Whether you recently purchased a car, moved to a different state, had a license plate stolen, or your current license plate expired, you’ll need to get a new license plate. There’s always the option to receive a randomized license plate from the DMV at no cost— or you can opt for a personalized license plate if you’re looking to bring some personality to your vehicle aside from funny bumper stickers.

Be forewarned: License plate personalization comes with a hefty price tag, and there are specific rules and restrictions about what you can and can’t put on a license plate (depending on where you live). Ahead, we spoke with car experts about the ins and outs of personalized license plates and some of the rules you’ll want to keep in mind when thinking up ideas for your own.

General Rules That Apply Everywhere

Here's What You Can't Put On Your License Plate
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When it comes to personalized license plates, there are some general rules that typically apply everywhere. “Generally, most states are hesitant to issue plates that could be considered offensive,” says Amelia Dalgaard, QBIC at Motorhead Mama. “So, if you wouldn’t say it to your grandmother, you can’t put it on your plate.”

More specifically, plates cannot be offensive, obscene, or misleading (such as pretending to be police officers), according to Alice Coleman, an auto expert at EpicVIN. “Anything with hate speech, sexual terms, drug references, or confusing letter/number combos (like “0O0O0″ that mimic other plates) will usually be denied,” she adds.

Notable State-Specific Rules

It’s worth noting that there are some state-specific rules and limitations for personalized license plates that you’ll want to keep in mind.

For example, California operates with tougher filters for content that implies drugs or gang terminology, according to Coleman. Dalgaard adds that in California, the number 69 can only be used on a license plate in reference to the vehicle’s model year and no other reason. “The fear is that it will be considered a sexual reference,” she says.

In Florida, trademarked or copyrighted material alongside misleading content that could be confused with official government or emergency vehicle plates are not allowed, according to FloridaLicensePlate.org. Additionally, Florida rejects plates with any reference to bodily functions.

Some other notable state-specific rules include New York, where license plates that appear similarly to official or special classes (e.g., “POLICE”, “NYS”) will not be approved, according to the NYS DMV.

In Massachusetts, vanity or personalized license plates must start with two letters, and there’s no punctuation, spaces or periods allowed. In many places, the same applies for substituting letters with numbers that look similar (ie. “O” and “0”).

Examples of Rejected Plates

According to WTSP Tampa Bay, here are some personalized license plates that were denied in the state of Florida in 2024. This can be used to give you an idea of what isn’t typically allowed:

  • BADA55V
  • IAM DUI
  • FBI FED
  • P00P BUT
  • PLZ 0FCR
  • P1SSAH
  • C0CKY1
  • HAWK2UA

As you can see from this list, many of these license plates contain obscene or derogatory words that would be offensive to most. In the case that a personalized plate is approved, many states reserve the right to invalidate it even after it has been issued — this is often seen in places like New York and California.

How To Appeal a Plate Rejection

If you create a personalized license plate that gets rejected, each state has an appeal process that you can go through. According to Dalgaard, the process may involve a written appeal, an in-person appearance, or occasionally a phone call, however, it depends on the specific situation. You’ll want to check with your state’s DMV for a more detailed breakdown on what the appeal process involves.

“For example, in Ohio, a lawsuit resulted in an alteration of its personalized plate restrictions, enabling terms such as ‘GAY’ and ‘MUSLIM’ to be permitted following legal objections,” says Peterson.

FAQ

Can two people have the same personalized plate in different states?

Yes, two people can have the same personalized plate in different states. “Personalized plates are state-specific, so you could see ‘FASTCAR’ in Texas and another ‘FASTCAR’ in New York without conflict,” says Coleman. If you’re in the same state, then you won’t be able to have the same personalized plate.

Can I transfer my personalized plate to a new vehicle?

Yes, you can usually transfer your personalized plate to a new vehicle should the situation arise. “You usually have to pay a small fee and request it at the DMV during registration,” Coleman tells Family Handyman. You’ll want to check with your local DMV to see the most up-to-date information about this process, as it can vary from state to state.

About the Experts

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Casey Clark
Casey Clark is a freelance writer from New York City who specializes in commerce writing with emphasis on beauty, food, and lifestyle content. Casey's work has been featured in Women's Health, Allure, Byrdie, Cosmopolitan, etc. When she's not writing, you can find her swatching the latest lipsticks or out to brunch with her girlfriends.
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