Alabama Vanity Plate Rules & Restrictions
Everything you need to know about what's allowed (and what's not) on Alabamapersonalized license plates.
Alabama Plate Requirements at a Glance
Maximum Characters
7
Minimum Characters
2
Allowed Characters
Letters, numbers, and spaces
Alabama Specific Rules
- Maximum 7 characters including spaces
- Letters, numbers, and spaces allowed
- No special characters or symbols permitted
- $50 annual fee plus $5 one-time issuance fee
- Reservations valid for 5 business days only
- Must redeem at your county licensing office
- Cannot duplicate existing plate combinations
- Subject to approval - offensive content rejected
What Will Get Your Application Rejected
Alabama DOR reviews all vanity plate applications. Here's what will definitely get rejected:
Alabama Prohibited Content
- Profanity or vulgar language
- Racial slurs or hate speech
- Sexual references or innuendo
- Drug or alcohol references
- Gang-related terms
- Combinations that impersonate government vehicles
Tips to Get Your Plate Approved
Keep it simple and clear
Plates that are easy to read are more likely to be approved.
Avoid creative spellings of banned words
Reviewers know all the tricks. "A55" isn't fooling anyone.
Have backup options ready
Your first choice might be taken. Prepare 2-3 alternatives.
Check availability first
Use our checker to verify your plate is available before applying.
What If My Application Is Rejected?
If Alabama DOR rejects your application, you typically can:
- 1.Submit a different plate combination at no additional fee
- 2.Request a refund of your application fee
- 3.In some cases, appeal the decision with an explanation
Contact Alabama DOR directly for their specific appeal process.
Ready to Check Your Plate?
Make sure your dream plate is available in Alabama before applying.
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