Personalized license plates are a popular addition to your vehicle to make it your own. They offer a little extra detail that can:
- Give others a snapshot of what’s important to you
- Set your car apart in the parking lot
- Show pride in your vehicle
Personalized plates in Georgia are known as Special License Plates or Prestige License Plates. You can order license plates for your vehicle that have significant importance to you, such as:
- A combination of numbers or letters with personal meaning
- A nickname
- A phonetic phrase
- Your car’s model
- Your initials
Whatever you’d like to put on your license plate, the process is the same in Georgia.
Part 1 of 3: Decide on your personalized license plate combination
You can choose any combination of numbers or letters up to seven characters long for your license plate on your passenger vehicle, and up to six characters for a motorcycle plate. Spaces are included in the characters, and no special characters such as ampersands, slashes, or brackets are allowed.
Step 1: Decide on your combination of letters and numbers. If you’re looking to purchase a personalized license plates, chances are good that you already have an idea of what you’d like on your license plate.
If it is a phrase, make sure it is phonetically accurate.
You can mix letters and numbers in any order.
- Note: Profane or obscene plate combinations are not allowed. Avoid any derogatory references of any kind including racial, gender, any combination of letters that sound like “HATE,” any “ANTI” inclusions, and sexual references. As a rule of thumb, if someone may be offended by your license plate, your application will be rejected.
Step 2: Choose two more combination alternatives. There is a chance your first choice of combination has already been taken or will not be approved.
Select two alternatives which can be related to your first choice or altogether different.
Part 2 of 3: Submit your application for Prestige License Plates
You need to submit a fully completed form to your local county tag office to apply for your prestige or personalized license plate.
Step 1: Obtain paperwork. Download and print form MV-9B from the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicles branch.
This is the only form accepted for an application for Prestige License Plates.
- Note: You can only submit a personalized plate application for one vehicle at a time with this form. If you want prestige plates for multiple vehicles, you will need to submit multiple applications.
Step 2: Fill personal info. Fill out your complete personal information as the vehicle registrant.
Include your full legal name, your physical address including ZIP code, and your phone number.
If there is a secondary owner on the title, you’ll need to include their information as well.
Step 3: Fill vehicle info. Fill out the vehicle information fields accurately.
Complete the VIN, or vehicle identification number field, with your 17-digit VIN number as found on your vehicle registration or on the dashboard of your car.
Write down your vehicle’s year, make, and model.
Step 4: Select license plate choices. Write in your three choices of license plate combinations on the templates on the form.
Supply the meaning of each phrase under it.
Step 5: Sign and date the form. Write your driver’s license number in the box on the bottom of the form, then sign the form and date it.
Step 6: Include the required payment with your application. There is a one-time fee of $35 for the plates to be manufactured.
Add another dollar if you wish to have the plates mailed to you.
Include a check or money order with your application.
Step 7: Submit your application at your local county Tax Commissioner’s office. You can find your local office by selecting your county on the dropdown box on the Motor Vehicle Division website, then click submit.
- Note: Personalized plates can’t be bought as souvenirs. They can only be issued to current residents of Georgia.
Part 3 of 3: Obtain your personalized license plates
You’ll be notified when your license plate is ready to be picked up, or you’ll receive it in the mail if you paid for that option. If your application was denied either because your plate combination was already taken or was deemed inappropriate, you will be notified.
- Note: The $35 manufacturing fee is non-refundable if you decide not to use your personalized or prestige license plate.
Step 1: Attend your local Tax Commissioner’s Tag Office once again. Take a visit to your local Tax Commissioner's Office once again.
Step 2: Register your new license plate to your vehicle. If you haven’t already done so, you’ll be required to pay your annual tag fee of $20 plus an additional annual prestige plate fee of $35.
Step 3: Install your plate. Install your personalized or prestige license plate on your vehicle in place of your current ordinary license plate.
After your application has been processed, you will be sent your new license plates, and your vehicle will have an extra bit of personalization. If you don’t feel comfortable installing your cool new license plates, you can have a mechanic do the job for you.
