbers, or both. Spaces and hyphens are not allowed. Common choices are initials plus a year, a nickname, a business name shortened to fit, or a phrase broken into letters and numbers (for example, "BK2SKOOL" or "LV4DOGS").

The Connecticut DMV maintains a list of rejected combinations. Plates cannot spell profanity, slurs, or ethnic or religious insults. They also cannot include the names of sitting U.S. presidents, vice presidents, or Connecticut state officials. If you are unsure whether your choice will be rejected, you can call the DMV at 860-263-5700 before submitting your process to ask.

If your first choice is already assigned to another vehicle, the DMV will reject it and ask you to choose again. You can submit up to three alternative choices on your process form so the DMV can approve one of them if your first pick is taken.

Where to Submit Your Vanity Plate process

You submit a vanity plate request using Form J-23 (process for Vanity Registration Plate), available on the Connecticut DMV website or at any DMV office. You can submit it by mail or deliver it in person.

To submit by mail, send the completed form to the Connecticut DMV at 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161. Include your check or money order for $100 payable to "State of Connecticut." To submit in person, visit any DMV office during business hours with the form and payment. The DMV office staff will accept it and give you a receipt.

You will need your vehicle identification number (VIN), current registration number, and driver's license number to complete the form. If you are adding a vanity plate to a vehicle you already own, have your current registration card available.

What Happens After You Submit Your process

Once the DMV receives your process, they check whether your chosen plate is available and whether it meets the content rules. If approved, you will receive a letter in the mail confirming the approval and the new plate number. The physical plate arrives separately by mail within one to two weeks of approval.

If your first choice is rejected because it is already taken or violates content rules, the DMV will send you a rejection letter. If you listed alternative choices on your form, they will check those next. If none of your choices are available, you will need to submit a new process with different character combinations.

If your process is rejected for a reason other than availability — for example, because information on the form does not match your registration — the DMV will explain the issue in the rejection letter and tell you how to resubmit.

Renewing and Replacing Your Vanity Plate

Your vanity plate renews automatically when you renew your vehicle registration every two years. The renewal fee is $50 for the vanity plate, in addition to your standard registration renewal fee. You do not need to resubmit the J-23 form unless you want to change the plate characters.

If your vanity plate is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a replacement by visiting a DMV office or calling 860-263-5700. Replacement plates cost $20. Bring your registration card and driver's license.

If you want to change your vanity plate characters at renewal time, submit a new J-23 form with your new choice before your registration expires. The $100 fee applies only to the initial vanity plate; changing characters at renewal costs only the $50 renewal fee.

Vanity Plates and Vehicle Title Transfers

If you sell your vehicle, the vanity plate stays with you, not with the car. The new owner receives a standard registration plate. You can transfer your vanity plate to another vehicle you own by submitting a new J-23 form and paying the $100 fee again, or you can let it expire and not renew it.

If you want to keep the same vanity plate characters when you buy a new vehicle, you must submit the transfer request before your current registration expires. The DMV will not hold a plate for you after expiration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see if my vanity plate choice is available before I submit the process?

The Connecticut DMV does not have a public search tool to check availability in advance. You can call the DMV at 860-263-5700 and ask whether a specific combination is taken, or you can submit your process with multiple character choices listed so the DMV can approve one of them if your first pick is unavailable.

What if I want to change my vanity plate characters before my registration expires?

You can submit a new J-23 form at any time with your new character choice. The $100 fee applies again. The old plate becomes inactive once the new one is approved and arrives.

Do vanity plates cost more to insure?

Vanity plates do not affect your insurance rates. Insurance companies charge based on the vehicle, driver, and coverage selected, not on the plate type. Contact your insurance company if you have questions about your specific policy.

Can I use numbers and letters to spell out words, like "2COOL" or "4EVER"?

Yes. Connecticut allows any combination of up to seven letters and numbers as long as the result does not spell profanity, slurs, or prohibited names. Combinations like "2COOL" and "4EVER" are generally approved.

How do I know if my plate was approved if I did not receive a letter?

The DMV sends approval or rejection letters by mail within four to six weeks. If you have not received a letter after six weeks, call the DMV at 860-263-5700 with your process date and driver's license number to check the status.