How Much Are License Plates In Virginia?

In the state of Virginia, license plates cost between $40 and $55, depending on your vehicle's weight and the type of plate you choose.

If you want Virginia personalized plates, you will have to pay $10 in addition to the vehicle registration and personalized plate fees.

In Virginia, vehicles are required to have both rear and front license plates.

(A rear license plate is required in every state in the United States. Some states require a front plate, while others do not.)

Here are the necessary steps to getting new license plates from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Virginia DMV).

1. Get your vehicle registration from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. You will be required to present paperwork such as proof of ownership, proof of insurance, and a valid driver's license or identification card.
2. Select the license plate you want. Virginia has a variety of standard and specialty license plates available, such as personalized plates, military plates, and college or university plates.
3. Pay the appropriate fees for your license plate. This may include both a one-time fee for personalized plates and an annual fee for the majority of other plates.
4. You will need to apply for your plates directly through the Virginia DMV.
5. Wait for the mail to deliver your license plates. After completing the registration process, Virginia license plates typically take 5-10 business days to arrive by mail.
6. Put your license plates on your car. All registered vehicles in Virginia must display two license plates, one on the front and one on the back.
7. Keep your license plates and vehicle registration up-to-date. You must renew your registration annually and pay any applicable fees to avoid late fees and penalties.

There are many different types of license plates: passenger license plates, commercial vehicle plates, special license plates, trailer plates, and motorcycle plates.

Standard license plates measure 6 by 12 inches and are rectangular (motorcycle license plates are smaller, measuring 4 by 7 inches). They are made of aluminum, which is durable and resistant to rust.

The Virginia license plate has seven characters (across the 50 states, license plates have anywhere from six to eight characters).

Let’s look at how much Virginia license plate fees are for different types of plates.

A set of standard Virginia license plates costs:

1. $40.75 for cars 4,000 lbs and under
2. $45.75 for cars 4,001 lbs and over

Standard Virginia license plates can be put on passenger vehicles, business cars, trucks, and vans.

Standard license plates are issued in any of the following scenarios:

Virginia personalized plates have an annual fee of $10 in addition to the standard license plate fee.

Personalized Virginia plates can be ordered online, by mail, or at your local DMV office by submitting the following:

1. Complete the Virginia personalized license plate application (Form VSA-10)
2. Proof of vehicle ownership
3. Proof of insurance for the vehicle.
4. Pay the $10 fee for the personalized license plate, in addition to the standard license plate and registration fee.

Your personalized license plate will arrive in the mail. Delivery times can take up to 6 weeks to receive your personalized plate.

Virginia special plates have an annual fee of $10 in addition to the standard license plate fee, depending on the weight of your vehicle.

Available Virginia special interest plate designs include the following:

1. Alzheimer's Association
2. Butterfly Heritage
3. Greyhound Adopt
4. Move Over
5. Natural Bridge

Virginia military plates have an annual fee of $10 in addition to the standard license plate fee, depending on the weight of your vehicle.

According to 38 U.S.C. 101, you must provide a copy of active duty or retired ID card or DD214 showing dates of service, honorable military discharge status, and 180 days of active duty.

Military license plates can be personalized just like standard plates.

Virginia offers disabled license plates to those with disabilities. Disability license plates come with no additional fees.

To apply for disabled license plates, you must complete and submit a completed disabled parking plate or placard application (MED 10).

You can submit your application either in person at any DMV customer service center or DMV Select office, or by mailing it to:

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
P. O. Box 85815
Richmond, VA 23285-5815

The cost for a commercial license plate in Virginia ranges from $40 to $801 per year depending on the type and weight of the commercial vehicle.

These plates are required to legally operate commercial vehicles on Virginia roads.

Virginia motorcycle registration costs $24.75. This fee includes the license plate.

A trailer license plate costs between $2.70 and $30 per year in Virginia. Naturally, you only need one license plate for a trailer, and it goes in the rear.

Virginia recreational vehicle (RV) plates cost $40.75 per year. This annual fee covers license plates and registration for a motorhome.

To complete the Virginia vehicle title transfer form, you will need to provide the following:


See our guide to transferring a Virginia car title for more detailed information on the title transfer process.

To apply for a Virginia license plate, you must have a valid car registration card from the Virginia DMV. VA registrations can be done in person. To make things more efficient, you will title and register your car at the same time.

Initial registration must take place in person at a local DMV office at the time of titling your vehicle by submitting the following: