The cost of New York license plates depends on the type of plates you choose. The price of standard license plates is $25. If you want to customize your plate with special characters or a slogan, then you'll pay $60.

New York fees are lower for license plate renewals than for new plates. Additional taxes and fees apply to both new and renewal registrations.

Each vehicle in New York must have a front license plate in addition to a rear plate, except for motorcycles and trailers.

(All states require vehicles to have a rear license plate. Some states require a front plate, while others do not.)

Here’s how to get new license plates from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Before applying for license plates, you will need a valid vehicle registration card from the NY DMV. In New York, you must register your vehicle in person.

For the registration process, you'll need:


In some cases, to register your vehicle, you’ll need to obtain an odometer reading, a Bill of Sale, a car title release form, or a medical certificate for disabled applications.

After you prepare all the paperwork, you will then be able to apply for your license plate at the New York DMV. Applying for New York plates is easy and straightforward.

If you’ve recently purchased a used car, you’ll need to apply to the DMV for a transfer of title. Along with a completed transfer of title application, you will need to provide proof that you own the car, such as a bill of sale or Certificate of Title.

Your DMV application for title transfer must be processed before you may receive license plates. For that, you'll need to submit proof of valid liability insurance, an identity card, and any applicable sales taxes and fees (New York car sales tax is 4% of the purchase price of the vehicle).

After submitting your documentation and payment, you will be issued your new license plates.

The NY DMV website provides useful information regarding licensing requirements, along with instructions for how to apply for plates.

Not in New York? See our guide to how much license plates cost in each state.

When applying for license plates, there are three ways to order.

1. In person at your local DMV office (find locations here)
2. Online via the New York DMV website
3. Through the mail: find your county’s DMV mailing address on this page
Whether you apply online, in person, or by mail, you need to fill out an application form that includes your personal information, address, and vehicle registration info.

Once you have submitted the form, you will be asked to pay the fee. The fee varies, depending on the type you choose, but for standard license plates is $25.

If you order online or in person, you can pay with a credit card, debit card, or electronic check. If you mail in your application, you must enclose a check or money order made out to your local DMV office.

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles is responsible for vehicle registration and driver licensing in the state.

The state of New York will charge you a bi-annual registration fee (based on the weight of the vehicle) between $26 and $140, plus extra fees such as:

To get your NY registration and plates you’ll need to pay:

If your car has six or more cylinders or is electric, New York will charge an additional $32.50 every two years.

You will also need to have liability insurance in the state to get your New York registration completed.

You’ll fill out Vehicle Registration/ Title Application (Form MV-82), and provide the DMV with documents such as:


When submitting the required documentation, you’ll need to pay the fees and taxes listed above.

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

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.

New York license plates have 7 characters (across the 50 states, license plates have anywhere from six to eight characters).

New York standard license plates cost $25.

Passenger vehicles, commercial motor vehicles, motorcycles, permanent trailers, trailer coaches, and park trailers all have standard New York license plates that confirm registration and help identify them.

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

Custom (also known as personalized) plates cost $60 to purchase and another $31.25 to renew each year.

New York residents can choose from a wide array of custom license plates that reflect their interests. Here are some of the personalized license plates available in New York:

There are no registration or license costs for New York disabled veterans to receive a disabled veteran license plate.

To obtain a disabled veteran license plate, your disability must be confirmed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the service that released you.

After receiving and completing the military paperwork and application, you may either deliver it to the DMV field office or send it by mail.

If you are a resident or non-resident of New York and have a permanent disability that severely limits your mobility and requires the use of a private vehicle for transportation, you may be eligible for People with Disabilities (PPPD) Unit handicap placard from the NYC Department of Transportation.

Handicap placards are free in New York. Custom handicap placards cost $28.75.

The annual plate renewal price is in addition to the renewal fee for your car registration. When you renew your registration every two years, you pay the following plate fees.


Each state has different requirements for how often license plates need to be renewed. New York drivers are required to renew their registration bi-annually.

If you already have your car registered in New York State, you can utilize the My Registrations service to:


Being late on registration renewal can lead to late additional fees, fines and other problems when pulled over for a traffic stop. To avoid this, it is important to pay careful attention to the registration expiration date.

In some cases, the NY DMV may require you to change your license plates. This is usually the case if the plate is lost, stolen, or damaged.

When you submit your application for license plate replacement, you must pay a $28 replacement registration fee. If your license plates are damaged, you must submit them to DMV officials.

If you need to replace lost license plates, the New York DMV offers an online service for ordering replacement license plates.

If your New York state license plates are peeling or deteriorating, the NY DMV will replace them at no cost.

Along with the new license plates, a new registration sticker will be mailed.

If your license plates were stolen, the first step is to report the theft of the license plate to your local police department. In many cases, you must verify your address with the vehicle licensing office before you can begin the process of replacing a plate that was lost or stolen.

Once the report has been filed, you will need to visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles office to obtain a replacement plate.

If you need to replace your license plates, you need to submit an Application for Replacement Plates Form by mail or in person at a DMV location.

The NYS DMV issues "In-Transit" or temporary plates for transporting vehicles inside or outside of the state to their final destination, where they will be registered.

To receive a New York vehicle "In-Transit" plate, you must fulfill all of the following criteria:


New York temporary plates are valid for 30 days.

Before purchasing a used car in New York, identify whether it has back fees—or you could be liable for them.

The first step is to obtain the vehicle identification number from the seller. With the VIN, you can contact your local DMV and request a title search. The DMV will be able to tell you if there are any unpaid fees associated with the car, such as registration fees or parking tickets.

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