Louisiana License Plates Types

Beyond the standard plate every Louisiana vehicle receives, the OMV offers a long list of specialty categories tied to universities, causes, professions, and personal identity, plus a personalized option for drivers who want to choose their own combination. Knowing the difference between these categories up front can save a trip back to an OMV office.

Standard and Specialty Categories

Every vehicle starts with a standard plate, but the OMV's catalog branches out considerably from there.

What is Louisiana's standard-issue passenger plate?

Every newly registered passenger vehicle receives the current standard design, introduced in January 2025, featuring an embossed dark blue serial on a white background using the 123 ABC format. Vehicles registered before the changeover may still carry the prior Sportsman's Paradise pelican design, which remains valid.

What specialty plate categories does the OMV offer?

Louisiana's specialty plate catalog covers a wide range of categories, including university plates for schools like LSU, sports affiliation plates such as the New Orleans Saints, cause based plates like Protect Our Forest and Louisiana Seafood, and civic or fraternal organization plates including the Fraternal Order of Police and various veterans groups. Each category carries its own design and, in many cases, its own eligibility requirement.

Can a business or organization sponsor a new specialty plate?

Louisiana periodically approves new specialty plate categories through legislation, often sponsored by an organization advocating for a particular cause, university, or profession. Once a category is authorized and added to the OMV catalog, individual drivers can then apply for that specific design like any other specialty plate.

Plates Tied to Eligibility

A few plate categories require proof of a specific status before the OMV will issue one.

Which plates are reserved for military members and veterans?

Louisiana offers a range of military and veteran plates covering active duty status, specific branches of service, and veteran recognition. Applicants generally need to provide proof of eligibility, such as discharge paperwork or current military identification, at an OMV office that issues the plate.

What plate is available for drivers with disabilities?

Louisiana issues a disability plate for qualifying drivers, which functions similarly to a disability placard but stays permanently attached to the vehicle. Applicants must meet the state's medical qualification standard and provide the required documentation to the OMV.

What should I do if my desired specialty plate has eligibility requirements?

Bring the required proof of eligibility, such as membership documentation, alumni status, or professional credentials, with you when applying in person at an OMV location that sells the specific specialty plate. Requirements vary by category, so it helps to confirm what is needed before making the trip.

Personalization, Rules, and Cost

Choosing your own combination comes with its own fee schedule and content guidelines.

How does a personalized plate differ from a specialty plate?

A personalized, or prestige, plate keeps a standard plate background but lets the owner choose a custom combination of letters and numbers, up to seven characters, for a $25 personalization fee plus a $3.50 administration fee and an $8 handling fee, on top of standard registration costs. A specialty plate instead uses a pre-designed graphic tied to a cause or organization and typically carries its own separate fee schedule based on the category chosen.

What restrictions apply to personalized plate messages?

The OMV rejects personalized combinations that carry ethnic, racial, vulgar, or indecent connotations, along with requests that substitute the number one for the letter I or the number zero for the letter O. Periods and hyphens each count as a character space, and amateur radio call signs are excluded from the personalized plate program since they follow a separate licensing process.

Do specialty and personalized plates cost the same to renew?

No. Renewal costs vary by category. A personalized plate carries a $25 annual renewal fee on top of the standard registration renewal, while specialty plate renewal costs depend on the specific organization or cause plate chosen, since fees vary across the catalog.

Do specialty and personalized plates need to be renewed at the same time as standard registration?

Yes. Both renew alongside the vehicle's regular registration cycle, and the additional category fee is added to the standard renewal amount during that same transaction.

Vehicle Eligibility and Timing

Here is what to expect once you know which plate category fits.

Can personalized plates go on trucks, motorcycles, or mobile homes?

Yes. Louisiana allows personalized plates on automobiles, motorcycles, mobile homes, and trucks up to 10,000 pounds, giving most everyday vehicle owners access to the program.

How long does it take to receive a personalized or specialty plate?

After submitting a request, applicants typically wait two to four weeks for OMV review and approval, followed by another four to six weeks for the plate to be manufactured and delivered once approved.

How do I know which plate category my vehicle qualifies for?

The OMV's Specialty Plates Viewer lets drivers browse available categories, check eligibility requirements, and estimate fees before submitting an application, and the Specialized Vehicle Unit can answer eligibility questions directly by phone.

Are there plates specifically for trailers and motorcycles?

Yes. Trailers and motorcycles register under their own vehicle classifications with plate styles sized for those vehicle types, separate from the standard passenger vehicle plate, and motorcycle owners can still access the personalized plate program within that class.

Sources referenced: Service Louisiana (Louisiana.gov), Louisiana Statutes Title 47, Louisiana Administrative Code Title 260 Chapter 135, federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 U.S.C. 2721-2725).