What a personalized plate costs and how to order one
A personalized license plate in Michigan costs $85 for the initial plate, plus your regular vehicle registration fee. Renewal costs $50 every two years when you renew your registration. You order through the Michigan Secretary of State website or at a local branch office — there is no phone or mail option for the initial order.
The plate itself takes about two to three weeks to arrive by mail after approval. You keep your current plate until the new one arrives, then swap them out yourself. Michigan does not mail temporary plates, so you will be driving on your old plate during the wait.
You can choose from several plate styles: the standard personalized plate with your custom characters, or specialty plates that combine personalization with a cause or organization (such as military, conservation, or university plates). Each style has its own design but follows the same ordering and cost structure.
Key Takeaways
- Personalized plates cost $85 upfront and $50 every two years at renewal, on top of your regular registration fee.
- You order online through the Michigan Secretary of State website or in person at a branch office, not by phone or mail.
- Your custom plate takes two to three weeks to arrive, and you drive on your current plate until it does.
- Michigan allows 1 to 6 characters on a personalized plate, and the state rejects plates with offensive language or trademarked names.
- You can cancel a personalized plate at any time and return to a standard plate without penalty.
Character limits and what Michigan will and will not allow
Michigan personalized plates can be 1 to 6 characters long — letters, numbers, or a mix. Spaces and special characters like hyphens or periods are not allowed. The state assigns a standard prefix and suffix to every plate, so your custom text sits in the middle.
The Secretary of State's office rejects plates that contain profanity, slurs, or language considered offensive. They also reject plates that duplicate existing trademarked names, government seals, or other protected symbols. If your first choice is rejected, you will receive a notice explaining why and can submit a different combination at no extra charge.
Common rejections happen when someone tries to use a brand name (like FORD or CHEVY), a government acronym (like FBI or DEA), or a phrase that reads as offensive when combined with the standard prefix and suffix. The review process is not automatic — a person at the Secretary of State's office reads each request.
How to check if your desired plate is available
The Michigan Secretary of State website has a personalized plate checker tool where you type in your desired characters and see when ready whether it is available or has been rejected before. This tool is free and does not require you to create an account or start an order.
If the checker shows your plate is available, you can proceed to order. If it shows rejected, the tool usually displays the reason — offensive content, duplicate of a protected name, or another violation. You can then try a different combination without any cost or penalty.
Availability changes as people order plates, so a plate that was rejected six months ago might be available now if the previous holder let it expire. The checker always shows the current status.
Ordering online versus ordering in person
Ordering online through the Secretary of State website is faster and requires no trip to a branch office. You create an account, check availability, pay the $85 fee by credit or debit card, and submit your order. The state then mails your plate to the address on your vehicle registration.
Ordering in person at a Secretary of State branch office takes longer but lets you handle everything in one visit if you are also renewing your registration or handling other vehicle business. You will still wait for the plate to be mailed to you — the branch cannot issue it on the spot. Payment in person can be made by cash, check, credit card, or debit card.
Both routes require the same information: your vehicle identification number (VIN), current license plate number, and the address on your registration. If you have a lien on your vehicle, some lenders require written permission before you can order a personalized plate, so check with them first.
What happens if your desired plate is rejected
If the Secretary of State rejects your plate request, you will receive a letter or email explaining the reason. You can then submit a new request with a different character combination at no additional cost. There is no limit to how many times you can resubmit.
Some rejections are permanent — for example, if your plate matches a protected trademark or government seal, no variation of it will be approved. Other rejections are specific to that exact combination, so changing even one letter might make it acceptable. The rejection notice will clarify which type applies to your request.
If you disagree with a rejection, you can contact the Secretary of State's office directly to ask for reconsideration, though the office rarely overturns decisions on offensive content or trademark conflicts. Requests for reconsideration should be made in writing and include your reasoning.
Renewing or canceling a personalized plate
When your vehicle registration expires, your personalized plate renews automatically if you renew your registration. The $50 renewal fee will be included in your registration renewal notice. You do not need to reorder or reapply — the state straightforward extends your plate for another two years.
If you want to cancel your personalized plate and return to a standard plate, you can do so at any time without penalty. Contact the Secretary of State's office or visit a branch office to request the change. You will receive a standard plate by mail, and your $85 initial fee is not refunded, but you will no longer pay the $50 renewal fee.
If your personalized plate is lost, stolen, or damaged, report it to the Secretary of State when ready. Replacement plates cost $10 to $15 depending on the reason, and you can order a replacement online or at a branch office.
Specialty personalized plates and what they offer
Michigan offers personalized versions of specialty plates that support causes or organizations — military service, conservation, universities, and professional associations. These plates combine your custom characters with a special design or message. The initial cost is the same ($85), but some specialty plates have an additional annual donation component that goes to the organization.
For example, a military specialty plate might include a $5 annual donation to a veterans organization, or a conservation plate might include a donation to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. These donations are optional in some cases and required in others, depending on the plate type.
You check availability and order specialty personalized plates the same way you would a standard personalized plate — through the Secretary of State website or at a branch office. The character limits and rejection rules are identical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my personalized plate to a different vehicle?
Yes. You can transfer a personalized plate to another vehicle you own by contacting the Secretary of State or visiting a branch office. There is a transfer fee (usually around $10 to $15), and the plate must be registered to you. The transfer takes about one to two weeks.
What if someone else has the same personalized plate in another state?
Each state manages its own personalized plates independently, so the same character combination can exist in Michigan and Ohio, for example. Michigan does not check other states' plates when approving yours. Your plate is unique only within Michigan.
Do personalized plates cost more to insure?
No. Insurance companies do not charge more for a personalized plate. The plate itself has no effect on your insurance rate or coverage. The only additional cost is the $85 initial fee and $50 renewal fee to the state.
Can I use numbers and letters together on a personalized plate?
Yes. You can mix letters and numbers in any order within your 1 to 6 character limit. For example, A1B2C3 or 123ABC are both valid. Spaces and special characters like hyphens are not allowed.
How long does it take to get a personalized plate after I order?
Two to three weeks from the date your order is approved. The state mails the plate to your registration address. You continue using your current plate during this time. If you do not receive your plate within four weeks, contact the Secretary of State's office to check the status.