California vanity plates cost $40 extra per year, on top of your regular registration fee, and you order them through the DMV website, by mail, or in person at a field office
A vanity plate (also called a personalized plate) lets you choose your own combination of letters and numbers instead of receiving a random one. California's DMV assigns you a standard plate when you register, but you can request a custom plate for an additional annual fee. The plate itself is issued by the DMV, and you keep the same number for as long as you renew your registration.
The process is straightforward: you check availability online, submit your request with payment, and the DMV mails the plate to you within two to four weeks. You cannot drive with a temporary plate while waiting — you must use your current registration plate until the vanity plate arrives.
Key Takeaways
- Vanity plates in California cost $40 per year in addition to your standard registration renewal fee.
- You can check if your desired plate combination is available on the DMV website before you pay.
- The DMV will reject any plate combination that is offensive, already taken, or too similar to an existing plate.
- You must renew your vanity plate registration every year, just like a standard plate, or it reverts to the DMV.
- If someone else reserves your desired plate while you are deciding, you will need to choose a different combination.
How to check availability and reserve your plate online
Start at the California DMV website and use the Vanity Plate Availability tool. Type in your desired combination — up to seven characters, including letters, numbers, and spaces. The tool tells you when ready whether that exact combination is available, reserved, or already issued. If it is available, you can proceed to reserve it.
Reservations last for 60 days. During that time, the DMV holds the plate for you while you complete payment and registration. If you do not finish the process within 60 days, the reservation expires and someone else can claim it. You do not pay anything to reserve — payment comes only when you submit your full request.
What combinations the DMV will and will not accept
The DMV rejects vanity plates that contain profanity, slurs, or language considered offensive or obscene. The review is subjective, and the DMV applies its own judgment about what crosses that line. If your requested plate is denied, you will receive a letter explaining the reason, and you can request a different combination.
The DMV also rejects plates that are too similar to existing plates or that could be confused with standard plates. For example, if your combination looks like it could be mistaken for a government or law enforcement plate, it will be denied. Plates that are already issued to another vehicle are unavailable, and the system will tell you this when you search.
You cannot use a plate that matches a plate you previously owned, even if you no longer have that vehicle. The DMV keeps a record of plates you have held, and you must choose something new.
Ordering by mail or in person at a DMV field office
If you prefer not to order online, you can request a vanity plate by mail using Form REG 17 (process for Vanity or Personalized License Plates). read the form from the DMV website, fill it out with your desired plate combination, and mail it with a check or money order for $40 to your local DMV office. Processing takes longer by mail — typically four to six weeks from the time the DMV receives your form.
You can also visit a DMV field office in person and submit your request at the counter. Bring your vehicle registration, a valid ID, and payment. The staff will check availability while you wait and process your request on the spot. You will still wait two to four weeks for the plate to arrive by mail.
Timeline from order to receiving your plate
After you submit your vanity plate request and payment, the DMV processes it within five to ten business days. Once approved, the plate is manufactured and mailed to you. Total time from submission to delivery is usually two to four weeks, though it can take longer during high-volume periods.
You will receive a notice in the mail when your plate ships. Do not remove your current registration plate until the vanity plate arrives. Driving without a valid plate is illegal, even if you have paid for a vanity plate that has not yet been delivered.
Renewing and transferring vanity plates
Your vanity plate must be renewed every year along with your vehicle registration. When you renew your registration, you automatically renew your vanity plate for the additional $40 fee unless you choose to cancel it. If you do not renew, the plate reverts to the DMV and becomes available for someone else to reserve.
If you sell your vehicle, your vanity plate stays with you — it does not transfer to the new owner. You can request that the DMV reassign it to a different vehicle you own, or you can let it expire. To move a vanity plate to another vehicle, contact the DMV and provide both vehicle registration numbers.
What happens if your desired plate is taken before you finish
If someone else reserves or purchases your desired plate while you are in the middle of your request, the system will notify you and ask you to choose a different combination. This can happen if your reservation expired or if someone else submitted their request at the same time. You can search for alternatives and submit a new request when ready.
There is no waitlist for vanity plates. If your first choice is taken, you must select a different combination. Some people keep a list of backup options in case their top choice is unavailable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my vanity plate to a new car if I trade in my old one?
Yes. Contact the DMV with both your old vehicle registration and your new vehicle registration. The DMV can reassign your vanity plate to the new vehicle. You do not need to pay an additional fee for the transfer — you only pay the annual $40 renewal fee when your registration renews.
What if the DMV denies my plate request?
The DMV will send you a letter explaining why your plate was rejected, usually because it was deemed offensive or too similar to an existing plate. You can then submit a new request with a different combination. There is no appeal process, but you can try as many combinations as you want.
Do I have to renew my vanity plate every year?
Yes. Your vanity plate renews automatically when you renew your vehicle registration, and you pay the $40 fee each year. If you do not renew your registration, your vanity plate expires and becomes available for someone else. You can cancel your vanity plate at any time and return to a standard plate.
How many characters can my vanity plate have?
California vanity plates can have up to seven characters, including letters, numbers, and spaces. You cannot use special characters like hyphens, periods, or symbols. The DMV website will show you exactly how your combination will look on the plate as you type it.
Can I reserve a vanity plate without owning a vehicle yet?
No. You must have an active vehicle registration to request a vanity plate. If you are buying a vehicle soon, you can register it first and then request the vanity plate, or you can request the plate after registration is complete.