Florida lets you design your own plate, but the process depends on which type you want
Florida offers two paths to a custom plate: a personalized plate with your choice of letters and numbers (up to 8 characters), or a specialty plate that supports a cause or organization. Personalized plates cost $25 more per year than a standard plate. Specialty plates vary in price — some cost the same as standard plates, others cost $15 to $25 extra annually. You order personalized plates through the Florida DMV website or by mail. Specialty plates go through the same channels but have different availability depending on which design you want.
The key difference: a personalized plate is yours to design right now. A specialty plate must exist as an approved design first — Florida has dozens available, but not every cause or organization has one. If you want a plate that supports a specific group and it does not exist yet, that organization would need to petition the state to create it, which takes time and is not something you can do alone.
Key Takeaways
- Personalized plates let you choose up to 8 characters and cost $25 more per year than a standard Florida plate.
- You can check if your desired character combination is available on the Florida DMV website before you pay.
- Specialty plates support causes like wildlife conservation or military service and cost $15 to $25 extra per year, depending on the design.
- Both personalized and specialty plates renew at the same time as your vehicle registration and cost the same amount each year you keep them.
How to order a personalized plate online or by mail
Start by visiting the Florida DMV website and using the plate search tool to check if your desired combination is available. You enter up to 8 characters — letters, numbers, or a mix. The system tells you when ready if someone already has it. If it is available, you can proceed to order it right there, or you can note the combination and order by mail later.
To order online, you need your vehicle registration number and a valid payment method. The $25 annual surcharge is added to your registration renewal fee. Your new plate arrives by mail within two to three weeks. If you prefer to order by mail, read the process from the DMV website, fill it out with your desired plate combination, and send it to the address listed on the form along with a check or money order for the surcharge.
If your desired combination is taken, the search tool shows you similar options — for example, if FLORIDA1 is taken, it might suggest FLORIDA2 or FLORID1A. You can keep searching until you find something you want, or you can try again another time in case someone lets their personalized plate expire.
Specialty plates and how to find one you want
Florida has over 100 specialty plate designs. These plates support organizations like the Audubon Society, the American Cancer Society, military branches, universities, and environmental causes. Each design has its own annual surcharge, usually $15 to $25 extra per year, though some cost the same as a standard plate.
You can browse all available specialty plates on the Florida DMV website, which shows you the design, the organization it supports, and the cost. Once you pick one, you order it the same way you would order a personalized plate — online through the DMV website or by mail. You still get to choose your character combination (up to 8 characters) on a specialty plate, so you can have a personalized specialty plate if you want.
If you want a specialty plate for an organization that does not have one yet, that organization would need to file a petition with the state legislature. This is not something you can do on your own, and it takes several years. Contact the organization directly if you want to know whether they are pursuing this.
What happens when you renew your registration
Your custom plate renews at the same time as your vehicle registration — every two years in Florida. The renewal notice you receive in the mail will show the $25 surcharge for a personalized plate or the specialty plate surcharge as a separate line item. You pay it along with your standard registration fee.
If you decide you no longer want your custom plate, you can switch back to a standard plate at your next renewal. You will not get a refund for the current year's surcharge, but you will not pay it again. If you want to keep your custom plate but switch to a different design, you can order a new one and the old one becomes available for someone else to use.
Character restrictions and what you cannot put on a plate
Florida allows letters A–Z and numbers 0–9 on personalized plates. You can use spaces, but they count toward your 8-character limit. You cannot use special characters like hyphens, apostrophes, or symbols. The DMV rejects combinations that are offensive, obscene, or that spell out words the state considers inappropriate — the search tool will tell you if your combination is rejected for this reason.
You also cannot duplicate a plate that already exists in Florida, even if it belongs to someone in another county. The search tool prevents this by showing you only combinations that are truly available statewide.
Cost breakdown and renewal timing
A personalized plate costs $25 extra per year on top of your standard registration fee. Specialty plates range from the same price as a standard plate to $25 extra per year, depending on which design you choose. These are annual costs — you pay them every time you renew your registration, not just once.
Your first custom plate order takes two to three weeks to arrive by mail. Renewals follow your normal registration renewal schedule. If you order a custom plate mid-year, it will still renew on your vehicle's standard renewal date, not on the date you ordered it.
Transferring a custom plate to a different vehicle
You can transfer a personalized or specialty plate from one vehicle to another as long as both vehicles are registered to you. You do this through the Florida DMV website or by visiting a local tax collector's office. There is no additional fee to transfer the plate itself, but you will need to update your vehicle registration for the new car.
If you sell your vehicle, the plate stays with you — it does not transfer to the new owner. You can keep it for your next vehicle or let it expire. If you let it expire without transferring it, it becomes available for someone else to order after a waiting period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check if a plate combination is available before I pay for it?
Yes. The Florida DMV website has a free search tool where you type in your desired combination and it tells you when ready if it is available. You do not have to pay or create an account to search. If it is available and you want to order it, you can proceed to payment at that point.
What if someone else orders the plate I want while I am deciding?
Personalized plates are first-come, first-served. If you search and see it is available, but wait several days to order, someone else could order it in the meantime. If that happens, you will see it marked as unavailable when you try to complete your order, and you can choose a different combination.
Do I have to renew my custom plate every year?
No. Custom plates renew on the same schedule as your vehicle registration — every two years in Florida. You pay the surcharge at each renewal. If you do not want to keep paying for it, you can switch back to a standard plate at your next renewal without penalty.
Can I order a custom plate for a vehicle that is not registered yet?
No. You need an active vehicle registration number to order a custom plate. If you just bought a vehicle, register it first through the Florida DMV, then order your custom plate using that registration number.
What if the specialty plate I want is out of stock?
Specialty plates are not produced in limited quantities — they are made to order. If a design is listed on the DMV website, you can order it. There is no waiting list or stock issue. The only reason a specialty plate might not be available is if the state discontinues it, which is rare.