North Carolina Vanity Plate Rules & Restrictions
Everything you need to know about what's allowed (and what's not) on North Carolinapersonalized license plates.
North Carolina Plate Requirements at a Glance
Maximum Characters
8
Minimum Characters
2
Allowed Characters
Letters, numbers, and spaces
North Carolina Specific Rules
- Up to 8 characters for passenger vehicles
- Letters, numbers, and spaces allowed
- $30 annual personalization fee
- $3 transaction fee applies
- Order through myNCDMV portal
- Requires current NC vehicle registration
- Subject to DMV approval
- Specialty backgrounds have additional fees
What Will Get Your Application Rejected
North Carolina DMV reviews all vanity plate applications. Here's what will definitely get rejected:
North Carolina Prohibited Content
- Profane or vulgar language
- Obscene content
- Racial slurs or discriminatory terms
- Drug references
- Gang-related terminology
- Government impersonation
- Offensive combinations
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina DMV directly for their specific appeal process.
Ready to Check Your Plate?
Make sure your dream plate is available in North Carolina before applying.
Check Availability Now