License Plate Replacement Guide: Lost or Stolen Plates (State-by-State 2026)
A missing license plate is a small inconvenience that becomes a real problem if not addressed quickly. Driving with a missing or unreadable plate is a citable offense in every state, and stolen plates are sometimes used in crimes — meaning the registered owner can be wrongly implicated until a police report is on file. Replacement fees range from $1.50 (Kansas) to $31.50 (Rhode Island), with most states charging between $5 and $25. Eighteen states require a police report for any plate replacement; the rest require one only when the plate was stolen. Twenty-eight states issue a temporary tag valid 30-90 days while the permanent plate is produced. The fastest path: file a police report (especially for theft), gather your registration and ID, visit the DMV or use the online replacement portal, and pay the replacement fee. Most counter visits take 30-45 minutes; mail-in turnaround averages 14 days.
First steps after a missing plate
- Check the obvious places. Plates fall off due to corroded screws or damaged frames more often than they're stolen. Check the area around where the vehicle was last parked.
- If theft is likely, file a police report immediately. Most departments accept walk-in or online reports for minor incidents like license-plate theft. The report number is the key piece of documentation for both the DMV and your insurance carrier.
- Don't drive with a missing plate longer than necessary. A missing plate is a moving violation in every state, with fines typically $50-$200. Park the vehicle and arrange replacement before driving any further.
- Notify your insurer. Carriers want to know about a stolen plate within 24-72 hours. Comprehensive coverage usually pays for the replacement minus any deductible.
- Visit the DMV or online portal. Most states accept online plate-replacement applications now; some still require an in-person visit, especially when the plate was stolen.
Police report — when you need one
Three rules to know:
- Always file when stolen. Every state requires a police report when the plate was stolen. The report number is the single most important piece of paperwork.
- About 18 states require a report for any replacement — including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and DC. The 18-state list shifts year to year as administrative rules update.
- The remaining states only require a report for theft — for lost or damaged plates, the DMV form asks the owner to attest to the loss without independent documentation.
Stolen plates have a separate concern: the plate is still in someone's possession and may be used in subsequent crimes. License-plate readers (LPRs) deployed by police and toll authorities will read the stolen plate at any subsequent encounter; without a police report on file, the reads can be linked back to the registered owner. The report puts the plate into the stolen-plate database and breaks that linkage.
The DMV replacement process
Five elements to gather before applying:
- Police report number (when applicable).
- Government photo ID matching the registered owner.
- Current registration card. If lost or destroyed, get a duplicate registration first — see our lost title replacement guide for the parallel duplicate-title process.
- Replacement fee in cash, check, or accepted card.
- Vehicle in some states — DMV may ask to verify VIN. Most states do not require the vehicle on-site.
Most state DMV websites have a dedicated "Replace Lost or Stolen Plate" online portal. Flow is typically: log in to your DMV account, select the affected vehicle, identify the loss type (lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed), upload the police report (if required), pay the fee, and confirm a mailing address for the replacement. Counter-print states will mail a temporary tag and produce the permanent plate by mail; same-day-print states (CA, FL, IL, MI, NY, OH, PA, TX among others) hand the plate over at the counter when you visit in person.
Fees
Replacement fees fall into three rough tiers:
- Low ($1.50-$10): AK, AR, GA, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, SC, SD, WI, WY.
- Mid ($10-$20): AL, CO, DE, IN, MD, NH, NJ, OH, OK, OR, PA, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV.
- High ($20-$32): CA, CT, FL, HI, IL, MA, NC, NY, RI, TN.
Specialty plates (military, professional, vanity, organizational) usually cost more to replace because the original specialty fee may apply again. Vanity plate replacement is often $30-$50 above the standard fee. See our vanity plate fees guide for the original-plate fee structure.
How long it takes
- Same-day counter print: 28 states with onsite plate-printing technology can produce a replacement plate in 30-45 minutes during your visit.
- Mail-only, 7-14 days: 16 states issue plates from a central facility and mail them, with a temporary tag at the counter or via mail.
- Mail-only, 14-30 days: 7 states have longer production cycles; rural addresses and specialty plates push to the 30-day end.
- Specialty + personalized plates: 4-6 weeks in nearly every state because they're produced in batches.
Keeping your old plate number
For lost or damaged (non-theft) plates, every state allows you to retain the existing plate number. The DMV simply issues a fresh physical plate stamped with the same number.
For stolen plates, most states issue a new number to break the link with the stolen plate still in circulation. A few states will let you keep the old number after the police investigation is closed; ask at the counter. Either way, your insurance carrier should be notified of any new number so the policy correctly reflects it.
A handful of states — California, Illinois, Maryland, New York — charge an extra fee if you change to a new number rather than retaining your old one. The "fee for new number" column in the table below flags these states.
Two-plate vs one-plate states
Twenty-eight states require both a front and a rear plate. The remaining 22 (and DC) require only a rear plate. The list of one-plate states includes Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, plus DC.
If you live in a two-plate state and lose only one of the two plates, the DMV will typically issue a fresh pair and require you to surrender the remaining plate when you pick up the replacement. The reasoning is that plate pairs are tracked together — a single fresh plate would have a different number from the surviving plate. A few two-plate states (Iowa, Maryland) will issue a single replacement matching the surviving plate's number, but the more common rule is fresh-pair issuance.
Temporary tag during the wait
About half the states issue a temporary tag valid 30-90 days while the permanent plate is in production. The temporary tag is typically a paper or vinyl placard mounted in the rear window or attached to the plate frame. Some states (Texas, Florida, Arizona, Indiana, New Jersey) issue a printed temporary tag at the DMV counter; others (Illinois, New York) issue an electronic temporary registration that can be printed at home.
Driving without any plate during the production window is a moving violation in most states. The temporary tag is the legal substitute. Mail-only states that don't issue a temp tag typically expect drivers to either wait until the plate arrives or drive with the certified DMV receipt visible on the dashboard until the plate ships.
State-by-state requirements
Replacement fee, whether a police report is required, whether the state issues a temporary tag during the production wait, and whether you can keep your old plate number. Sources: state DMV publications, NCSL DMV fees database, AAMVA state administrative rules cross-walk 2026.
| State | Replacement fee | Police report req'd? | Temp tag issued? | Keep old number? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $15 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| Alaska | $10 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| Arizona | $5 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 90 days | Yes |
| Arkansas | $10 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| California | $26 | Yes (any loss) | No | Yes — fee for new |
| Colorado | $8.06 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 60 days | Yes |
| Connecticut | $25 | Yes (any loss) | Yes — 60 days | Yes |
| Delaware | $10 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| District of Columbia | $10 | Yes (any loss) | No | Yes |
| Florida | $28 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| Georgia | $8 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Hawaii | $25 | Yes (any loss) | No | Yes |
| Idaho | $5 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| Illinois | $29 | Yes (any loss) | Yes — 90 days | Yes — fee for new |
| Indiana | $9.50 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 31 days | Yes |
| Iowa | $5 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Kansas | $1.50 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Kentucky | $5 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Louisiana | $3.25 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Maine | $5 | Yes (any loss) | No | Yes |
| Maryland | $20 | Yes (any loss) | Yes — 60 days | Yes — fee for new |
| Massachusetts | $25 | Yes (any loss) | No | Yes |
| Michigan | $5 | Yes (any loss) | No | Yes |
| Minnesota | $8.25 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Mississippi | $3.75 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Missouri | $8.50 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| Montana | $10.30 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Nebraska | $3.50 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| Nevada | $5 | Yes (any loss) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| New Hampshire | $10 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| New Jersey | $11 | Yes (any loss) | Yes — 60 days | Yes |
| New Mexico | $5 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| New York | $25 | Yes (any loss) | No | Yes — fee for new |
| North Carolina | $22 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| North Dakota | $5 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Ohio | $11 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Oklahoma | $10 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Oregon | $10 | Yes (any loss) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | $7.50 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Rhode Island | $31.50 | Yes (any loss) | No | Yes |
| South Carolina | $6 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| South Dakota | $5 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Tennessee | $25 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Texas | $6 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| Utah | $10 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Vermont | $10 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Virginia | $10 | Yes (if stolen) | Yes — 30 days | Yes |
| Washington | $10 | Yes (any loss) | No | Yes |
| West Virginia | $10 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Wisconsin | $4 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
| Wyoming | $5 | Yes (if stolen) | No | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if my plate is stolen?
File a police report immediately. Most states require a report number on the DMV replacement application when the loss involves theft. Stolen plates are sometimes used in crimes (gas drive-offs, license-plate-reader evasion, getaway vehicles), so the police report protects you from being implicated when the plate is later involved in another incident. Many police departments now allow online reporting for minor theft incidents like license plates.
Do I need a police report if my plate just fell off?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. About 18 states require a report for any replacement (theft or not); the rest only require it for theft. The DMV replacement form will ask whether the plate was lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, and the answer determines the documentation. When in doubt, file a non-emergency report — police departments take walk-ins and online reports for these cases routinely.
How much does plate replacement cost?
Replacement fees range from $1.50 in Kansas to $31.50 in Rhode Island, with most states between $5 and $25. The fee usually covers the new physical plate plus a small processing charge. Personalized or specialty plates cost more to replace because the original premium-plate fee may apply again. Some states (CA, IL, MD, NY) charge an additional fee if you choose a new plate number rather than keeping your existing number.
Can I keep my old plate number?
In most states yes, with one exception: stolen plates usually cannot reuse the same number. The DMV issues a new number to prevent the stolen plate (which may still be in circulation) from being mistakenly attributed to the registered owner. For lost or damaged plates that were not stolen, every state allows you to retain the existing plate number.
How long does it take to get the new plate?
Same-day at most state DMV counters that print plates onsite (about 28 states). Mail-only states take 7-30 days, with 14 days the most common. Specialty and personalized plates take longer everywhere — 4-6 weeks typically because they're produced in batches. Many states issue a temporary tag valid for 30-90 days while the permanent plate is in production.
What about the remaining plate in two-plate states?
Twenty-eight states require two plates (front + rear); the rest require only a rear plate. If you lose one of two plates, most two-plate states require you to surrender the remaining plate when you get the replacement pair, because plate pairs are tracked together. A handful of two-plate states will let you keep one and get a single replacement, but the more common policy is to issue a fresh pair.
Do I need to replace registration if I replace plates?
Usually no. The plate replacement does not change your registration expiration or fees. A new registration card may be issued to reflect the new plate number (in stolen-plate cases where the number changes), but the underlying registration runs to its original expiration. Your insurance carrier should be notified of the new plate number so the policy reflects it correctly.
Sources
- USA.gov — Motor vehicle services
- AAMVA — American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
- NCSL — National Conference of State Legislatures
- NHTSA — Vehicle safety + consumer information
- Each state's official DMV — see linked individual state pages above