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Personalized Plates | Historical Plates & Vintage Plates | Picture Plates
Personalized plates are standard series Empire State plates that have a combination of number and letters selected by the registrant. The combination of numbers and letters that a registrant can request is restricted. The DMV is not required to issue the combination of numbers and letters that the registrant requested. The registrant pays the additional fees when the personalized plates are ordered and when the registration is renewed.
You can use personalized plates on passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and trailers.
You can search on-line to determine if a specific combination is available to request, or you can call 1-518-402-4838. You must explain what the combination means or what the combination represents. The DMV reviews requested personalized plate combinations. The DMV is not required to issue a requested plate. You can read the DMV regulations for restrictions on personalized plate combinations. You can pay for the requested personalized plates with a credit card. You can have eight characters or less on an Empire State plate and six characters or less on a picture plate or a personalized plate for a motorcycle.
Yes. Call the Custom Plates Unit at 1-518-402-4838. The office hours are 8:00 - 4:00, Monday through Friday. There is a fee to replace personalized Empire State plates and custom picture plates.
Yes. If the registrant and registration class will not change, instruct the automobile dealer to transfer your personalized plates to your new vehicle. If you purchase the vehicle from a private person, ask the DMV to transfer your personalized plates when you register the vehicle.
Yes. You can store your personalized plates at a DMV office. Most offices can store your personalized plates. The DMV office gives you a receipt (form FS-6T) when you surrender your personalized plates. Verify the information listed on the receipt, and make sure that the receipt displays the words, "Stored at Local Office". Keep the receipt.
Note: The policy to store vehicle plates is different in each office. Ask your local DMV office about the storage policy in that office.
You can register the vehicle again or use your stored personalized plates to register another vehicle. Go to the office that has your vehicle plates. Make sure that you bring the receipt (form FS-6T) and the other documents required to register your vehicle.
Yes. To replace your current personalized plates with new custom plates or personalized plates, you must call the Custom Plates Unit at 1-518-402-4838. There is a fee.
A historical vehicle is a vehicle that is more than 25 years old. A vehicle qualifies for a historical registration when it begins the 26th model year. For example, a 1978 model vehicle qualifies for historical registration in 2004.
Some vehicles that are less than 25 years old and have unique characteristics can qualify for a historical registration. The DMV determines if the vehicle has historical, classic or exhibit value.
A vintage vehicle is a historical vehicle and receives a historical registration. The registrant of a vintage vehicle can put vintage plates on the vehicle. Vintage plates are authentic NYS vehicle plates that were issued during the model year of the vehicle. More information about vintage plates appears below.
Historical plates display either:
Vintage plates are the authentic vehicle plates that were issued in NYS during the model year of the vehicle. You can put vintage plates on a historical vehicle instead of historical plates. For example, you can use a set of authentic vehicle plates that the DMV issued in 1963 on a vehicle of model year 1963. You must provide a full set of original vintage plates. The DMV cannot issue a registration for vehicle plates that are copies or that are painted again. Vintage plates issued in the model year of 1972 and earlier must display the embossed year or have the original metal tab for that year. Make sure that the tab is attached and legible. A sticker that indicates the model year is not required to use the vintage plates. Vintage plates issued in the model year of 1973 and later do not have metal tabs or plate stickers.
You can buy vintage plates from a local source like an automobile collector, an antique dealer, or a flea market. Make sure that the vintage plates are authentic. Newer copies are not acceptable for a vintage registration. Before you purchase a vintage plate, contact the Custom Plates Unit at 518-402-4839 to verify that the number on the plate is available for your vintage plate registration.
Yes. You cannot use a historical vehicle for daily transportation. An automobile collector normally registers a historical vehicle or a vintage vehicle to use it for exhibits, club activities, tours, and parades.
To apply for historical plates, you must sign the Owner's Certification Statement on form MV-440H (Historical License Plates). Form MV-440H includes the instructions to apply for a historical registration. You must complete form MV-82 (Application for Registration/Title). Bring form MV-440H, form MV-82, and all other required documents listed on form MV-440H to a DMV office.
To apply for vintage plates, you must sign the Owner's Certification Statement on form MV-440V (Vintage License Plates). Form MV-440V includes the instructions to apply for vintage plates. You must complete form MV-82 (Application for Registration/Title).
Send these items to the Custom Plates Unit at the address shown on form MV-440V:
You can call the Custom Plates Unit at 1-518-402-4838. The office hours are 8:00 - 4:00, Monday - Friday.
Historical registrations and vintage registrations are valid for one year.
Yes. Contact your insurance company to get information about insurance for a historical vehicle or a vintage vehicle.
The insurance identification card that is issued to you must display the word "HISTORICAL" to indicate the type of insurance coverage that is provided. "Antique" and "classic" are not acceptable words.
If a historical registration expires, the DMV can reissue the historical plates or transfer them as original historical plates.
If the vintage plates are currently registered to a vehicle:
After the registration record indicates that the vintage plates are stored, the current registrant provides the following items to the Custom Plates Unit:
If the current registrant of the vintage plate is deceased, and there is an Executor or Administrator of the Estate, the new registrant must provide:
The Custom Plates Unit then issues the registration documents and form MV-404 to the new registrant. The new registrant puts the vintage plates and the registration sticker on the vehicle. The new registrant can destroy the old vehicle plates.
You can store historical plates at a DMV office. Most offices can store vehicle plates. The DMV office gives you a receipt (form FS-6T) when you surrender your vehicle plates. Verify the information listed on the receipt, and make sure that the receipt states, "Stored at Local Office". Keep the receipt.
DMV offices do not store vintage plates. The DMV indicates on the registration record that the vehicle plates are stored.
Note: The policy to store vehicle plates is different in each office. Ask your local DMV office about the storage policy in that office.
You can register the vehicle again or use your stored vehicle plates to register another vehicle. Go to the office that has your vehicle plates. Make sure that you bring the receipt (form FS-6T) and the other documents required to register your vehicle.
A picture plate is a vehicle plate that has the words "New York" contained in a blue banner, and a picture or logo next to the plate number. There are many categories of picture plates. Some personalized picture plates are available for an additional fee.
You can find the available categories and styles of picture plates in the plate gallery. You can also determine the price and order on-line. The categories are:
Yes. You can store your picture plates at a DMV office. Most offices can store your picture plates. The DMV office gives you a receipt (form FS-6T) when you surrender your picture plates. Verify the information listed on the receipt, and make sure that the receipt displays the words, "Stored at Local Office". Keep the receipt.
Note: The policy to store vehicle plates is different in each office. Ask your local DMV office about the storage policy in that office.
You can register the vehicle again or use your stored picture plates to register another vehicle. Go to the office that has your vehicle plates. Make sure that you bring the receipt (form FS-6T) and the other documents required to register your vehicle.
Effective August 2, 2004, pursuant to the Commissioner's discretionary authority under sections 404(1) and 404-l of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, the Department of Motor Vehicles temporarily suspended consideration and approval of requests for creation of new custom plate series. This moratorium does not apply to those plate series mandated by law or those which have already been approved administratively, nor does it extend to the modification of existing contracts to which the Department is already a party. The moratorium will continue in effect until the criteria for approval of new custom plate series has been reviewed and the Commissioner's regulations updated accordingly.
