California dmv personalized license plate availability search

The California Department of Motor Vehicles oversees the distribution and issuance of personalized and customized vanity license plates.  California allows you to determine if your specific lettering on the license plate is available online

Personalized license plates in California can be ordered online and take up to 8 to 12 weeks for processing and delivery.  License plates can only be ordered by a registered owner and the plate you order must be registered to an California vehicle at the time of issuance.

• Types of Vehicles:  The California Department or Motor Vehicles allows personalized license plates on autos, trucks, trailers and Motorcycles.

• Fee:   The fee for a personalized license plate in California is $49 in addition to any other regular renewal and registration fees.  Other special interest plates (like the California Memorial or Coastal Commission plates) are extra.

• Number of Characters:  In California, they allow a maximum of 7 characters on your Personalized Plate.  You can use any combination of Letters A to Z, Spaces and Numbers 0 to 9 .

• Limitations:  Personalized vanity license plates in California are subject to approval by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.  The website also states that the California “Department has the right to refuse any combination of letters and/or letters and numbers that may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency, or which would be misleading, or in conflict with any license plate series now issued. Substituting numbers for letters, or vice versa, may be confused with an existing plate.  The availability of the license plate configuration you reserve on this site is subject to final approval by DMV.”

• Is My Plate Available?:  Yes – you can look your preferred license plate up online!   Visit the California Personalized Plate Website.

• How to Order:  To order your personalized California license plate for your car, motorcycle or trailer, follow these steps:
  • Visit the California  Personalized Plate Website to see if your personalized message is available and then follow the instructions to order online OR
  • Complete a Personalized California License Plate Application form.  Submit your application and fees by mail to:

• Additional Information:  Note that personalized plates must be picked up at the DMV and that after ordering you will receive a letter confirming that it has been sent.  For more information on obtaining a personalized vanity license plate in California, visit the California Personalized Plates website, go to any California DMV office or call the California Department of Motor Vehicles at 1-800-777-0133.

This Site is not owned or operated by, nor affiliated with any governmental organization. This Site contains general information with respect to personalized license plates at the department of motor vehicles in various states. It is for informational and educational purposes only. You should check with the specific state that your motor vehicle is registered in before ordering.

Section 22 of 38

Chapter 21: Special Plates

21.190 Personalized License Plate Assignments

Chapter 21 Special License Plates

21.190 Personalized License Plate Assignments

Field Office Assignment—Personalized license plates are sent to DMV field offices for issuance to customers if the Special License Plate Application (REG 17) form was not submitted with a registration application, or the applicant did not know the vehicle to which the license plates would be assigned.

• Any license plates that are offensive to good taste and decency must be returned to the DMV Special Processing Unit (SPU) following the procedures in the Personalized Configurations—Mandatory Refusal section in this chapter.
• License plates received in error must be forwarded to the correct DMV office.
• License plates manufactured incorrectly must be reordered.
• The license plate owner must be notified that the license plates have arrived in the office using the Notification Procedure in the following section.

Notification Procedure— DMV will make three attempts to contact the license plate owner approximately 30 days apart. Contact may be by telephone or by mailing an Environmental Plate Notice (FO 17) form. There will be a record of all attempts to contact the license plate owner on the ELP Reservation Confirmation (REG 272) form (insert received with the license plates). If the license plate owner does not respond to the first and second notifications to pick up and assign his/her special license plates:

• A Last Notice (FO 16) form advising the owner that the license plates will be destroyed in 30 days and priority to that personalized configuration will be lost is sent.
• If an applicant does not respond to the final 30-day notice, the license plates are considered unclaimed and will be destroyed.
• A note “license plates destroyed” and the date on the REG 272 is forwarded to the DMV Special Processing Unit (SPU) at Mail Station (MS) D238.
• If the applicant comes to claim the license plates after they have been destroyed, they must complete a new application and pay to reorder the license plates.

License Plate Assignments—The following must be submitted:
(for license plates other than Congeressional Medal of Honor (CMOH) or Former Prisoner of War (POW) license plates):

The registration card showing the vehicle is currently registered and owned by, or leased to, the license plate owner. License plates cannot be assigned to a vehicle with PNO status.

— If the license plate owner is not shown as the lessee or the vehicle is registered in a company/business name, a Statement of Facts (REG 256) form completed by the registered owner authorizing use of the special license plate on the vehicle must be submitted with the application.

• The REG 272, for license plate ownership information.
• The license plates currently assigned to the vehicle.
• Fees Due.

Wrong/Incorrect Personalized Configuration—If, prior to accepting a special license plate, the customer states the license plate (configuration) is incorrect, call FOSU at (916) 657-6978 to verify the information on the original application. If the license plates were manufactured incorrectly due to DMV error, the customer may be issued new license plates for no fee. The transaction must be approved by the office manager.

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