How to Create a Personalized License Plate

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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(9 Ratings)

Coming up with a plate that says it all and is still available from the DMV can be a challenge, but it can be an entertaining challenge.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Blank Record Books
Dictionaries
Thesauri
Pencils Or Pens

Step 1

Call, write or visit the Department of Motor Vehicles for the rules on number of letters, number/letter combinations and taboo words.
Step 2

Decide what activity, business or person you'll be promoting: your name, your car, a beloved pet, a family member, a favorite sport or maybe just a message.
Step 3

Write out your message - for example, "I love to tickle bears."
Step 4

Write out the alphabet, numbers 1 through 9 and available symbols.
Step 5

Employ phonetics and write out your message again, shooting for clarity and brevity: I LV 2 TKL BRS.
Step 6

Rewrite your message, now shooting for limits. The goal here is seven characters: (Heart) 2 TKL BRS.
Step 7

Adapt creatively: (Heart) TKL BRS.
Step 8

Register your plate as soon as possible with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Tips & Warnings

Try different combinations in case your plate is registered to someone else. For example, "heart of gold" could be any of the following: (Heart) OF GOLD, HRT OF AU (gold's symbol), HEART AU, etc.
Try to figure out every personalized plate you see for good abbreviation ideas and ways of shortening words.
Taboo words such as profane language, insults or ethnic slurs will not be accepted by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Again, get the rules before you write your plate.
States charge annual fees for personalized license plates.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Tease! For example:

MEGOB4U - Me go before you!

Anonymous said

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on 7/14/2006 If you want to see what's available go to: https://vrir.dmv.ca.gov/ipp/PerLicensePlateServlet
and after you put your selection in click "Next"
and then it will tell you if it's available or not.
This only for the California DMV.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 You may also access the California State DMV list of personalized plates already taken by going to its Web site. It's at http://plates.ca.gov/search/.