Idaho Administrative Code
Title IDAPA 39 - Transportation, Department of
Rule 39.02.60 - RULES GOVERNING LICENSE PLATE PROVISIONS
Section 39.02.60.202 - PROVISIONS FOR PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATES

Universal Citation: ID Admin Code 39.02.60.202

Current through August 31, 2023

01. Special Characters or Marks. No special characters, or punctuation marks, may be used for personalized messages on license plates. (3-21-22)

a. Up to seven (7) letters or any combination of seven (7) letters and numbers and spaces (no half spaces) may be used for personalized messages on eligible six inch by twelve inch (6" x 12") license plates. (3-21-22)

b. Up to six (6) letters or any combination of six (6) letters and numbers and spaces (no half spaces) may be used for personalized messages on four inch by seven inch (4" x 7") motorcycle plates. (3-21-22)

c. Up to six (6) letters or any combination of six (6) letters and numbers and spaces (no half spaces) may be used for personalized messages on specialty program license plates. (3-21-22)

d. Disability six inch by twelve inch (6" x 12") plates will display the international disability symbol followed by up to five (5) letters, numbers, and spaces in the personalized message. Disability four inch by seven inch (4" x 7") motorcycle plates will display the international disability symbol followed by up to four (4) letters, numbers, and spaces (no half spaces) in the personalized message. (3-21-22)

02. Issue of Personalized Plates. Personalized plates may be issued to vehicles if no specific wording is required on the plate to identify the purpose for which the vehicle is registered. Personalized plates will not be issued if such plates would jeopardize the integrity of unique plate identification requirements. Examples include but are not limited to: (3-21-22)

a. Commercial vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP), because the designators PRP are required to be printed on the plate; (3-21-22)

b. Vehicles for which the designators "PRP" are required to be printed on the plate to identify the use; and (3-21-22)

c. Utility, horse, or enclosed car hauling trailers with RV facilities or boat trailers. (3-21-22)

03. Specific Requests. Requests for specific plate letters and/or numbers will be issued on a first come, first served basis. In the event of a request for the same plate by more than one (1) individual, the request with the earliest postmark, e-mail transmission time, or fax transmission time will prevail. If the postmarks are the same, the date stamped upon arrival at the Department will prevail. Applications submitted at county assessors' offices will be considered valid when date stamped in by the Department. Telephone requests will not be accepted. (3-21-22)

04. Lack of Current Plates. When an applicant for personalized plates does not have current regular number plates: (3-21-22)

a. The Department may, upon payment of all required fees, issue a proof of registration document consistent with Section 012 of this rule. (3-21-22)

05. Credits. When personalized plates are issued before an applicant's current registration is expired, credit will be given for unexpired registration fees only. (3-21-22)

06. Renewing Plates. The applicant will have the choice of renewing existing personalized plates with validation stickers or ordering a new set of plates at the time of renewal. If new plates are requested, the plate fee will be charged in addition to all other fees that are due. Personalized plates will be reissued in accordance with Section 49-443, Idaho Code. (3-21-22)

07. Transfer of Plates. When personalized plates are issued, the vehicle's regular number plates may be transferred to another vehicle belonging to the owner. If registration credit is given from the regular number plates to the personalized, the regular number plate registration is canceled. (3-21-22)

08. Acceptability of Plates Message. Acceptability of the personalized license plate message and issuance, denial or cancellation will be determined by the Department based on the following criteria: (3-21-22)

a. The combination of numbers and letters requested or combinations of same may not duplicate an existing combination in use, pursuant to Idaho Code. (3-21-22)

b. The message, in any language, may not carry a sexual connotation nor consist of a term that is considered to be one of obscenity, contempt, prejudice, hostility, insult, racial degradation, ethnic degradation, or profanity, or vulgarity, as defined in dictionaries of general use, including, but not limited to, Webster's Unabridged Dictionary and the Harper & Row New Dictionary of American Slang. (3-21-22)
i. The message may not refer to any of the following: bodily functions, bodily fluids, or intimate body parts; sexual preference or orientation; acts of violence; illegal substances or the use thereof. (3-21-22)

ii. The message may not represent a club, membership, or gang that is commonly known to promote violence, illegal substances or illegal acts. (3-21-22)

c. The criteria in Paragraph 202.08.b. of these rules is not to be considered an exhaustive list. A compilation of offensive or obscene words, terms or letter/number combinations gathered from the experience of Idaho and other states may also be used as a guide. The Department may also rely on information obtained from law enforcement agencies within or outside of Idaho. (3-21-22)

d. When a complaint is received from the public concerning an issued plate, the name of the complainant will not be recorded nor, if known, revealed. (3-21-22)

e. Final determination regarding applications for questionable messages or cancellation of issued plates will be made by the Division of Motor Vehicles. The determination process will include a first review by technical staff, followed by a second review by supervisory and management staff. An applicant does, however, have a right to a hearing on the decision. (3-21-22)

09. Message Preferences. Applicants may submit three (3) message preferences including the specific meaning of each. The first choice that is available and acceptable will be issued. If none of the preferences are available or acceptable, the applicant will be notified by return mail or email. (3-21-22)

10. Recalled Plates. Personalized plates may be recalled by the Department for the following reasons: (3-21-22)

a. Error in manufacturing; or (3-21-22)

b. Clerical error. (3-21-22)

c. Unacceptable personalized messages as outlined in Paragraph 202.08.b. of these rules. (3-21-22)

11. Unexpired Fees. If a set of personalized plates is recalled, the personalized plate program fee, unexpired portion of the registration fee, E.M.S. fee, plate fee, (if plates are returned to the Department), and all other applicable special plate fees, will be refunded or transferred to a new issue of personalized plates. (3-21-22)

12. Expired Plates. Personalized plates that have their registration expire will become immediately available for reissue to another applicant. There is no grace period. (3-21-22)

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Idaho may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.