Florida Vanity Plate Rules & Restrictions

Everything you need to know about what's allowed (and what's not) on Floridapersonalized license plates.

Florida Plate Requirements at a Glance

Maximum Characters

7

Minimum Characters

2

Allowed Characters

Letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens

Florida Specific Rules

  • Maximum 7 characters including spaces
  • Letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens allowed
  • $43 initial fee
  • $15 annual renewal fee
  • Specialty plate backgrounds have additional fees
  • Cannot duplicate existing plates
  • Cannot be offensive or misleading
  • Spaces and hyphens count as characters
  • Must be easily readable
  • DHSMV reserves right to recall offensive plates

What Will Get Your Application Rejected

Florida DHSMV reviews all vanity plate applications. Here's what will definitely get rejected:

Florida Prohibited Content

  • Profane or vulgar language
  • Obscene or sexual content
  • Racial or ethnic slurs
  • Drug references
  • Gang-related terminology
  • Terms that impersonate law enforcement
  • Misleading government references
  • Combinations deemed offensive in any language

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 Florida DHSMV 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 Florida DHSMV directly for their specific appeal process.

Ready to Check Your Plate?

Make sure your dream plate is available in Florida before applying.

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More Florida Plate Resources