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Vanity Plate Check

SEE IF YOUR CUSTOM LICENSE PLATE IS AVAILABLE

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What Is a Vanity Plate?

A vanity license plate, also known as a personalized or custom plate, allows vehicle owners to display a unique combination of letters, numbers or symbols of their choice on their vehicle registration. Available in every U.S. state for an additional fee, vanity plates let drivers stand out on the road while adhering to DMV rules.

Who Uses Vanity Plates?

Personalized plates appeal to a wide range of car owners - small business owners use them for mobile advertising, car enthusiasts showcase their passion (like ‘LUV2DRV’), and sports fans showcase team loyalty. However, before ordering a custom plate, vehicle owners must register their car through their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Once registered, they can ask for a personalized plate if the combination they want is available.

Check Availability — Without the DMV

Thankfully, checking vanity plate availability no longer requires a visit to the DMV. Most state DMVs provide an online tool to search a license plate combination by entering your desired text. For a faster and more user-friendly experience, try GoodCar’s easy vanity plate lookup - it helps you see what’s available without the hassle.

What Else Can a License Plate Lookup Reveal?

While many people use custom license plate lookup tools to check the availability of a personalized plate, these tools can uncover a wealth of information about vehicles already on the road. When you search license plate numbers already in use, you get a comprehensive picture of the vehicle’s history. It becomes helpful if you plan to buy a used car in your state. It can spot title issues, hidden damages, liens, recalls and much more! Helping you avoid scams.

Here’s what a car plate lookup can reveal without exposing the owner’s personal details:

Title Status and Ownership History: Confirm if the car has a clean title, salvage title, or a lien, flagging vehicles that may have been written off, flooded, or rebuilt. You can also see how many times the car has changed owners.
Detailed Car Specs: Access automobile specs such as transmission type, engine type, OEM options, and exterior and interior features. This helps verify that the seller’s specification matches the actual car specs.
Accident and Damage History: Custom license plate lookups can uncover past collisions, flood damage, or structural damage reported to insurance or state authorities.
Recall and Safety Information: License plate searches allow you to see if there are any open recalls or safety campaigns issued by the manufacturer or NHTSA, ensuring that you’re not inheriting a car with unresolved safety defects.
Odometer Information: Gain access to odometer information, including last reported mileage, estimated mileage information, rollback alerts, and odometer replacement history, helping buyers detect fraud and avoid scams.
Market Value Estimates: Some services provide market-value data or trade-in estimates based on the vehicle's age, condition, and local pricing trends, helping you negotiate a fair deal.

Types of License Plates

Each U.S. state issues license plates with unique designs, serial formats, and eligibility rules. Therefore, no two states have the same design. From peculiar slogans to hidden county codes, each plate tells a story about where it’s from. Here are the main types of license plates you’ll encounter on American roads.

It is the default plate automatically issued when the vehicle is registered. The standard plate number features state-specific designs, serial formats, and color schemes. It includes symbols like Colorado’s Rocky Mountains or mottos, such as Delaware’s "The First State." The serial codes vary but are usually alphanumeric, such as California’s "1ABC234" or Alaska’s "ABC 123."

These allow vehicle owners to select a custom string of letters and/or numbers (subject to character limits and format rules) in place of the standard plate. Rules vary by state: most allow 6–8 characters, but Texas omits vowels and "Q" to avoid confusion. Some states forbid certain phrases—Ohio rejects "GONAKED" and "MAFIA1," while Florida has banned "PIMPALA."

Also called special-interest or organizational plates, these designs support universities, military branches, charities, sports teams, or cultural causes. Examples include:
  • Conservation: Florida’s "Save the Manatee" plates fund wildlife protection efforts.
  • Charity: Tennessee offers a Dolly Parton–themed plate supporting the Imagination Library for children.

Issued to businesses, government agencies, and organizations registering multiple vehicles. Fleet plates often share the same expiration month and bear distinctive prefixes or colors. For example, in Wisconsin, an organization registering up to 10 vehicles must display the word "FLEET" beneath the alphanumeric code.

Also known as trip permits or paper tags, temporary plates are short-term credentials—usually valid for 15–30 days—permitting unregistered or newly purchased vehicles to be driven legally while permanent plates are processed.

Regulations & Rejected Plate Examples

Each state DMV sets its standards, availability, and rules for obtaining plate numbers. Some states limit how many letters or characters you can use - usually between 6 to 8 - depending on the vehicle type and plate design. Others may require you to prove your affiliation with the organization before issuing specialty plates.

California

The DMV refuses any specialized number plates that may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency or plates that could be misleading. Plates such as "LORDCUZ" are rejected because of its association with a gang, while "WAD4U" is rejected for expressing hostility.

New York

The state denies requests for personalized number plates that are deemed obscene, lewd, or derogatory to a particular ethnicity or group of people. New York deems "GETLOST" to be rude.

How to Check If a Vanity Plate Is Available

Before heading to your state DMV office, you can check license plate availability across states using GoodCar’s personalized plate lookup tool. It’s fast, easy to use, and designed with a user friendly interface to make your search hassle-free.

How to use our tool:

Each state DMV sets its standards, availability, and rules for obtaining plate numbers. Some states limit how many letters or characters you can use - usually between 6 to 8 - depending on the vehicle type and plate design. Others may require you to prove your affiliation with the organization before issuing specialty plates.

1

Enter your License Plate:

Go to GoodCar’s vanity plate checker and type your preferred license plate combination. Choose your state from the dropdown menu and hit the search button.
2

Review the Result:

If the plate is not in use, the tool will display ‘Available.’ If it’s already in use, you’ll see information about the current registration -such as vehicle type, registration date, make, and full ownership history. Should the plates be prohibited by state regulations, it will be labeled ‘Blocked’ and cannot be selected.

If your preferred plate combination is unavailable, it's time to get creative. Try different variations or spellings.

  • Add numbers. For instance, "TACO1" instead of "TACO."
  • Try alternative spellings, such as "GR8MOM" in place of "GREATMOM."
  • Abbreviate. Use URGR8 instead of "YOU'RE GREAT."
  • Swap letters and/or numbers. Try "KOFFEE" for "COFFEE."

FAQs About Vanity Plates

The cost varies per state. It costs $103 in California and $85 in New York. Minnesotans pay $100 for vanity plates, while Texans pay $150 for a 6-character personalized plate for one year.

Yes. Every U.S. state permits personalized plates under its vehicle registration statutes. Washington State codifies personalized license plates in Section 46.18.275 of the RCW, while Utah approves it in its Motor Vehicle Act.

Not necessarily. There is no data suggesting personalized plates are protected from theft. Although unique plates might be harder to resell, thieves often target cars for parts, not plates.

Nearly all state DMVs offer online lookup tools so you can search license plate numbers without visiting an office. For example, the New York DMV has an “Order Personalized Plates” tool to search for a license plate combo. For a quicker and easier way to search across states, try GoodCar’s personalized plate lookup - it simplifies the process and shows results in seconds.
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