Ohio Vanity Plate Rules & Restrictions
Everything you need to know about what's allowed (and what's not) on Ohiopersonalized license plates.
Ohio Plate Requirements at a Glance
Maximum Characters
7
Minimum Characters
4
Allowed Characters
Letters, numbers, and spaces
Ohio Specific Rules
- 4-7 characters for passenger vehicles
- 5 characters maximum for motorcycles
- Letters, numbers, and spaces allowed
- No punctuation or special characters
- $50 annual personalization fee
- Specialty backgrounds have additional fees
- Subject to BMV approval
- Guest login available for checking
What Will Get Your Application Rejected
Ohio BMV reviews all vanity plate applications. Here's what will definitely get rejected:
Ohio Prohibited Content
- Profane or vulgar language
- Obscene content
- Racial slurs or discriminatory terms
- Drug references
- Gang-related terminology
- Government impersonation
- Misleading 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 Ohio BMV 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 Ohio BMV directly for their specific appeal process.
Ready to Check Your Plate?
Make sure your dream plate is available in Ohio before applying.
Check Availability Now