In the state of Oregon, license plate fees vary depending on the type of plates you choose. The fee for a standard license plate in Oregon is ​$25.50.

If you want an Oregon specialty plate, you will have to pay $50. Additional taxes and fees apply to both new and renewal registrations.

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

(Every US state requires a rear license plate. Some states only require a front plate, while other states don’t.)

Here are the steps for getting a new license plate from the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (Oregon DMV).

1. Get car insurance. Before registering your car and getting Oregon license plates, you must have auto insurance that meets the state's minimum coverage requirements.
2. Get an inspection. If you are registering a vehicle for the first time in Oregon or if your registration has expired, you must have it inspected. Inspections are carried out at authorized Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) inspection stations.
3. Gather the required documents and pay the fees. To register your vehicle and get new license plates in Oregon, you will need to provide several documents. These documents may include your vehicle title or registration, your driver's license or state ID, and proof of insurance. You’ll also need payment for fees and taxes.
4. Submit the application. You can register your vehicle and get license plates in person at an Oregon DMV office or online through the Oregon DMV website. You will need to submit your application, along with the required documents and fees.
5. Receive your license plates. Once your application is processed and the fees are paid, you will receive your license plates in the mail. If you register your vehicle in person at a DMV office, you may get your plates immediately. If you register online, your plates will be mailed to you.
6. Install your plates. Once you receive your license plates, you will need to install them on your vehicle.

There are many different types of license plates: 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.

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

A set of standard Oregon license plates costs $25.50.

Passenger vehicles, commercial motor vehicles, motorcycles, permanent trailers, trailer coaches, and park trailers are eligible for a standard Oregon license plate.

A standard license plate is issued in any of the following scenarios:

Oregon custom plates cost $50 per year of the registration period plus a plate surcharge fee depending on the design you choose.

Oregon drivers can choose one of the following designs:

1. Carter Lake
2. Cultural
3. Gray Whale
4. Salmon
5. Smokey Bear
6. Trail Blazers
7. Tree
8. UO Duck
9. Watch for Wildlife
10. Wine Country

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

1. Completed application for custom license plates (Form 735-205)
2. Payment for all applicable fees

To find out if your desired license plate personalization is permissible and available, you can contact your local DMV office for more information.

Plate surcharges:

You can choose from a variety of specialty license plates in Oregon. The surcharge for specialty Oregon plates for used vehicles varies from $10 to $100.

Available Oregon specialty plate designs include the following:

Oregon offers disabled veteran license plates to honor and support veterans with disabilities. Veterans who are at least 40% disabled because of their service can get these license plates from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Disabled veteran license plates come in two styles:

1. Ex-POW: : $40.50
2. Disabled Veteran: : $40.50

You can't park in a disabled parking space with disabled veteran license plates. For that, you will need to apply for a disabled person parking permit.

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


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

To apply for an Oregon license plate, you must have a valid vehicle registration card from the Oregon DMV. In Oregon, you can register your vehicle in person. To make things more efficient, title transfer and car registration are done simultaneously.

An initial registration must take place in person at a local DMV office at the time of titling by submitting the following:


On the Oregon DMV website, you can find useful information about how to register your car and how to apply for a license plate.

If you enroll in the OReGO program, the registration fee is $86. Submit a copy of your enrollment email to the DMV. If you leave the OReGO program, the DMV will bill you for the full registration fee.

You can order license plates in Oregon by mail, online, or in person at a DMV office. Here are the steps for ordering license plates in Oregon:

1. Fill out the form. For replacement or special license plates, you must submit an application, which can be found on the Oregon DMV website.
2. Provide required documentation. You may be required to provide additional documentation, such as proof of eligibility for a special plate or proof of ownership for a replacement plate, depending on the type of license plate you are ordering.
3. Wait for delivery. If you order your license plates by mail or online, you should receive them within seven to ten business days. Depending on availability, if you order them in person at a DMV office, you may receive them the same day.

To register a car from another state in Oregon, bring the following to your local DMV office:

The fee to renew your registration depends on the model year and combined MPG of your car.

Here is a list of fees according to the model year:


Each state has different requirements for how often license plates need to be renewed. Oregon drivers are required to renew their registration every two years.

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 Oregon DMV may require you to change your license plates. If your license plate is lost or stolen, contact the DMV or go to an authorized third-party office to have it replaced with new numbers and letters.

There will be a $5 or $10 license plate replacement fee, depending on if they need to be renewed or not.

To replace a damaged or unreadable plate, you need to submit the following to the Oregon DMV license plate agency:


If your license plate was stolen, you’ll need to report the theft to law enforcement and apply for a replacement.

Oregon provides (upon request) temporary plates to people who have bought a car but don't have their permanent plates yet. They cost $33.

To get an Oregon temporary permit, you must provide proof of vehicle ownership, proof of insurance, and payment for the temporary permit fee. The temporary license plate must be on the car at all times, and the driver must always have proof of insurance and ownership.

Before you buy a used car in Oregon, find out if it has any back fees. If it does, you could be responsible for them.

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

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