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You can register your vehicle and obtain license plates in New York from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
There are various license plates to choose from, such as standard plates, specialty plates, or disability plates. Most of these plates have the option to be personalized with a custom plate number.
To look up available plate numbers in New York, use the search bar above.
Sample New York License Plate
Types of License Plates in New York
Vehicles owned by New York residents must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
You can choose from a variety of license plates, such as:
Standard New York license plates
Specialty license plates
Disability license plates
Most of these license plates can be personalized to have a custom plate number. Personalization requires an application and has to follow the DMV’s guidelines.
In addition to the plates listed above, there are also temporary license plates. Temporary plates are required if you are purchasing a new vehicle. They permit you to drive legally while you wait for your vehicle’s registration to be processed.
Temporary plates are valid for 30 days only and cannot be renewed.
Specialty License Plates in New York
You can apply for the following specialty license plates in New York:
Special Causes License Plates: Show your support for a local charity or non-profit organization; a portion of your plate fees goes toward helping their cause. Examples:
Blue Bird Environmental
Erie Canal
Drive for the Cure
Alumni and Collegiate License Plates: For people who want to express support for their college or university. Examples:
University of Albany
Notre Dame
West Point
Sporting License Plates: Special license plates are available to show your support to a local or national team. Examples:
Nascar—Jeff Gordon or Dale Earnhardt
NBA—Brooklyn Nets or New York Knicks
NHL—New York Rangers or Buffalo Sabers
NFL—Buffalo Bills or Giants Super Bowl 2012
Military License Plates: These plates honor those who have enrolled to protect the nation by providing them with a plate for their awards, service, or experience. Examples:
Army Reserve
Purple Heart
Vietnam Veteran
Ex-Prisoner of War
Classic Car License Plates: Antique or special plates can be issued for vehicles older than 25 years. Examples:
Historical Cars
Street Rods
The fees for specialty plates vary by type. To obtain a complete list of available plates and the prices to register, please contact your local DMV office.
Personalized License Plates in New York
Any personalized license plate in New York must be approved by the DMV. Here are the guidelines that must be followed:
Up to 8 characters (letters and numbers)
Up to 6 characters for motorcycles and some specialty plates
Must use 1 letter but not:
1 letter after 6 numbers
the letter “O” between numbers
the letter “I” as the first character
using “O” and “0” to represent a word
No profanity or inappropriate suggestions
Must be available for registration
Your application will be processed by the NY DMV. You may be required to provide alternative plate numbers if your first choice is not approved.
Renewing License Plates in New York
The decal stickers on your rear license plate indicate when your vehicle’s registration will expire.
You may receive a notification in advance, reminding you that it is time to renew your registration.
Renewing your vehicle before the stickers expire helps you avoid any unnecessary late fees.
Note: Vehicle inspections are required every 12 months, and you may be required to submit a certificate upon renewal.
Lost, Broken, or Stolen License Plates in New York
You can replace any lost, stolen, damaged, or broken license plates at the NY DMV.
If your license plates were stolen, you may be required to submit a police report.
All replacements require the following:
Replacement application and documents
Surrendering of license plates (for damaged plates or if 1 license plate remains after a theft)
Vehicle registration documents
Payment for replacement fee
You may have to wait for your replacement plates to arrive by mail.
Note: Replacements for stolen license plates are free with a valid police report.
Transferring and Surrendering License Plates in New York
You may transfer your license plates to a new car if you have sold your previous vehicle. Your license plates cannot be transferred to anyone when sold.
When you transfer your plates, you’ll be required to pay a transfer fee at the DMV.
If you are not going to purchase a new vehicle, you may be required to surrender your license plates. You are also required to surrender your license plates when you move to a new state.
Note: Motorcycle license plates do not have to be surrendered.
Summary of Fees for New York License Plates
License plates fees in New York vary by plate type and vehicle type. You may be required to pay state taxes and service fees in addition to the standard registration fees.
The following is a summary of some of the standard registration fees in New York:
Registration for License Plates: $25
Temporary License Plates: $12.50
Personalized License Plates:
Passenger Vehicles: $60
Motorcycles: $35
Replacement License Plates:
Application Fee: $3.75
Replacement per Plate: $12.50
Plate Surrender Processing Fee: $1
Your renewal fees will be based on your vehicle type and the type of license plate that you chose to register.
Looking Up License Plates in New York
You can look up license plates in New York using the search bar above.
All you need is the plate number and the state, and you can find out whether a particular plate number is available.
If the license plate is registered to a vehicle, you can obtain additional information, such as car ID, submitted reports, and related media
Car Ownership in New York
New York is number 3 on the list of states with the fewest vehicles in the United States. There are 787 vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers in New York. Delaware has the lowest number of vehicle registrations (547 per 1,000 drivers), followed by the District of Columbia (652 per 1,000 drivers). Montana has the highest number of vehicle registrations in the US (2,492 per 1,000 licensed drivers).
New York saw an almost 14% decrease in motor vehicle registrations between 2017 and 2021. The District of Columbia saw a 65.5% decrease and West Virginia saw a 27.42% decrease during the same time period.
New York has the second lowest rate of vehicle ownership in the country. Approximately 71% of households in New York have at least one vehicle. The District of Columbia has the lowest vehicle ownership rate at 64.3%. Idaho and Wyoming are tied for the highest car ownership rates (96.20% of households have at least one vehicle in these two states).
New York ranks 16 for electric vehicle ownership in the US. Approximately 0.46% of all registered vehicles in New York are electric vehicles. California and Hawaii have the highest percentage of electric vehicles (1.61% and 1.32% respectively). At the bottom of the table are Mississippi and North Dakota with only 0.05% electric vehicles.
The New York – Newark – Jersey City metro area has the lowest vehicle ownership rate in the US. Just under 70% of households here have at least one vehicle. Ithaca, New York, is also in the top 5 among metro areas with the least vehicle ownership (87% of households have at least one vehicle).
New York is the most expensive state for full coverage car insurance with it costing $4,769 annually on average.
The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in New York is $386.
Overall, New York is the 14th most expensive state to own a car in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New York have front plates?
Yes, New York has front plates. It is a 2-plate state. You are required to have one license plate on the front and one on the rear of your vehicle.
Why are New York license plates yellow?
The State of New York started issuing Empire Gold license plates in 2009. These are yellow plates with blue lettering. They replaced the previous blue on white plates that had been issued previously for many years.
What does Excelsior mean on New York license plates?
The word Excelsior means “Ever Upward” and is Latin for the state’s motto.
Do NY license plates expire?
Yes, NY license plates expire. They are valid for 1 or 2 years, depending on the type of registration. The expiration date is printed on your registration documents and the renewal notice you will receive from the NY DMV. You must have a valid, unexpired registration to drive legally in the state of New York (this includes the windshield sticker and paper registration certification that you must carry in your vehicle).
Does New York require vehicle inspections?
Yes, all vehicles registered in New York must undergo a safety inspection every 12 months at a DMV licensed inspection station. An inspection is also required whenever there is a change in a vehicle’s ownership.
How much does it cost to get a car registered in New York?
The cost of getting your car registered in New York includes the sales tax, title certificate fee, vehicle plate fee or registration transfer fee, vehicle use tax (required in almost all counties), and the registration fee for 1 or 2 years. You can estimate the registration fees for your vehicle with this NY vehicle registration fee calculator tool.