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License plate registration, renewals, replacements, and applications for plate types are regulated by the Department of Transportation in Wyoming.
When registering a vehicle, you can apply for specialty and personalized license plates. It is possible to look up license plates for free online. You can do this in advance to confirm that the custom plate you want is available.
Sample Wyoming License Plate
Types of License Plates in Wyoming
The state of Wyoming requires residents to register their vehicles with the Department of Transportation (DoT).
Most vehicles (i.e., cars, trucks, and vans) require license plates to be secured at the rear and front of the vehicle. Motorcycles and trailers only require one license plate secured at the rear.
All license plates must have clearly visible with up-to-date registration stickers on the corners of the rear plate.
In Wyoming, there is a variety of plates that can be obtained from the DMV:
Temporary License Plates
Standard License Plates
Specialty License Plates
Personalized License Plates
Disability License Plates and Placards
Every plate type has different fees for registering and renewing. The standard license plate is issued to all applicants who don’t require special or personalized plates.
Applying for License Plates in Wyoming
Applications for license plates in Wyoming can be submitted to a DoT office either in person, online, or by mail. However, vehicle registration must be done in person.
New residents must register their vehicle as soon as possible.
For those who purchase a new vehicle, it must be registered within 30 days.
When applying for a license plates, the following will be required:
Proof of insurance
Valid ID (i.e., Wyoming driver’s license)
Emissions certification
Titling documentation
Completed application forms
Payment for applicable registration fees
When a vehicle is registered in Wyoming, license plates may be issued right away or it may take some time before they are mailed to you (e.g., specialty license plates).
Personalized License Plates in Wyoming
The DoT permits most license plates to be personalized with a custom plate number. When registering a personalized plate, the following guidelines must be met:
Maximum of 5 characters (combination of 5 letters, numbers, and spaces)
Only capital letters and Arabic numbers
No special characters or symbols
No series of more than three (3) W's or M's (for example, WMWW is not allowed)
No combination of numbers only (except when the first digit is a zero (0))
No combination of numbers only followed by a single letter (for example, 11A, 12B, 123C are not allowed)
No combination that spells, connotes, abbreviates, or otherwise stands for language that is obscene, vulgar, indecent, or pruriently suggestive
No combination that duplicates a registration plate currently in use by another vehicle or conflicts with a series of letter and number combinations on a regular issue license plate
All applications will be reviewed to decide whether a plate number will be accepted or rejected. It’s a good idea to submit multiple plate numbers for consideration, so that one gets picked.
It is possible to look up license plates to check their availability online.
Specialty License Plates in Wyoming
Specialty license plates are designed to support and contribute to local charities or scholarships or show membership to certain clubs or occupations.
Some of the specialty license plates available for registration in Wyoming include:
EMT Specialty Plates
Ex-POW Specialty Plates
Pearl Harbor Survivor Specialty Plates
Prestige Specialty Plates
Firefighter Specialty Plates
Veteran Specialty Plates
University of Wyoming Specialty Plates
Epossed Specialty Plates
Gold Star Plates
A complete list of specialty plates along with their required fees can be obtained by contacting a DoT office.
Disability License Plates in Wyoming
Disability license plates are only available to people who have supporting medical documentation for their disabilities.
Disability plates and placards are provided to:
People with a permanent or temporary disability
Veterans with a disability
Vehicles servicing those with disabilities
Owning disability plates and placards allows your vehicle to be legally parked in designated parking spaces throughout the state.
Renewing License Plates in Wyoming
A vehicle’s registration must be renewed before it expires. Failure to do so will lead to additional charges when the vehicle is eventually renewed.
The Wyoming DoT may send out reminders, but it is always the vehicle owner’s responsibility to renew their vehicle.
Replacement License Plates in Wyoming
Both license plates and registration stickers can be replaced if they are lost, stolen, worn out, or lost.
Applications can be submitted to the DoT either online or in person. It may not be possible to get the same plate number again.
Stolen license plates should be reported to the police to prevent misuse in Wyoming.
Transferring & Surrendering License Plates in Wyoming
License plates always remain with the owner of a vehicle. If a vehicle is sold to another person, the buyer does not receive the plates with the car.
Instead, license plates can be transferred to a new vehicle by their original owner. They can also be surrendered to the DoT if they are no longer needed, i.e., if the owner is not purchasing another vehicle.
When transferring a vehicle’s license plates, payment of a transfer fee is required.
If license plates are surrendered, it may be possible to receive a refund for any months remaining on the plate’s registration. Submitting a request for refund is required in order to process any applicable return of fees.
Paying for License Plates in Wyoming
Payments can be made using any of the following methods:
Cash
Money order
Check
Credit card
When mailing in an application for registration or renewal, it is not advised to send cash. Instead, use a check or money order made out to the DoT.
Summary of Fees for License Plates in Wyoming
When a vehicle is registered with the DoT in Wyoming, you are required to pay for registration fees, service fees, and other taxes. The following are just some of the fees that may apply:
Standard Registration Fee
Passenger Vehicles: $30
Motorcycles: $2
Trucks and trailers: $2 to $60
Temporary License Plates
In-Transit Permit: $20
Registration: $450
Personalized License Plates
Fee: $30
Specialty License Plates
E.g., University of Wyoming Plate: $130 + standard registration fees
Replacement License Plates
Fee: $8
Duplicate License Plates
Fee: $30
More information can be obtained by contacting a DoT office.
Looking Up License Plates in Wyoming
Looking up license plates in Wyoming or other states in the U.S. can be done using the search bar above.
You can also find information submitted for a particular vehicle, such as images, history, and reports.
Car Ownership in Wyoming
Wyoming ranks number 1 (tied with Idaho) on the list of states with the highest car ownership rates. At the other end of the list are the District of Columbia and New York which have the lowest car ownership rates in the US.
96.20% of households in Wyoming have at least one vehicle. This is considerably higher than the District of Columbia, where the vehicle ownership rate is the lowest in the US at 64.30%.
Wyoming tops the list of states with most vehicles per household. One-third of households in the state own three or more vehicles.
Wyoming also has the third highest number of motor vehicle registrations. There are 2,015 motor vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers in the state. The only two states with more motor vehicle registrations are Montana (2,492 per 1,000 drivers) and South Dakota (2,067 per 1,000 drivers)
Wyoming ranks 46th (tied with South Dakota) for electric vehicle ownership in the US. Only 0.08% of all registered vehicles in Wyoming are electric vehicles. California (1.61%) and Hawaii (1.32%) top the list with the highest percentage of electric vehicles in all US states. Mississippi and North Dakota (both 0.05%) are at the bottom of the list with the lowest percentage of electric vehicles.
Wyoming is ranked 10th (tied with Washington) on the list of most expensive states to own a car in the US. California and Nevada are the most expensive and Ohio is the least expensive state to own a car in the US.
The average cost of annual full coverage car insurance in Wyoming is $1,829. In comparison, in New York, which has the most expensive full coverage car insurance, it costs $4,769 per year on average. Vermont and Ohio are some of the least expensive states for full coverage car insurance.
The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in Wyoming is $397.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wyoming a 2-plate state?
Wyoming is a 2-plate state for passenger cars, trucks, vans, and commercial vehicles. One license plate must e displayed on the front of the vehicle and one on the rear. Some vehicles, for example, motorcycles, are exempt from the two-plate rule and can legally operate with only a rear plate. Also, if your vehicle was originally manufactured without a bracket or attachment device for a front plate, you may be exempt from displaying the front plate. Check with the WYDoT to make sure.
What color are Wyoming license plates?
Wyoming is introducing new navy-blue license plates in 2025. The color is the same shade of blue as on the state flag. The state flag has been incorporated into the new design while retaining the steamboat from the original design.
Does Wyoming require vehicle inspections?
Wyoming does not require safety or emissions inspections. Dealers are required to obtain a VIN inspection for new vehicles. Additionally, a one-time VIN inspection is required for out-of-state vehicles being registered in Wyoming.