Applying for Special Plates in Washington DC

SUMMARY: Applying for D.C. Specialty License Plates

In Washington D.C., you can apply for special plates by visiting a DMV office in person. Personalized plates can also be requested online. Special tag renewal is in conjunction with your registration renewal. You can replace lost, stolen, or damaged special plates. Additionally, you can transfer your valid special tags to another vehicle you own. Fees for special tags vary.

The Washington, D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers several types of special plates including veteran tags, organizational tags, and personalized tags. The application process primarily involves going to the DMV in person.

Continue reading to learn more about applying for special plates in Washington, D.C.

Applying for Special Tags in Washington D.C.

To apply for special tags in Washington, D.C., you must visit a D.C. DMV office with the following:

  • Valid ID.
  • Your current tags.
    • If you do not surrender your current tags, you will be held responsible for any tickets that may be associated with those tags.

Veteran Tags

To apply for Veteran license plates, take the following steps:

Organizational Tags

To apply for one of the various available organizational tags, bring the following to a D.C. DMV office:

  • Organizational Vehicle Tags application (Form OVT-P-002) completed by you AND an authorized member of the corresponding organization.
  • Valid ID.
  • Your current tags.
  • Payment for applicable fees.

Personalized Tags in Washington, D.C.

You can apply for personalized tags:

  • Online.
  • By mail.
  • In person.

Online

To request your personal plates online, visit the D.C. Personalized Tag Request Information page.

You can also use this service to check the availability of your desired plate combination before you complete an application.

In Person or By Mail

You can apply for personalized tags in person or by mail by submitting the following:

You can personally bring or mail the above to:

95 M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20024

Fees for D.C. Special Tags

The fees for special tags in Washington, D.C. are as follows:

  • Member Application tag fee (Organization plates): $100.
  • Organizational tag replacement: $25
  • Anacostia River Commemorative tags:
    • Application: $25.
    • Annual display fee: $10.
  • Veteran tags:
    • Application: $52.
    • Annual display fee: $26.
  • Personalized tags:
    • Application: $100.
    • Replacement: $25.

Renewing Special Plates in D.C.

Your special tag renewal will be part of your registration renewal. Most special tags will come with a renewal fee that is separate from your registration fees.

For more information about renewing your registration, visit our Registration Renewal in Washington, D.C. page.

Replacing & Transferring Special Plates

Replacing D.C. Specialty Plates

To replace your lost, stolen, or damaged special tags in Washington, D.C., bring the following to your local DMV office:

  • Your registration card.
  • Valid ID.
  • Any remaining tags.
  • A customer complaint number (if your plates were stolen).
    • To obtain this, you must first report your stolen plates with the police.

Transfer Special Tags in Washington, D.C.

You can transfer your special tags from one car to another IF you meet the following criteria:

  • You are the registered owner of both cars.
  • Your tags are current.

To complete a transfer of your tags, bring the following with you to a Department of Motor Vehicles office:

  • Current registration for the car from which the tags are being transferred.
  • Current title.
  • Valid vehicle inspection.
  • Valid proof of car insurance in D.C.
  • Valid driver's license.

Forms

OVT-P-002
Organizational Vehicle Tags
Use this form to apply for specialty vehicle tags for your D.C.-based nonprofit.
DMV-PTA-01
Personalized Tags Application
Apply for personalized tags for your vehicle or motorcycle from the D.C. DMV.
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