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LicensePlates New York

New York License Plate

What is a New York License Plate?

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues license plates and manages all vehicle registrations in accordance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Residents register vehicles at local DMV offices, many of which are operated by county clerks acting as DMV agents.

The current general design is the Excelsior plate, introduced in 2020. White with blue letters, it features silhouettes of Niagara Falls, the Adirondacks, and the Statue of Liberty along the bottom edge. A set of two standard plates costs $25.

Types of License Plates in New York

  • Standard plates (Excelsior series) are issued with every new registration. Replacement of a lost or damaged set costs $25, or $12.50 for vehicles that receive one plate.
  • Dozens of custom plates support organizations, causes, and sports teams. The annual fee for a custom plate is $31.25, paid in addition to regular registration fees.
  • A personalized plate costs $60 initially plus $31.25 per year for passenger vehicles, ordered through the DMV Custom Plates Unit. Personalized plates for motorcycles cost $35 initially and $18.75 per year.
  • Congressional Medal of Honor and former POW plates have no initial or annual fee. Disabled veteran and “Purple Heart” plates cost $28.75 at purchase with no annual renewal fee.

View all available designs on the New York DMV Plates page.

What Vehicles Require License Plates in New York?

Every motor vehicle operating on New York public highways must be registered before use according to VTL § 401. New residents have 30 days to register. Fees are weight-based and billed on a two-year cycle.

  • Passenger vehicles receive two plates. The two-year registration fee starts at $26 for the lightest vehicles and increases based on weight, with most cars falling in the $56.50 to $140 range. County use taxes add $10 to $60 over two years depending on location, and residents of the 12 MCTD counties pay an additional $50 for the two-year period.
  • Motorcycles have one rear plate at $1.24 per 100 pounds annually, with a minimum annual fee of $21.57. The plate fee is $12.50.
  • One rear plate is affixed to each trailer, at $5.39 per 500 pounds maximum gross weight annually (minimum $14.38 per year), according to the DMV trailer registration page.
  • New York does not impose a separate registration fee for electric vehicles. Electric vehicles pay the same weight-based fee as gasoline vehicles, with a minimum two-year fee of $32.50.

License Plate Rules in New York

  • Passenger vehicles require two plates, one front and one rear, each fastened against wobbling and mounted at a height of 12 to 48 inches from the ground (VTL § 402(1)(a)). Motorcycles and trailers have only one rear plate. Tractors mount one plate in front.

  • Plates must remain clean and easily readable according to VTL § 402(1)(b). No glass, plastic cover, coating, or synthetic material that conceals, obscures, or distorts the photographic image of the plate is allowed. Selling such products is also illegal under VTL § 402(7).

    • One exception: a publicly-owned toll payment transponder may be attached near the plate if installed according to facility instructions.

Is Driving Around with No License Plate in New York Illegal?

Operating, driving, or even parking a motor vehicle on a public highway without plates assigned by the commissioner is illegal under VTL § 402. The statute equally applies to missing plates, expired plates, and plates not properly displayed.

Displaying plates belonging to another vehicle triggers a separate provision under VTL § 402(4). Altering a plate or forging registration documents falls under VTL § 392, classified as a misdemeanor on the first offense.

What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in New York?

Penalties for plate violations are contained in VTL §§ 401, 402, and 392. Fines start small for basic display violations, but the statute escalates to misdemeanor and imprisonment for unregistered driving and forged plates.

  • A basic plate violation under VTL § 402(8) carries a fine of $25 to $200.
  • Driving an unregistered vehicle under VTL § 401 carries a fine of $40 to $300, a mandatory surcharge of $88 to $93, and up to 15 days in jail.
  • A concealed plate, including any glass or plastic cover, carries a fine of $100 to $500 under VTL § 402(8)(a). The court may also order the removal of the offending material or replacement of the plates.
  • Altering a plate or forging registration documents is a misdemeanor on the first conviction under VTL § 392. A second offense under VTL § 392-a is classified as a class E felony, carrying up to four years in prison.
  • Displaying plates assigned to another vehicle under VTL § 402(4) requires surrendering the plates to the court upon conviction.

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