Find out more about decal plates
*Please note there are different requirements depending upon plate choice. Be sure to review the specific information for each plate.
| Eligible vehicles
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Automobiles
Multipurpose vehicles
Sport utility vehicles
Vans
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Trucks
Motor homes
Trailers and travel trailers
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| Numbered Plates
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- If plate is requested at the time of initial application for registration and certificate of title for the vehicle, there is no cost.
- There is a $5.00 replacement fee to switch from any plate type to a numbered decal plate.
- Owner must surrender current plates to County Treasurer.
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| Personalized plates fees
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- $25.00 personalized plate fees if new personalization or switching to personalization which is 5 characters or less. These plates can be ordered online.
- If retaining plate text which is 5 characters or less, there is no additional personalized plate fee at the time of switching plates.
- $5.00 annual personalization fee.
- These fees are in addition to the annual vehicle registration renewal fee.
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| Restrictions
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Personalized license plates may consist of up to five characters and numbers. All personalized plate choices must have at least two characters.
- No punctuation marks are allowed.
- No denoting a government agency (i.e., DOT).
- No display of characters that are sexual in connotation.
- No characters suggesting profane, obscene or inflammatory words or phrases, or those contrary to public policy.
- No characters or words defined in dictionaries as a term of vulgarity, contempt, prejudice, hostility, insult, or racial or ethnic degradation.
- No characters considered to be offensive.
- No characters that conflict with the regular license numbering system.
- Recognized as a swear word.
- Reference to an illegal substance or criminal act.
- Any foreign word falling in any of these categories.
- Cannot be all numbers.
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| How to apply
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Order online (You will need an Iowa Driver's license or ID and a credit card to complete the transaction.)
Your plates will be sent to your county treasurer's office and staff will notify you when your plates are available. Typical processing time is 3-6 weeks. Plates must be assigned to a vehicle within 90 days or the plates will be voided and no refund issued. Your current plates must be exchanged for your new plates.
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| For questions
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Telephone: 515-237-3110
E-mail: dot.plates@iowadot.us
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