License Plate options in Missouri allow vehicle owners to personalize their cars with approved letters, numbers, and combinations that reflect their interests or preferences. Personalized plates, often called vanity plates, follow state rules for character limits, availability, fees, and acceptable messages. Applicants can review Missouri Department of Revenue requirements before submitting a request for a custom plate. Knowing how the application process works can help drivers select an appropriate combination, check relevant costs, and prepare the information needed for a personalized vehicle registration.
License Plate personalization gives Missouri motorists an option to choose a custom message instead of using a standard assigned number. Vanity plate requests must comply with state restrictions, and certain combinations may be rejected for offensive language, inappropriate references, or other prohibited content. Drivers can review eligibility rules, application details, renewal requirements, and fees before requesting their preferred plate. This resource covers Missouri personalized plate options, message restrictions, application procedures, and related registration details to help vehicle owners prepare for the process and avoid common application mistakes.
How to Apply for Missouri Personalized License Plates
Applying for Missouri custom license plates involves selecting an eligible plate design, checking the availability of your preferred characters, and submitting the correct application or online reservation. The process for Missouri license plates depends on whether you want a regular personalized plate, a specialty design, a military plate, or a historic registration. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) provides separate forms and instructions for these categories.
Which Application Form Do You Need?
Choose the application that matches the plate you want:
- Form 1716 — Application for Missouri Personalized and Special License Plates: https://dor.mo.gov/forms/1716.pdf. Used for regular personalized plates and many specialty plate applications.
- Form 4601 — Application for Missouri Military Personalized License Plates: https://dor.mo.gov/forms/4601.pdf. Used for eligible military and personalized military plates.
- Form 570 — Application for Missouri Historic or Personalized Historic License Plates: https://dor.mo.gov/forms/570.pdf. Used for qualifying historic and personalized historic plates.
The correct form depends on the plate category and its eligibility requirements. Some specialty designs require an Emblem Use Authorization Statement (EUAS) or proof of membership. Military plates may require documentation of honorable discharge, active-duty status, or a qualifying award. Review the official DOR personalized and specialty plate information before applying.
- official DOR personalized and specialty plate information:
- https://dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/plates/personalized-specialty.html
How to Complete Form 1716
Form 1716 asks for information that identifies the owner, vehicle, requested plate, and pickup location. Complete the fields carefully:
- Owner information: Enter the owner’s name exactly as it appears on the vehicle title, along with the current address and daytime telephone number.
- Current plate information: Provide the existing plate number when applicable.
- Vehicle details: Select the appropriate vehicle category and enter the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN).
- Plate design: Select the desired specialty or personalized plate category.
- Configuration choices: List multiple character combinations in preference order and explain what each requested configuration represents.
- Pickup location: Identify the Missouri license office where the plates should be collected.
- Certification and signature: Review the application and sign it to certify that the information is accurate.
Can You Apply Online or at a License Office?
Yes, eligible applicants can use the DOR’s Personalize and Reserve online service. Online reservation is available for regular personalized plates and certain listed specialty designs. Other specialty, military, disabled, and historic categories may require a separate application or supporting documentation. Check the instructions for your selected design before starting.
What Happens After Submitting the Application?
The DOR reviews the requested configuration and any required authorization or eligibility documents. If the configuration is available and approved, the plates are ordered. The department states that processing may take six to eight weeks and sends a notification when the plates are ready for pickup at the designated license office. Form 1716 plates are not mailed directly to the applicant. Additional registration or plate-transfer charges may apply when the plates are assigned to the vehicle.
Types of Missouri Custom License Plates Available
Missouri custom plates give eligible vehicle owners options to personalize their registration while following state requirements. Available choices include regular personalized plates, specialty designs with custom messages, and configurations for certain vehicle categories. Character limits, eligibility rules, and documentation depend on the selected plate design and vehicle type.
Regular Personalized License Plates
Regular Missouri custom license plates allow drivers to request a personalized combination of permitted letters and numbers on an eligible standard plate design. Missouri vanity plates must follow the Department of Revenue’s character limits and content restrictions. Each requested configuration is subject to availability and state approval. Check the official Personalize and Reserve Plates page for current requirements.
Personalized Specialty Plates
Some approved specialty backgrounds support personalized messages. These Missouri personalized plates combine a custom configuration with artwork associated with a college, organization, military service, charitable cause, or another approved interest. Availability depends on the specific specialty plate. Certain designs may require supporting documents, sponsor authorization, or proof of eligibility before issuance.
Personalized Motorcycle and Other Vehicle Plates
Personalization options can differ for motorcycles, motortricycles, autocycles, and other vehicle categories. The physical plate format and permitted character count may vary by registration type and design. Before selecting a configuration, review the applicable requirements for your vehicle. Visit the official Missouri DOR license plate information page for category-specific information.
Emblem and Wheelchair-Symbol Plates
Certain Missouri specialty plates feature an emblem or wheelchair symbol. These design elements can affect the space available for personalized characters and may change the permitted configuration. Disability-related plates can also have separate eligibility and documentation requirements. Review the relevant specialty plate information before applying, particularly if you need a plate connected with disability status or another qualifying category.
Plate Character Limits and Rules
A Missouri personalized license plate lets eligible vehicle owners request a custom combination of letters, numbers, and permitted separators. The maximum character limit depends on the plate format and whether the design includes an emblem or wheelchair symbol. Before applying for a Missouri vanity plate, check the current Department of Revenue (DOR) rules and use the official Personalize and Reserve Plates service to review available configurations.
How Many Characters Can a Missouri Vanity Plate Have?
The DOR’s published rules provide different limits for different plate configurations. Examples include:
| Plate configuration | Maximum permitted configuration |
|---|---|
| Regular personalized plate without an emblem or wheelchair symbol | Up to 6 characters, with one optional permitted separator |
| Plate with an emblem or wheelchair symbol | Up to 6 characters, or 5 characters plus one permitted separator |
| Plate with both an emblem and wheelchair symbol | Up to 4 characters, or 3 characters plus one permitted separator |
| Motorcycle or cycle plate | Separate limits apply; check the current rules for the selected design |
Are Spaces, Dashes, and Apostrophes Allowed?
Missouri permits certain separators in eligible personalized plate configurations. Examples shown in the official reservation-system guidance include STEVE'S, COOL-SS, and RED CAR. These illustrate the use of an apostrophe, dash, and space. The permitted separator rules depend on the plate configuration. A separator may count toward the maximum configuration, and multiple separators or combinations that violate DOR restrictions may be rejected. Check the official plate reservation system for the current instructions instead of assuming that every punctuation mark or arrangement is allowed.
How Should You Choose a Valid Configuration?
Prepare several possible combinations before applying. Keep each option within the limit for your selected plate, check spelling, and choose letters and numbers that are easy to read. Avoid wording that could be interpreted as offensive, misleading, or otherwise prohibited under Missouri’s rules. Check availability through the official DOR system. An available combination is not guaranteed approval, since the department may review the requested wording and configuration before issuing the plate.
License Plate Fees and Costs
Missouri personalized plates have separate charges for selecting a custom plate number and registering a vehicle. The total cost depends on the plate category, vehicle registration period, and any related title or transfer charges. Reviewing each fee separately helps motorists estimate the cost of Missouri custom plates before submitting an application or renewing an existing registration.
| Fee Type | Exact Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard personalized plate application fee | $15 |
| Personalized plate renewal reservation fee | $15 per year |
| Personalized historic plate fee | $15 |
| Historic plate registration fee | $25.25 (one-time) |
| Historic plate processing fee | $9 |
| Personalized historic renewal fee | $15 per year |
| Historic plate renewal processing fee | $9 per renewal |
Missouri Vanity Plate Rules and Reasons for Rejection
Missouri vanity plates allow motorists to display a personalized combination of letters and numbers on their vehicles. Each requested combination must comply with Missouri laws and Department of Revenue requirements before approval. Missouri personalized license plates may be rejected for prohibited messages, offensive wording, or numbering restrictions. Checking the state’s rules before submitting an application can help applicants select an acceptable configuration and avoid delays or the need to submit a new request.
Which personalized messages are prohibited?
Missouri vanity plates must comply with state laws and Department of Revenue (DOR) requirements. Under Missouri Revised Statutes § 301.144, personalized license plate configurations may be rejected if they are considered obscene, profane, patently offensive, contemptuous of racial or ethnic groups, offensive to good taste or decency, or a source of unreasonable danger to health or safety. The state’s numbering system may impose further restrictions on available combinations. A Missouri vanity plate must meet these requirements before approval.
Why might a plate be rejected even if available?
An available combination is not necessarily an approved combination. An initial search may show that a requested number or message is unassigned, yet the DOR can reject it during administrative review. Missouri personalized license plates are subject to content restrictions and applicable numbering rules. Availability confirms that a configuration may be unassigned; it does not guarantee final approval. Applicants should check the current state requirements before submitting payment.
What should you do if your application is rejected?
Review the rejection notice and the reason provided by the DOR. If the requested message does not meet state requirements, choose a different combination that complies with the rules. Follow the department’s instructions for submitting a revised application and check whether any refund applies to the rejected request. For current requirements, consult Missouri Revised Statutes § 301.144 and the official DOR personalized and specialty plate information.
How Long Do Missouri Personalized Plates Take?
Missouri personalized plates require time for application review, manufacturing, and delivery to the designated license office. The Missouri Department of Revenue estimates that personalized plate orders may take approximately six to eight weeks. Actual processing time can vary based on order status and production schedules. Checking your order status and waiting for the official pickup notification can help you plan when to collect your Missouri personalized license plates.
Processing and manufacturing time
As of October 2026, the Missouri Department of Revenue estimates that personalized plate orders may take six to eight weeks to process after the plates are ordered. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed delivery date. Applicants should allow time for administrative review, manufacturing, and delivery to the selected license office.
Where do you pick up your plates?
Approved Missouri personalized license plates are delivered to the designated Missouri license office for pickup. The DOR sends a notification when the plates are ready. Bring the required documents and be prepared to pay any applicable plate-transfer or registration charges. The personalization reservation itself does not serve as a valid vehicle registration.
How do you check an existing order?
Applicants who submitted a personalized plate request more than three weeks ago can use the official Missouri personalized plate order-status facility. This service checks an existing order; the separate availability tool checks whether a requested combination can be reserved.
Renewing and Keeping Missouri Personalized License Plates
Missouri personalized plates require timely renewal to retain an approved letter and number combination. Owners must follow the Missouri Department of Revenue’s renewal procedures and pay the applicable personalization and vehicle registration fees. Renewal requirements may vary by plate category, and missed deadlines can affect the reservation of an existing configuration. Checking renewal dates, payment requirements, and transfer rules helps motorists keep their Missouri personalized license plates in good standing and avoid unnecessary application steps.
How do you renew personalized plates?
Missouri personalized plates require renewal payments to retain the selected configuration. The DOR lists a $15 reservation fee for each renewal year, separate from regular vehicle registration fees. Standard personalized plates can be renewed online through the DOR system. Specialty plate renewal methods may vary by category.
Can someone else obtain your configuration?
Timely renewal helps retain a personalized configuration in your name. Missouri Form 1716 states that personalized plates must be renewed within 60 days of expiration to keep the configuration held for the applicant. Failing to meet the applicable renewal requirements may affect retention, so check the current DOR rules before the expiration date.
Can you change or transfer a personalized plate?
Changes to a requested configuration may require a new reservation or application. Transferring personalized plates to a vehicle involves the relevant registration requirements and applicable fees. Check the official Missouri personalized plate information or contact the DOR for instructions that apply to your plate category and vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Missouri personalized license plates raise common questions about application requirements, character limits, fees, renewal, and approval. These frequently asked questions cover the key details motorists need to check before requesting Missouri vanity plates. Official Missouri Department of Revenue resources provide current information on plate availability, application forms, payment requirements, and state rules for personalized plate combinations.
How do I get a personalized license plate in Missouri?
To get a personalized license plate in Missouri, start with the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) Personalize & Reserve system to check your preferred combination. Follow the instructions for reserving the configuration or submitting the required application for your plate category. Some specialty plates may require additional documentation or a separate application. Final approval depends on state requirements and the requested combination.
How do I check Missouri personalized license plate availability?
Use the official Missouri DOR Personalize & Reserve system to check whether your preferred letters and numbers are available. Enter the proposed configuration according to the system’s instructions. An available result does not guarantee approval, since the DOR reviews requests for compliance with state laws, content restrictions, and numbering rules before issuing personalized plates.
How many characters can a Missouri vanity plate have?
Missouri vanity plate character limits depend on the plate category and design. Many standard personalized configurations allow up to six characters, though some specialty plates, vehicle types, and designs containing symbols may have different limits. Spaces and other permitted characters can affect the available combination. Check the DOR’s current requirements for your chosen plate before submitting a reservation.
How much do Missouri personalized license plates cost?
The Missouri DOR lists a $15 application fee for standard personalized plates and certain personalized specialty categories, plus a separate $15 reservation fee for each renewal year under its published personalized plate information. Vehicle registration, title, plate-transfer, and specialty plate charges may apply separately. The final cost depends on the vehicle and plate category. Check the current official DOR fee information before paying.
What is Form 1716 used for?
Missouri Form 1716 is the application for personalized and special license plates. Applicants use it to request eligible personalized configurations and applicable specialty plate options according to the form’s instructions. Some plate categories have separate application forms or additional eligibility requirements. Review the current form and its instructions on the Missouri DOR website to identify the correct paperwork for your requested plate.