Registration Plate Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does PennDOT issue vintage registration plates?
2. How do I know if the vintage registration plate I have can be issued to my antique or classic vehicle?
3. Does the fee for antique or classic registration cover my vintage plate fee?
4. How do I obtain a Persons with Disability registration plate?
5. How do I apply for a replacement of a lost, stolen or defaced replacement plate?
8. What types of registration plates are available and how much do they cost?
1. Does PennDOT issue vintage registration plates?
No. The applicant is responsible for obtaining the vintage registration plate they wish to display on their antique or classic vehicle.
2. How do I know if the vintage registration plate I have can be issued to my antique or classic vehicle?
PennDOT recommends that applicants verify if the configuration of the vintage plate can be issued by checking the configuration on PennDOT's website. The customer can check the plate availability with the Personalized Registration Plate Availability tool. Checking the plate availability does not approve your configuration. It is only used as a tool to identify whether another registration plate with the same configuration is in use.
3. Does the fee for antique or classic registration cover my vintage plate fee?
No. These are two separate fees. Please refer to Form MV-70S, “Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees,” for required fee(s).
4. How do I obtain a Persons with Disability registration plate?
To obtain a Persons with Disability registration plate, you will need to submit Form MV-145 "Application for Person with Disability, Hearing Impaired, Disabled Veteran, or Severely Disabled Veteran Registration Plate or Person with Disability or Severely Disabled Veteran Motorcycle Plate Decal." Like the "Person with Disability Parking Placard Application" (Form MV-145A), this form must be completed by a Health Care Provider licensed in Pennsylvania or a contiguous state (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia or Ohio) or a police officer.
NOTE: Health Care Providers may only certify disabilities within their scope of practice.
5. How do I obtain a replacement plate?
To replace a lost, stolen or defaced registration plate that is damaged, but not beyond recognition, complete and submit MV-44, “Application for Duplicate Registration Card or Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Defaced Registration Plate,” along with a photograph or tracing of the registration plate for identification purposes. There is a fee to replace a standard issue or specialty registration plate. If your registration plate is a personalized registration plate, it will be replaced with the same configuration. If your personalized registration plate was lost or stolen, we will replace it with the same style of registration plate, however, customers will be required to select a new configuration. The registration plate will be produced with the new configuration if it is available. Please make sure to indicate that you are replacing a defaced personalized registration plate on the front of the MV-44. If an immediate replacement registration plate is needed while waiting for your replacement personalized registration plate, please complete and submit a second Form MV-44, and the replacement registration plate fee. For a complete listing of motor vehicle fees, please refer to Form MV-70S, “Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees.”
To apply for a free registration plate, due to the current plate being illegible, the vehicle owner should take Form MV-46, "Application to Replace and Illegible Registration Plate," to any official Pennsylvania inspection station for verification that their registration plate is illegible OR have a law enforcement official verify the need for a replacement registration plate on Form MV-46. The vehicle owner is then responsible for signing and returning the completed Form MV-46 to PennDOT in order to receive a replacement registration plate free of charge. Your registration plate will be replaced with the next registration pate in the series and with the same style of registration plate you are replacing. If your registration plate is currently personalized, PennDOT will replace it with the same style and configuration as the registration plate that you are replacing. If replacing your personalized registration plate, please attach a photograph or tracing of the registration plate for identification purposes. If an immediate replacement registration plate is needed while waiting for your illegible personalized registration plate, please complete and submit Form MV-44, "Application for Duplicate Registration Card or Replacement f Lost Stolen or Defaced Registration Plate," and the replacement registration fee. A standard issue registration plate will be issued until the replacement personalized registration plate can be provided. For a complete listing of motor vehicle fees, please refer to Form MV-70S, "Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees."
To apply for a never received product, the vehicle owner should complete Form MV-50, "Application for Replacement of a Never Received Product." By law, customers are entitled to a free reissuance of a product they never received if an application for a never received product is submitted within 90 days of the original issuance date. If a customer submits the application outside of the 90 days, the customer must submit the required fee for each never received registration card requested and the required fee for each never received registration plate requested, along with the application. For a complete listing of motor vehicle fees, please refer to Form MV-70S, "Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees."
Please visit our Registration Plate page for additional information.
NOTE: Registration fees include the cost of a standard registration plate for first time issuance. Additional fees apply for specialty registration plates. Refer to Form MV-70S, “Bureau of Motor Vehicle Fees,” for additional fee information.