Personalized Plate Ordering Information
Personalized License Plates
Requirements and fee schedules for obtaining a Personalized License Plate in West Virginia, including graphic style options and mailing submission instructions.
Requirements & Guidelines
- All applicable fees must be submitted alongside the physical application.
- An applicant must first title their vehicle and have a regular Class A plate issued to that vehicle. No personalized requests will be processed unless the Division has an active record of the vehicle and its current license plate.
- Personalized plates are issued exclusively for Class A vehicles—automobiles, trucks weighing under 10,000 pounds, and motorcycles.
- A personalized plate configuration will be granted only if the Division of Motor Vehicles determines that:
- The requested choice is completely unique and available. You can check availability via the online personalized plate search tool.
- The configuration is not profane, obscene, or potentially offensive.
- The characters do not conflict with any existing regular-series license numbering systems.
Character Limits: You may select up to a maximum of:
- Eight (8) characters for Standard or Scenic backgrounds.
- Six (6) characters for 9-11, Wildlife, or Motorcycle plates.
- Five (5) characters for Patriotic backgrounds.
Note: The minimum configuration allowed is two (2) characters. Special symbols, punctuation marks, and standalone numbers from 1 to 2000 are strictly prohibited.
- Once a personalized plate is issued, it will continue to be reserved for the holder year after year provided renewal fees are paid on time.
- A personalized plate can be transferred to another vehicle registered under the original owner's name, or between spouses. A $5.00 transfer fee and $0.50 insurance fee are required.
- Upon receiving the new personalized plate, the motorist must return their previously assigned regular plate and registration card to the Division of Motor Vehicles within ten (10) days.
- If an application is sent back to the driver for fee corrections, the approved character choice will only be reserved for 30 days from the return-mail date.
- All requests for personalized plates must be submitted in writing using the official DMV application form.
- Motorcycle plates are capped at a maximum of six spaces and cannot be paired with the Scenic graphic style.
- The standard $15.00 reservation fee for standard or scenic graphics is due annually at the time of registration renewal.
- The Wildlife background carries an annual reservation fee of $30.00 due at renewal, half of which ($15.00) directly supports the state's Non-game Wildlife Fund.
Fees for New Plates
Initial costs vary depending on the first character/number printed on your current license plate, which indicates your staggered registration cycle.
| Current Plate Start Character | Standard Graphic | Scenic Graphic | Wildlife Graphic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Begins with 1 (or is already personalized) | $66.50 | $76.50 | $91.50 |
| Begins with 2 | $68.13 | $78.13 | $93.13 |
| Begins with 3 | $65.75 | $75.75 | $90.75 |
| Begins with 4 | $63.38 | $73.38 | $88.38 |
| Begins with 5 | $61.00 | $71.00 | $86.00 |
| Begins with 6 | $58.63 | $68.63 | $83.63 |
| Begins with 7 | $56.25 | $66.25 | $81.25 |
| Begins with 8 | $53.88 | $63.88 | $78.88 |
| Begins with 9 | $51.50 | $61.50 | $76.50 |
| Begins with O | $49.13 | $59.13 | $74.13 |
| Begins with N | $46.75 | $56.75 | $68.25 |
| Begins with D | $44.38 | $54.38 | $69.38 |
Fee breakdowns include the following structures:
- Standard Graphic: Includes an annual $15.00 Reservation Fee, $1.00 litter fee, $0.50 insurance fee, and standard base registration.
- Scenic Graphic: Includes an annual $15.00 Reservation Fee, $1.00 litter fee, $0.50 insurance fee, and a one-time $10.00 plate production fee.
- Wildlife Graphic: Includes an annual $15.00 Reservation Fee, an annual $15.00 Non-Game Wildlife Fund donation, $1.00 litter fee, $0.50 insurance fee, and a one-time $10.00 plate production fee.
ALREADY RENEWED? If your vehicle's current registration has already been renewed for the year, the plate exchange service fees drop significantly to flat rates of $20.50 for standard, $30.50 for scenic, and $45.50 for wildlife styles.
Time remaining on your current registration prior to January 1st will be calculated and automatically applied as a credit toward the cost of the new plate. Pro-rated time extending past January 1st cannot be credited.
Submit Application
Download and print the Application for a Personalized License Plate (Form DMV-42-TR).
Mail your finalized paperwork, vehicle records, and check/money order payments directly to the DMV headquarters tracking address below:
Department of Transportation
Division of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 17120
Charleston, WV 25317
