New York Vanity Plate Rules & Restrictions
Everything you need to know about what's allowed (and what's not) on New Yorkpersonalized license plates.
New York Plate Requirements at a Glance
Maximum Characters
8
Minimum Characters
2
Allowed Characters
Letters, numbers, and @ symbol
New York Specific Rules
- Up to 8 characters for passenger vehicles
- 6 characters for motorcycles
- @ symbol represents the state silhouette
- Cannot start or end with @ symbol
- $60 initial personalization fee
- $31.25 annual renewal fee
- Cannot use spaces (use @ as separator)
- Subject to DMV approval
What Will Get Your Application Rejected
New York DMV reviews all vanity plate applications. Here's what will definitely get rejected:
New York Prohibited Content
- Profane or vulgar language
- Obscene content
- Racial slurs or discriminatory terms
- Drug references
- Gang-related terminology
- Government impersonation
- Misleading law enforcement references
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 New York DMV 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 New York DMV directly for their specific appeal process.
Ready to Check Your Plate?
Make sure your dream plate is available in New York before applying.
Check Availability Now