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    PA Sample Standard Issue Registration Plate

    ​​Standard License Plates

    ​PennDOT issues standard issue license plates for vehicles. These plates serve as the basic form of vehicl​e registration and identification. ​

    New license plates are coming!

    Pennsylvania is the birthplace of American democracy — and with all eyes on our Commonwealth as we prepare to host our country’s 250th birthday in 2026, our new license plates celebrate the best of what the Commonwealth has to offer. We can’t wait to see your plates on the road! 

    Plates are available for standard vehicles and trucks, including personalized plates. If you have a specialty plate (military, special fund, or organization plate), switching to the new plate will replace it with a standard plate. 

    Ordering starts May 20 — for those who signed up early.

    Sign up for updates
    Pennsylvania license plate with a graphic of the Liberty Bell and the text, “Pennsylvania” and “Let Freedom Ring.” The plate has a white background with large blue letters and numbers.

    Complete the interest form to order the new license plate starting May 20. The form will close at midnight on May 20. After that, those who have signed up will have the opportunity to purchase their plates in the order in which they signed up.

    Overview

    ​PennDOT issues standard issue license plates for vehicles. These plates serve as the basic form of vehicl​e registration and identification. ​

    Pennsylvania also offers Special Fund, Specialty,  Military and Special Organization* license plates, the majority of which can be personalized. All available license plates can be found here. For more information, please reference the Personalized License Plates Fact Sheet (PDF). Before applying, you can check availability of personalized license plates online.

    *Please contact your organization directly to obtain an application for a Special Organization License Plate.

    NOTE: Registration fees include the cost of a standard license plate for first time issuance. Additional fees apply for specialty license plates.  Refer to Form MV-70S (PDF), “Bureau of Motor Vehicle Schedule of Fees,” for additional fee information.

    ​Illegible License Plate Replacement

    A license plate is deemed illegible when one or more numbers or letters cannot be recognized from 50 feet or if the registration plate shows any blistering, peeling, discoloration or loss of reflectivity. When a license plate becomes illegible, PennDOT has two main ways of replacing them.


    First, the law allows PennDOT to replace a license plate upon request of a vehicle owner when an authorized representative of PennDOT or law enforcement determines that a license plate is illegible.  Vehicle safety inspection mechanics are authorized representatives of PennDOT for purposes of determining if a license plate is legible. 

    To apply for a free replacement of your current license plate, the vehicle owner should print Form MV-46 and take it to either a law enforcement official or a certified inspection station to verify the need for a replacement due to illegibility. The vehicle owner is then responsible for signing and returning the completed Form MV-46 to PennDOT in order to receive a replacement license plate free of charge.

    For more information about this program, please reference the Registration Plate Re-Issuance Fact Sheet (Illegible Registration Plate Replacement) FAQ.

    Second, the law also allows PennDOT to order a general reissuance. Standard issue passenger license plates that start with the tag configuration  ‘G’, ‘H’, 'J', ‘K’ and truck license plates that start with tag configuration ‘Y’, are among the oldest on the road and need to be replaced. So, if you have a standard issue license plate beginning with a ‘G’, ‘H’, 'J', ‘K’ or ‘Y’, you will get a new license plate the next time your license plate is transferred to a different vehicle. Passenger license plates that start with a tag configuration ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ are the oldest plates on the road. PennDOT has begun replacing the ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ configuration through the mail. Customers will receive a letter informing them when they should expect to receive their new plate.

    Returning a License Plate

    Bureau of Motor Vehicles 
    Return Tag Unit 
    P.O. Box 68597 
    Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597

    Once your plate has been received by PennDOT, it will be marked as a "dead tag" on the vehicle record. Returning your Pennsylvania license plate to PennDOT will help protect you from vehicle fraud.