From the mid-60's to mid-70's, most states began allowing car owners to trade in their plates for vanity plates. Vanity plates can be ordered for private passenger, commercial, motorcycle, livery, bus, camper or antique vehicles. In Massachusetts, license plates of all kinds are manufactured at the Walpole State Prison correctional facility.

Available plates

Some states provide a list of currently-claimed vanity plates. You can use this to narrow your selection. For example, in Massachusetts, you can see a list of all vanity plates at http://www.state.ma.us/rmv/vanity/index.htm. This is updated once per month.

Restrictions

In Massachusetts, all vanity plates must begin with two letters. The plate can be no more than six characters, or a maximum of five characters for motorcycle plates.

RMVs all have 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.

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the number '69' is reserved for 1969 year model vehicles.

Cost

Getting a vanity plate is typically more expensive than a regular, "sequential" plate. In Massachusetts, the issue cost is $68, versus $36 for regular, random plates. Annual renewal fees are $73 for vanity plates and $46 for regular plates.

Time

You must get a new registration, and this often involves one or more trips to the RMV. In some states, you can submit requests for new plates online, but in all cases, you must go to the registry to pick up the plates and turn in your old ones. Within eight to twelve (8-12) weeks after your payment is received, you will receive a letter telling you the plates are ready and instructions on where to pick them up. The plates generally arrive at the branch within one week of the date of this letter.

Before picking up your new plates, you must fill out an RMV-3 (Massachusetts), REG-17 (California) or similar form that is stamped by your insurance agent before you can pick up your plates. You should get this while you wait for the letter.

In Massachusetts, all vanity plates must be renewed in the month of November. (Side note: Commercial plates all expire in December, and all sequential plates expire in the month indicated by the last numeric character.) As a result, you should order your plate 2 to 3 months before November, and pick it up in November, to avoid paying the registration fee twice in one calendar year.

Other Plate Ideas

UFR8TT, RAMCC2, MOR E C, MOV RBR, 4MULA D, QR2, LMBR JQ, VRTRAG, R9R NZA, MNASPL, PLAY EC, PRT RKO, LNRMON, MRTWLS, KOZMO5, BDN GTR, BAZ R, CAR KSN, MEOPLE, I M BOSS, T KAL, VOLKNO, OFUADL, FNTC4ST, FL[0]KT, QN2, DEK[0]DIC, MK NDGO, KWENEE, P55 WRD, HAZBRG, XA GAMZ, NYS BTZ, FIDDLY, BAS R E, CASTEO, NGIOR, CVLZ8N, LPN LUE

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