You must register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles if you are a resident of West Virginia.
Application forms, relevant documents, and payment of fees must be submitted to have your vehicle processed.
When you apply, it is possible to order special license plates.
If you are a resident of West Virginia, you can register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
New residents have 30 days to register their vehicles.
If you purchase a vehicle from a private dealer, you may be required to pick up temporary license plates to be able to drive legally on state roads.
Applying for license plates in West Virginia can be done at a local DMV office.
West Virginia’s standard issued license plate has a white, blue and yellow striped background with yellow and navy blue lettering. It has “Wild, Wonderful” and “West Virginia” written on it.
In place of the standard license plate, you can also apply for:
Most plates can be personalized with a custom plate number.
After you receive your license plates, they must be secured to both the front and rear of your vehicle. Motorcycles only require a license plate on the rear.
You will also receive decals, which must be placed on the rear plate only.
You can choose from a variety of colorful and decorative specialty license plates for West Virginia. These plates commemorate and support special groups, organizations, occupations, and more. For example:
You must apply for these plates and show any required proof of eligibility (e.g., occupational plates require a copy of your employment).
Disability license plates and placards are issued to:
Placards must be clearly visible from within the vehicle. They permit the owner to park in designated parking spaces in the community.
You can personalize your license plate only if it:
Applications will be reviewed before being approved or rejected. The cost for registering personalized license plates varies by type.
If you purchase a new vehicle in West Virginia, you can transfer your license plates. When transferring your plates, you must submit the following:
You are not permitted to transfer your license plates to a new person. If you no longer require your license plates, you should surrender them to a local DMV office.
You may also have to surrender your license plates if you:
If your license plates are lost, worn out, damaged, or stolen, you can submit an application for replacements.
You’ll be required to provide:
It is possible to apply for replacements either online or in person.
You may receive a notification that your license plates are soon to expire. It is your responsibility to renew your license plates prior to the expiration date on the rear plate.
After you have completed the renewal process (i.e., paid the renewal fees), you will receive new decal stickers that remain valid for the duration of their time.
Renewal fees vary by plate type and vehicle type.
When you are submitting payments for registration fees, you may use the following:
You should write your checks and process your money orders to the DMV accordingly. It is not advised to send cash in the mail.
There are various registration fees required in West Virginia. The following are a few that may be required:
The fees above do not include state taxes, service fees, or any other additional fees required during registration.
You can contact the DMV on (800) 642-9066 if you have any questions about your vehicle's registration (e.g., fees, required documents).
If you want to check for available plate numbers, use the search bar above.
You can also use it to submit known license plates in West Virginia or to obtain any submitted background information, like bad reports, vehicle history, and images.
