vehicle registration > vehicleregistration > plates

Grinnell College

Notice

If you currently have a personalized plate and would like to switch your personalized message from that plate to a new plate design you will need to complete the mail in form as we currently cannot complete this process online. On the mail-in form, enter your current plate number/message in the space provided in Section A of the form and then re-enter the same information in Section B.

*Please note there are different requirements depending upon plate choice. Be sure to review the specific information for each plate.

Legal display of plates and license plate frames

Eligible vehicles	Passenger Trucks	Truck/Truck tractors Trailers and travel trailers
Numbered plate fee	$25 initial fee $5 annual registration fee at the time of renewal Annual registration renewal fee Plates (including personalized plates) may be purchased as a gift. Gift certificates will be mailed to the purchaser.
Personalized plate fee	$50 initial fee $5 annual registration fee at the time of renewal Annual registration renewal fee Personalized license plates may consist of up to seven 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. No zeros. Cannot be all numbers.
How to apply	Order online (You will need an Iowa Driver's license or ID and a credit card to complete the transaction.) -OR- Complete the Special Plate Application form, print and mail with the fees that are due. Completed applications may be returned to the following address. Vehicle & Motor Carrier Services Iowa Department of Transportation P.O. Box 9278 Des Moines, Iowa 50306-9278 Telephone: 515-237-3110 E-mail: vscusto@iowadot.us 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. You can check the status of your plate order at https://iowadot.gov/mvd/personalizedplates/home.aspx. 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.