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You must register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles if you are a resident of West Virginia.
Application forms, relevant documents, and payment of fees must be submitted to have your vehicle processed.
When you apply, it is possible to order special license plates.
Sample West Virginia License Plate
If you are a resident of West Virginia, you can register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
New residents have 30 days to register their vehicles.
If you purchase a vehicle from a private dealer, you may be required to pick up temporary license plates to be able to drive legally on state roads until your vehicle’s registration is completed.
Applications for license plates in West Virginia can be made at a local DMV office.
Types of License Plates in West Virginia
West Virginia’s standard issued license plate has a white, blue and yellow striped background with yellow and navy-blue lettering. It has “Wild, Wonderful” and “West Virginia” written on it.
In place of the standard license plate, you can also apply for:
Specialty license plates
Disability license plates
Personalized license plates
Most plates can be personalized with a custom plate number.
After you receive your license plates, they must be secured to both the front and rear of your vehicle. Motorcycles only require a license plate on the rear.
You will also receive decals, which must be placed on the rear plate only.
Specialty License Plates in West Virginia
You can choose from a variety of colorful and decorative specialty license plates for West Virginia. These plates commemorate and support special groups, organizations, occupations, and more. For example:
College License Plates. Commemorate and support universities, scholarships, sororities, and fraternities.
Virginia Tech Plates
West Virginia Plates
Penn State Plates
Special License Plates. Decorative and supportive plates for organizations, occupations, charities, nonprofits, and more.
League of Postmasters Plates
NASCAR Plates
Support Our Troops Plates
Military License Plates. Available only to those who served in the U.S. military to remember their experience, awards, and service.
Veterans of War Plates
Honorary Medal Plates
U.S. Army Plates
Antique License Plates. Special plates for older vehicles of a certain age.
Classic Car Plates
Vintage Vehicle Plates
You must apply for these plates and show any required proof of eligibility (e.g., occupational plates require a copy of your employment).
Disability License Plates in West Virginia
Disability license plates and placards are issued to:
People with a permanent or temporary disability
Veterans with a disability
Vehicles providing transportation to people with disabilities
Placards must be clearly visible from within the vehicle. They permit the owner to park in designated parking spaces in the community.
Personalized License Plates in West Virginia
You can personalize your license plate only if it:
Has up to 7 characters (i.e., letters and numbers)
Is original and available
Does not use inappropriate language
Applications will be reviewed before being approved or rejected. The cost for registering personalized license plates varies by type.
Transferring & Surrendering License Plates in West Virginia
If you purchase a new vehicle in West Virginia, you can transfer your old license plates. When transferring your plates, you must submit the following:
Transfer application forms
Payment of transfer fees
You are not permitted to transfer your license plates to a new person. If you no longer require your license plates, you should surrender them to a local DMV office.
You may also have to surrender your license plates if you:
Apply for replacements plates
Upgrade to a specialty plate
Move to another state
Cancel your vehicle’s insurance
Replacement License Plates in West Virginia
If your license plates are lost, worn out, damaged, or stolen, you can submit an application for replacements.
You’ll be required to provide:
Completed application forms
Copy or proof of vehicle’s registration documents
Payment of replacement plate fees
It is possible to apply for replacements either online or in person.
Renewing License Plates in West Virginia
You may receive a notification that your license plates are soon to expire. It is your responsibility to renew your license plates prior to the expiration date on the rear plate.
After you have completed the renewal process (i.e., paid the renewal fees), you will receive new decal stickers that remain valid for the duration mentioned.
Renewal fees vary by plate type and vehicle type.
Paying for License Plates in West Virginia
When you are submitting payments for registration fees, you may use the following:
Cash
Credit card
Money order
Check
You should write out checks and process money orders to the DMV. It is not advisable to send cash in the mail.
Overview of Fees for License Plates in West Virginia
There are various registration fees required in West Virginia. The following are a few that may be applicable:
Vehicle Registration:
1 year registration: $51.50
2 year registration: $103
Personalization:
Standard Plate: $66.50
Replacement License Plates:
Plates: $10.50
Decals: $10
The fees listed above do not include state taxes, service fees, or any other additional fees required during registration.
You can contact the DMV if you have any questions about your vehicle's registration (e.g., fees, required documents, etc.).
Looking Up License Plates in West Virginia
If you want to check for available plate numbers, use the search bar above.
You can also use it to submit known license plates in West Virginia or to obtain background information about a WV license plate, such as bad reports, vehicle history, and images.
Car Ownership in West Virginia
West Virginia saw a nearly 28% decrease in motor vehicle registrations between 2017 and 2021, second only to the District of Columbia which saw a 65% fall during the same time period. Other states in the top 5 with the largest decreases include Alaska (14% drop), New York (13% drop), and North Dakota (13% drop).
West Virginia is ranked 41 on the list of states with the highest car ownership rates. Idaho and Wyoming are top the table. The District of Columbia and New York are at the bottom.
91.60% of households in West Virginia have at least one vehicle. For comparison, this figure is 96.20% in Idaho and Wyoming (highest car ownership rates) and 64.30% in the District of Columbia (lowest car ownership rates).
West Virginia is ranked 49th for electric vehicle ownership in the US. Only 0.07% of all registered vehicles in West Virginia are electric vehicles. California (1.61%) and Hawaii (1.32%) lead with the highest number of electric vehicles. Mississippi and North Dakota (both 0.05) bring up the bottom of the table.
West Virginia is ranked 25th (tied with Virginia) on the list of most expensive states to own a car in the US. California and Nevada are the priciest and Ohio is the most economical state to own a car in the US.
The average cost of annual full coverage car insurance in West Virginia is $1,688. This is less than half of the cost of full coverage car insurance in New York ($4,769 per year on average). Virginia and Ohio have the least expensive full coverage car insurance.
The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in West Virginia is $383. Some states where car repairs are expensive include Connecticut, Colorado, California, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does West Virginia have 2 license plates?
No, West Virginia does not have 2 license plates. The state requires only one license plate to be attached to the rear of the vehicle.
How many letters are on a West Virginia license plate?
Standard license plates in West Virginia can have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 characters (a combination of letters and numbers). Wildlife plates, 9-11 plates, and motorcycle plates can have up to 6 characters. Patriot plates can have up to 5 characters. Special characters, symbols, punctuation marks like hyphens, and low numbers between 1 and 2000 are not allowed.
What are the words on West Virginia license plates?
Vehicle registration plates in WV carry the words “West Virginia” at the top and “Wild, Wonderful” at the bottom.
Does West Virginia require vehicle inspections?
Routine safety inspections are required every 24 months in West Virginia. The inspection must be done at an official inspection station licensed by the WV State Police Department. Once your vehicle passes the inspection, you will be issued an inspection sticker valid for 24 months that you should apply to the inside of your windshield.
If you are a new resident in West Virginia, you should complete a vehicle inspection within 10 days of titling your vehicle. However, West Virginia has a reciprocal agreement with 9 states, namely New York, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. If you have an inspection sticker from one of these states, it will remain valid in West Virginia until it expires.
If you purchase a new vehicle and it doesn’t have a valid West Virginia inspection sticker, you are required to obtain one within 3 days.