How to Get a Personalized License Plate in Massachusetts

Tired of road raging? Take the high road and switch to road phrasing! Get a personalized license plate in Massachusetts, express your individual personality and make your presence known wherever the road of life may take you. It's as simple as A, B, C, and 1, 2, 3.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• Vehicle registration
• Money for fees
• Computer

1. Visit the Massachusetts' Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Web site listed below in the Who Can Help section.

2. Access an official application for a personalized license plate by downloading form # T20284-0605.

3. Read the instructions on the second page before proceeding to the application portion of the form. Keep all rules, regulations, policies and class designations in mind while filling out the application.

4. Locate Section A. Print your full legal name, address, daytime telephone number and driver's license number.

5. Go over Section B. Note the specific rules that you must adhere to when requesting personalized license plates.

6. Check the availability of your preferred personalized license plate by accessing Massachusetts' Registry of Motor Vehicles Web site.

7. Proceed to Section C. Check the box next to the type of personalized license plate you are requesting. Print three available choices for your personalized license plates in order of preference using capital alphanumeric character combinations. Enter the meanings of your messages so that the RMV may make decisions on their appropriateness. Choose the branch location where you'd like your plates shipped.

8. Advance to Section D. Signify the truthfulness of your application by signing and dating it.

9. Determine the total of your fees. Make a check payable to the RMV.

10. Mail the completed application and all applicable fees to Registry of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 55895, Boston, MA, 02205-5895.

11. Receive notification by mail that your order for personalized license plates has been approved.

12. Be notified by the RMV branch within 12 to 14 weeks that your plates are ready to be picked up.

13. Drive to your nearest RMV branch, submit an RMV-3 form certified by your insurance company, surrender your old plates and pay the plate exchange fees.

14. Get your personalized license plates. Affix month and year tabs on your permanent personalized plates.

Tips & Warnings

• Be advised that if your plate is approved, it may undergo some changes during manufacturing. Certain characters' widths may cause the spacing specified to be reduced, eliminated or altered.

• You may keep your personalized license plates for as long as you wish, as long as you renew the special registration of your personalized license plates before their expiration date and pay all associated fees.

• The RMV will not honor requests for personalized license plates that contain prohibited characters, offensive or misleading messages or alphanumeric combinations that are already in use. Keep this in mind while choosing your plate message.

• Personalized license plates cost more than a standard license plate. Be aware that fees will likely compound on top of the standard license plate fees that you are accustomed to paying.

• Blank or incomplete areas on your application will cause the application process for your personalized license plate to be delayed. Be sure to fill in all requested information completely and truthfully.

• If your vehicle is sold, traded or its ownership transferred after the issuance of the personalized license plates, you must contact RMV to report the transaction. You must also follow the appropriate guidelines to release the plate to the new owner, transfer the plate to your new vehicle or return the plate to the Registry. Be advised that additional paperwork may be required.

• If the RMV approves your personalized license plate and later finds that your message is offensive or inappropriate, your personalized license plate may be recalled.