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License Plates in Washington DC

Updated on Thu, 4/28/2011

LOST OR STOLEN LICENSE PLATES

As soon as license plates are lost, stolen or illegible they must be replaced. If BOTH personalized plates are stolen/lost they must be replaced with a new plate - duplicates will not be made.

In order to replace your plates you must:

  • Visit your local DMV office.
  • Present proper forms of ID.
  • Hand in any remaining license plates.
  • Fill in an application for replacement plates. Please see the list below for links to the appropriate forms for each type of plate.
  • Pay the here.

Note: If your license plates are stolen, the DMV will require a citizen complaint number proving that you reported the theft to the police.

CUSTOM AND PERSONALIZED PLATES

Regular Series

These are the different types of plates in the regular series: Auto, Commercial, Trailer, Motorcycle, Permanent Trailer Identification, Disabled Person, Disabled Veteran, and Foreign Organization. Please see the proper request forms for regular series license plates. When you have completed the forms, take them to your local DMV office and submit them with the appropriate fees (see below). Some plates can be requested online and by mail as well.

Special Interest Plates

The following is a list of some categories of special interest plates: Organizational, Taxation without Representation and Personalized. Click on the individual links to access applications forms for replacing the different types of special interest plates and see methods of requesting them as some of them can be requested online and by mail.

FEES

The fees for replacing a license plate or getting new plates vary depending on the type of plate you need. For more information on these fees please click here.

Note: For disabled drivers, please see disability plates and fees.

WHAT TO DO WITH PLATES WHEN BUYING/SELLING A VEHICLE

Under Washington DC Law it is mandatory to retain license plates from a vehicle when selling. You can surrender the plates at your local DMV fees or mail them to the DMV at DC DMV, Vehicle Registration, P.O. Box 90120, Washington, DC 20090.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION