New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 15 - Department of Motor Vehicles
Chapter I - REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER
Subchapter B - Registration, Certificate of Title, and Number Plates
Part 17 - Number Plates
Section 17.10 - Plate reissuance

(a) Upon the request of an applicant for passenger and commercial registrations, and payment of a one-time fee, not to exceed $20, the department shall provide a number plate or plates bearing the same distinctive numerals and/or letters as the number plate being replaced through plate reissuance. Such one-time fee shall be in addition to the regular registration fee and reflectorized plate fee prescribed by Vehicle and Traffic Law, section 401. O nce reissued plates are received, the $20 fee will be non-refundable. If reissued plates are lost in transit and have not been returned to the department as undeliverable, the customer may apply to the department for a refund of the $20 fee and will be issued a new plate or plates with new numbers at no charge. Such fee shall not be charged for any special or distinctive design number plate, for which an annual service charge is paid in addition to the regular registration fee prescribed by Vehicle and Traffic Law, section 401.

(b) If reissued plates are lost in transit and have not been returned as undeliverable, the customer may not have the original plate remade. If reissued plates are returned to the department and recorded as undeliverable, the department will reissue them to the customer.

(c) If both reissued plates are lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the department will not reissue the same plate number.

(d) If one reissued plate is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the department will replace the plate upon payment of the transaction and plate fee. If the plate is stolen and a police report is submitted, no fee will be charged.