How Do West Virginia License Plates Cost?

If you’re looking to buy a used car in West Virginia, you’ll need to get a new license plate when you go to register the vehicle. A standard West Virginia passenger vehicle plate is included in the $51.50 registration fee.

West Virginia also has a variety of specialty and personalized plates to choose from, which cost more. Additional taxes and fees apply to both new and renewal registrations.

Let’s get into the details of license plate costs in the state of West Virginia.

West Virginia license plate costs range from $0 to $93.13, depending on which type of plate you choose.

Here are the options West Virginia offers for passenger vehicle plates:

In West Virginia, the standard passenger vehicle plate is included in the vehicle registration price.

You'll receive the classic blue and gold “Wild Wonderful” plates when:


For more info on West Virginia’s license plate types, visit the official West Virginia Division Of Motor Vehicles page.

Want to make a statement? West Virginia personalized plates cost anywhere from $66.50 to $93.13. They are also referred to as vanity plates, and they let you customize your ride with a unique letter and number combo.

When selecting the lettering for your custom West Virginia plates, there are some restrictions:

Show some team spirit or support a cause with specialty plates. You can sport plates that support your favorite West Virginia college, cause, or organization.

A West Virginia specialty license plate costs between $51.50 to $76.50 on top of the registration fee.

Here are the most popular specialty plate designs:

West Virginia offers over 15 different military license plate designs to honor those who served.

West Virginia military plate options include the following:


West Virginia provides discounted or free license plates to verified disabled veterans, former POWs, Purple Heart recipients, and other service members. Most specialty military plates cost $55.50 per year.

West Virginia offers disability license plates and placards to accommodate disabled residents.
These provide designated parking access and other privileges.

1. Disabled license plate: $51.50 annually
2. Permanent disability placard: $51.50 plus $5 renewal fee every 5 years
3. Temporary disability placard: $5
4. Replacement placard: $5

To apply, complete the disabled plate or placard application and doctor's certification of disability to your local DMV office.

Commercial vehicle license plates range from $75 to over $2,000 annually depending on vehicle weight and type.

In West Virginia, motorcycle license plates cost $23 biennially. This covers the registration and plate needed to legally operate a motorcycle every two years.

Trailer license plate fees in West Virginia are based on the weight of the trailer. Trailers under 3,000 pounds have an annual fee of $35. For larger trailers over 3,000 pounds, the annual cost is $65. This structure means heavier trailers pay slightly higher fees.

In West Virginia, a motor home or RV license plate costs $97.50 annually. This standard fee applies to all motor homes and RVs registered in West Virginia.

When you sell your used car in West Virginia, you must dispose of your old plate properly.

Here are the options for old West Virginia plates:

1. Return: the DMV will take back the old plate when issuing a new one. This is the safest option.
2. Recycle: remove any stickers and recycle the plate through local recycling.
3. Keep: some choose to save the old plate as memorabilia. Be sure to invalidate any active stickers first.
4. Transfer: West Virginia allows you to put your old plate on another vehicle you own. Make sure to check with your DMV office for the proper paperwork for a plate transfer.

It’s always a good idea to deface your old license plate before returning or recycling it. This prevents someone else from illegally using it. Always remove registration stickers before disposing of your plate.

See our state-by-state guide to license plates to learn which states require removal from the vehicle and which states allow the plates to remain with the vehicle when it’s sold.

Here are some interesting facts about West Virginia license plates:

The annual registration fee for passenger vehicles in West Virginia is $51.50.

To register your vehicle with the West Virginia DMV, you will need to submit:

The standard car title transfer fee in West Virginia is $15. To transfer a vehicle title to your name, you will need:


Read our complete guide to a West Virginia title transfer for more info on the subject.

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