Skip to agency navigation
Skip to main content

Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Registration Stickers

    PennDOT no longer issues vehicle registration stickers. Effective 12/31/2016.

    Effective 12/31/16, PennDOT No Longer Issues Vehicle Registration Stickers

    Why did PennDOT stop issuing registration stickers?
    Elimination of registration stickers resulted in a significant cost savings for taxpayers. Act 89, which became law November 2013, provided for the elimination of vehicle registration stickers. The elimination of the registration sticker was evaluated as part of a Penn State research study, which concluded that eliminating the registration sticker has no impact on vehicle registration compliance.

    Removal of Registration Sticker Image
    Do I still have to register my vehicle?
    Yes. Act 89 merely eliminated the requirement to place a registration sticker on your license plate effective December 31, 2016. Customers are still required to maintain current vehicle registration, and must present a registration card to law enforcement when asked. A valid registration card is also still required when having a safety and/or emissions inspection completed

    How much money is saved by not issuing the stickers?
    The elimination of the registration sticker realized a cost savings to taxpayers of $1.1 million per year; plus an additional $2 million will be saved in mailing costs.

    How will law enforcement know my car is registered?

    Law enforcement agencies have electronic access to PennDOT’s database from their patrol vehicles, which allows them to verify if a vehicle registration is valid. In addition, many use license plate reader technology to efficiently validate registrations.

    Find out more about the Elimination of Registration Stickers with our Frequently Asked Questions