How to Get a Personalized License Plate in North Carolina

Tired of road raging? Take the high road and switch to road phrasing! Get a personalized license plate in North Carolina, 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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

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

1. Visit North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Web site through the link found below in the Who Can Help section.
2. Access an official application for personalized license plates by downloading form CHOOSE8.
3. Read the instructions on the first page of the form 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. Mark your vehicle type.
5. Write your full legal name, address and daytime telephone number.
6. Provide your vehicle's information, including your current license plate number, its expiration date, title number and VIN.
7. Signify the truthfulness of your application by signing and dating it.
8. Check the availability of your preferred personalized license plate messages by accessing the DMV Web site.
9. List three available choices for your personalized license plates in order of preference using capital alphanumeric character combinations. Be advised that the number of allowable characters on your personalized license plate depends on the type of vehicle that you own. You may not exceed the allowable number of characters for your vehicle's type; follow the rules for personalized message options outlined on the form.
10. Determine the total of your fees. Make a check payable to NC DMV.
11. Mail the completed application and all applicable fees to NC DMV, Mail and Distribution Unit, 3148 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699.
12. Receive your personalized license plates, and affix month and year tabs to your 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 DMV 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 North Carolina's DMV 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 Division. Be advised that additional paperwork may be required.
• If the DMV approves your personalized license plate and later finds that your message is offensive or inappropriate, your personalized license plate may be recalled.