No matter where you live in the country, a personalized license plate can be a creative way to express yourself. But, if you live in the state of Texas, it may not be as easy as you might think. Last year alone, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) denied over 5,000 personalized license plate requests. The Lone Star State has somewhat strict guidelines for its state vanity plates. However, that’s no reason to give up on your personalized plate dreams. This article will help you navigate the process with ease so you can get your unique message on the road.
How to Order Your Customized Texas License Plates–Application Process
All custom license plate requests can be made at MyPlates.com, which is the official TxDMV plate marketing vendor for specialized license plates. This became the only official way to get qualified plates in 2019. Depending on what kind of plate you are looking to get, you may be able to apply right on the site or you may have to mail it.
1. Pick Your Style
The first thing to do is decide what style and message you want your plate to have. Texas has over 500 options for backgrounds and personalization which include:
- Texas-inspired colors and themes
- Universities and colleges
- High Schools
- Businesses
- Charities
- Military and veterans
These can also be customized as qualified (occupational, military, charity, etc.) or non-qualified plates (sports, colleges, businesses, etc.). You also have the option to pick a State Sponsored plate that will benefit non-profit programs. All of the standard My Plate Select designs are available for:
- Passenger vehicles: cars, light trucks, motor homes, SUVs
- Motorcycles
- Trailers: boat, non-commercial use, and hauling trailers
- Private Buses: large buses, non-commercial SUVs that carry more than 10 passengers
- Older vehicles carrying regular registration
For State Sponsored designs, visit the Create A Plate page on the MyPlates.com website, and pick your specific plate and vehicle type to see your options. Your choice of background and what vehicle you have will determine how you apply, how many characters you can have on your plate, and how much you will pay.
2. Pick Your Message
Based on the background you chose, you will be able to have a message of either six or seven letters for a passenger vehicle. Typically, motorcycles are five letters and passenger trucks are four letters.
The creative possibilities might seem endless but this is where you have to be careful. The TxDMV has guidelines that prohibit indecent, vulgar, derogatory, or provocative plate patterns. The department may reject a plate if it refers to race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, even if it is not derogatory.
You must also make sure that your specific letter combination is available, which is simple to do on the MyPlates website at the Create A Plate page. Simply type in the combination you want and it will inform you if it is available or not. The messages can include any pattern of letters, numbers, and some symbols including the Texas silhouette.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Plates with six characters must have at least one number.
- The International Symbol of Access takes up two character spaces.
- For plate designs with the Texas “T,” the plate will read with the T.
- The seven-letter plates are only available on about 30 My Plates Select designs.
3. Fees–Pay for Your Plate
Once you are all set up with the plate of your dreams, you’ll have to pay the required fees. Not all personalized license plates are expensive, but some can get really pricey. You will want to be sure to take note of what your unique design will cost you. It is hard to know exactly what it will cost until all of the design choices are made but you can get an estimate at the MyPlates website. The cost ranges from $195 a year for a background and a personalized message to $50 a year for only a custom background.
You will also have the option to buy either a one, three, or five-year term. Selecting a longer term will reduce the cost but does require more of a commitment. They also have a five-payment layaway option if you chose a term longer than a year. Once you have selected the term, you will most likely be able to make your purchase online with a credit or debit card. Some plates cannot be purchased online but additional instructions will be given on the website if that is the case.
4. Pick-up Your Finished Plates
Once your application is in and processed expect to wait three to four weeks for the finished plates. When they are done, they will arrive at the main office of the County Tax Assessor-Collector for your county of residence. Any additional registration that may need assistance can be taken care of there. If you were getting plates for a car, truck, or motor home, you can expect two plates. Motorcycles, mopeds, and trailers can expect one.
Additional Questions
If you have any issues during the process, you can reach out to a customer service representative at (888)769-7528 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or send an email to [email protected].
Follow all these steps and you should have no problems getting your custom vanity plates in the state of Texas in no time.
