What Missouri custom plates cost and how long they take

Missouri custom license plates cost $101 for the first year, then $51 for each renewal. This is on top of your regular vehicle registration fee. The initial order takes roughly four to six weeks from the time the Department of Revenue approves your design. You'll receive your plates by mail once they're manufactured.

The $101 fee covers the design review, manufacturing, and shipping of your personalized plates. If you're renewing an existing custom plate, you pay the $51 renewal fee during your normal registration renewal cycle. Both fees are non-refundable once the Department of Revenue has processed your order.

Key Takeaways

  • Missouri custom plates cost $101 for the first year and $51 for renewals, paid in addition to standard registration fees.
  • You can order through the Missouri Department of Revenue website using their online system, or by mail if you prefer a paper process.
  • Your chosen characters must be between 2 and 7 characters long and cannot contain spaces, though you can use numbers and some symbols.
  • The Department of Revenue reviews all requests and rejects plates with offensive language, references to illegal activity, or content that impersonates government agencies.
  • Custom plates renew on the same schedule as your vehicle registration, and you'll need to pay the renewal fee each time.

Ordering online through the Missouri Department of Revenue

The fastest way to order a custom plate is through the Missouri Department of Revenue's online system at dor.mo.gov. Go to the vehicle registration section and look for the custom plate ordering tool. You'll enter your desired characters, and the system will when ready tell you whether that combination is available. If it's taken, you can try different options right away.

Once you find an available combination, you'll need your vehicle identification number (VIN), current registration number, and a payment method. The system accepts credit and debit cards. After you submit your order and payment, the Department of Revenue reviews your request—usually within a few business days—and either approves it or contacts you if there's an issue with your character choice.

Character rules and what gets rejected

Your custom plate can be 2 to 7 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and certain symbols like hyphens and asterisks. You cannot use spaces. The Department of Revenue does not allow plates that contain profanity, slurs, references to illegal drugs or activities, or anything that could impersonate a government agency or law enforcement vehicle.

Requests are also rejected if they're sexually explicit, promote discrimination, or reference hate groups. The review process is subjective, and what one reviewer approves another might not. If your request is denied, the Department of Revenue will explain why and you can resubmit with a different character combination. There's no additional fee to resubmit.

Ordering by mail if you don't want to use the website

You can still order a custom plate by mail using Form DOR 108, available on the Missouri Department of Revenue website. Print the form, fill in your vehicle information and desired plate characters, and mail it along with a check or money order for $101 to the address listed on the form. Include your current registration card or a copy of it.

Mail orders take longer than online orders—typically six to eight weeks total, including processing time and manufacturing. You won't know whether your character choice is available until the Department of Revenue receives and reviews your form. If your request is denied, they'll contact you by mail and you'll need to submit a new form with a different choice.

What happens when your custom plate expires

Custom plates renew on the same date as your vehicle registration. When renewal time comes, you'll receive a notice from the Missouri Department of Revenue. You can renew your custom plate by paying the $51 renewal fee along with your standard registration renewal. If you renew online, the custom plate renewal is part of the same transaction.

If you decide you no longer want a custom plate, you don't have to renew it. You can switch back to a standard Missouri plate at renewal time by straightforward not selecting the custom plate option. Once your custom plate expires and you don't renew it, that character combination becomes available for someone else to order.

Transferring a custom plate to a different vehicle

You can transfer an active custom plate from one vehicle to another without losing the character combination. Contact the Missouri Department of Revenue with your current registration information and the VIN of the vehicle you want to transfer the plate to. There is no additional fee for the transfer itself, but you'll still pay your regular registration fee for the new vehicle.

The transfer process takes a few business days. Your old vehicle will need a standard plate assigned to it, which the Department of Revenue handles automatically. Make sure the new vehicle is registered in Missouri before you request the transfer, or the system won't process it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check if my desired plate characters are available before I pay?

Yes. The online ordering system at dor.mo.gov lets you search for any character combination and see when ready whether it's available. You don't pay anything until you confirm your order. If you're ordering by mail, you won't know availability until the Department of Revenue processes your form.

What if the Department of Revenue rejects my custom plate request?

They'll contact you by phone, email, or mail (depending on how you ordered) and explain why. You can submit a new request with different characters at no additional cost. There's no limit to how many times you can resubmit.

Do I need a custom plate inspection or safety check?

No. Custom plates are standard Missouri license plates with your chosen characters instead of the random combination. They meet all the same legal requirements and don't require any special inspection or documentation beyond your normal registration.

Can I order a custom plate for a motorcycle or trailer?

Yes. Missouri offers custom plates for most vehicle types, including motorcycles, trailers, and commercial vehicles. The ordering process is the same, and the fees are identical. Check the Department of Revenue website to confirm your specific vehicle type is may be able to access.

What if someone else already has the plate I want?

If the character combination is taken, the system will tell you it's unavailable and you'll need to choose a different one. You can't reserve a plate or get on a waitlist. Your only option is to pick a different character combination.