ODPS Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Special License Plates

NOTICE: Effective 12:01am, June 7, 2010.

All special plates are only available with the Beautiful Ohio design.

Beautiful Ohio design frequently asked questions.

Effective October 1, 2009. Personalized and Initial Reserve license plates purchased or renewed will be subject to an increase of $15 each, making the fee for Personalized license plates $50 and $25 for Initial Reserve license plates.

What are Special Plates?

Special Plates are license plates manufactured especially for the customer. Some have initials or personal messages. Many have logos which require special handling to produce. Logo plates are for customers who wish to support a particular college, military organization, environmental or other special interest group.

All special plates have an additional fee collected to cover the costs of production and special handling required. Some special plates also include a fee that is earmarked for the organization. For example, collegiate plates fees go to general scholarship funds. The additional annual charges range from $0 to $50 for special plates depending upon which plates are ordered. The fee is charged each year, including years when only a validation sticker is needed.

How can Special Plates be obtained?

• Deputy Registrar
  Requests for special plates can be made at any Deputy Registrar's office. Many Special Interest, Disability, Amateur Radio, Military and Collegiate Plates are also available at the Deputy Registrar. All other special plates may be paid for at a Deputy Registrar's office and will then be mailed to the customer. If necessary, the deputy can give the customer a permit which will allow them to operate their vehicle while the plates are being manufactured.
• OPlates.com
  OPlates.com allows you to renew one or more vehicles and/or select and purchase specialty plates offered through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles in minutes. This site also offers you the opportunity to change your address online with the BMV.
• By Mail
  Request forms are available at any Deputy Registrar's office. The customer may complete a form and send it with special documents to the address listed on the form. The customer's choice (if available) will be assigned and an application will be mailed within 5 days. The customer needs to mail the application, fees and any required document(s) to the address on the application.
  Special plates will be mailed to the customer to the address shown on the application.
• By Telephone
  Requests special plates may be made by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles at
  1-800-589-TAGS (1-800-589-8247). Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

What is a System Assigned Plate?

System assigned plates are pre-manufactured with consecutive numbers only and are never personalized. Example ABC 1234.

What is an Initial Reserve Plate?

• Three letters (ABC).
• Three letters and one number (1- 9) or one number (1-9) and three letters (ABC 1 or 1 ABC).
• Two letters (AB).
• Two letters and one number (1-9) or one number (1-9) and two letters (AB 1 or 1 AB).
• Two letters and two numbers (1-99) or two numbers (1-99) and two letters (AB 75 or 75 AB).
• Two letters and four numbers (1-9999) or four numbers (1-9999) and two letters (AB 2345 or 2345 AB).
• One letter and five numbers (1-99999) or five numbers (1-99999) and one letter (A 12345 or 12345 A).
• Numbers 28801 through 999999.

What is a Personalized Plate?

A personalized plate must contain at least four letters. The maximum number of letters and/or numbers is seven.

What is a Personalized Logo Plate?

A personalized logo plate may contain no more than six characters as the logo takes up one space.