Types of Special License Plates in Wisconsin

SUMMARY: Wisconsin Specialty License Plates

Wisconsin vehicle owners can choose from many types of special license plates. Personalized license plates are available, along with plates for WI charities and universities. You can order military plates if you're eligible, as well as historic plates for qualifying vehicles.

Read below for details about types of special license plates available from the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

NOTES:

Personalized Plates in Wisconsin

Personalized license plates are offered for most types of vehicles in Wisconsin.

You can have a custom tag combination of letters and numbers 1 to 7 characters on personalized tags (1 to 5 characters on motorcycle plates). Note that:

  • The letter “O" is always replaced with the number “0".
  • All letters are capital letters.

Personalized license plate numbers CANNOT contain:

  • Symbols.
  • Punctuation.
  • Spaces.
  • Vulgar or obscene language.

To ensure your particular combination is available, you can look up license plate availability using the WI DMV online Personalized Plate Search.

The fees for a personalized license plate are:

For application information, see our Applying for Special License Plates page.

Organizational License Plates

The Wisconsin DMV offers organizational license plates in various categories, including:

  • Charity and non-profit plates.
  • Marquette University plates.
  • Sports license plates.
  • Emergency personnel tags.

Charity & Non-Profit License Plates

Charity license plates help raise money for charitable and non-profit organizations, including service groups.

Charity plates offered by the WI DMV include tags for:

  • Celebrate Children.
  • Donate Life.
  • Lions Foundation.
  • Wisconsin Salutes Veterans.

A complete list of plates is available on the WI DMV website.

You'll pay a fee for charity plates IN ADDITION to standard registration and renewal fees. Fees may vary by license plate.

Typical examples of charity plate fees:

  • Celebrate Children plate:
    • $15 initial plate fee.
    • $25 donation, paid annually (plus the $15 plate fee if it is personalized). (The donation benefits the Celebrate Children Foundation.)
  • Lions Foundation plate:
    • $15 initial plate fee.
    • $25 donation, paid annually plus the $15 plate fee paid each year. (The donation goes to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation, Inc.)

You can personalize a charity plate for an additional fee.

For application information, visit our Applying for Special License Plates in WI page.

WI University Plates

In Wisconsin, you can order plates representing the:

  • University of Wisconsin (UW) schools, including:
    • UW Eau Claire.
    • UW Green Bay.
    • UW Milwaukee.
    • All other UW locations.
  • Marquette University.

Fees for collegiate plates are charged IN ADDITION to standard registration fees and renewal fees.

The fees for a UW license plate are:

  • Donation: $20 annually.
    AND
  • Issuance fee: $15.

The fee for a Marquette plate is $15.

You can personalize your plate for additional fees.

See Applying for Special License Plates for application instructions.

Sports Team Plates

A few special license plates are available for Wisconsin professional sports teams.

Sports plates have special fees IN ADDITION to regular registration and renewal fees. A portion of the fees benefits the organizations that maintain the teams' playing fields.

  • Milwaukee Brewers plate:
    • $15 to issue the plate.
    • $15 donation made annually.
  • Green Bay Packers plate:
    • $15 to have the plate issued.
    • $25 donation paid annually.

You can personalize sports license plates for added fees.

Visit Applying for Special License Plates in Wisconsin to learn about the application process.

Emergency Responder Plates

Emergency responder plates are available for the following plate fees IN ADDITION to vehicle registration fees:

  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): $15.
  • Firefighter: $15.
  • Rescue Squad Member: $15.

You can personalize emergency responder plates for additional fees.

You must have proof of employment as an EMT, firefighter, or rescue squad member to get the applicable license plate.

WI Military Plates

License plates are available from the WI Division of Motor Vehicles for all branches of the U.S. military.

Military decal plates have a decal and verbal description of your service. Decals are available for:

  • Veterans, retirees, and current service members.
  • Military academy students and alumni.
  • Combat recognition, for example:
    • Afghanistan War Veteran.
    • Somalia War Veteran.
  • Military honors, including:
    • Army Distinguished Service Medal.
    • Soldier's Medal.

Other military license plates are available for:

  • Ex-Prisoners of War.
  • Lao Veterans.
  • Medal of Honor recipients.
  • National Guard members and retirees.

For a complete list of available military plates, visit the Wisconsin DMV website.

To be eligible for a Wisconsin military license plate, you must provide proof of the service, combat experience, or honor designated by the plate. Typical proof of eligibility includes:

  • Discharge papers.
  • Military ID.
  • Certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Fees for Wisconsin military plates vary, for example:

Most military plates can be personalized for additional fees.

If you're ready to apply, visit our Applying for Special License Plates page.

Collector & Historic Vehicle Plates

License plates for historic and collector vehicles are available from the Wisconsin DMV. Your vehicle must meet the DMV's requirements for the specific plate you want.

Antique Vehicle Plates

Antique vehicle plates are for vehicles:

  • Made in 1945 or earlier.
  • NOT modified or altered.
    AND
  • Operated only for special events, vehicle maintenance, or test drives.

The fee for antique plates is $5. It is valid for as long as you own the vehicle.

The WI DMV also offers historic military vehicle plates. See the DMV website for more details.

Collector License Plates

Collector license plates are available if:

  • Your vehicle is at least 20 years old AND has an unaltered body.
    AND
  • You have at least 1 vehicle titled and registered in Wisconsin in your name IN ADDITION to your collector vehicle.

NOTE: You can get a Collector special plate for your regular vehicle if you register a collector vehicle.

The collector plate fee is based on the vehicle type and weight.

See the WI DMV website for exact fees, prohibited alterations, and special case vehicles that are also eligible for collector plates.

Hobbyist License Plates

Hobbyist plates are available for several types of vehicles, including:

  • Street modified vehicles, also called as “street rods" or “hot rods," at least 20 years old based on model year.
  • Vehicles designed to look like a vehicle model that is 20 years old or older.
  • Vehicles rebuilt from vehicles at least 20 years old based on model year.
    • It CANNOT look like the original vehicle.
  • Homemade vehicles, except motorcycles.
    • Homemade motorcycles are eligible IF they are designed to look like a motorcycle model 20 years old or older.

Hobbyist plate fees vary by vehicle and are available on the WI DMV website.

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