Black and white license plates are available in most states through the motor vehicle department, usually under a heritage or legacy program, a specialty plate program, a personalized (vanity) plate option, or an antique vehicle program. Which one fits depends on your car’s age, how you plan to drive it, and what designs your state currently issues. Start by identifying the program, because the eligibility rules, cost, and driving restrictions branch from there.
The Four Ways to Get a Black and White Plate
Not every black and white plate is the same product, and the application form you fill out depends on which category yours falls into.
Heritage or legacy plates recreate a historical design the state once used. Many feature white text on a black background (or the reverse) simply because that is what plates looked like decades ago. Some states open these to any registered vehicle; others limit the design to cars manufactured during the era the plate represents.
Specialty plates tied to a cause, organization, or landmark sometimes come in a black and white color scheme. These are open to any qualifying vehicle regardless of age.
Personalized plates let you choose the text, and in a handful of states the plate itself is offered in a black and white design. This is the route if you want both custom lettering and the color scheme.
Antique or historical vehicle plates are often black and white by default. They cost less, but they come with driving restrictions covered further down.
Check your state’s DMV website under specialty plates, special interest plates, or legacy plates to see the specific black and white designs your state issues right now.
Who Qualifies
Most specialty and heritage plates are available for standard passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, and sometimes trailers. Requirements branch from there.
For a heritage or legacy plate, some states let any registered vehicle carry the design. Others restrict it to vehicles from the era the plate represents. Antique and historical vehicle plates almost always require a minimum vehicle age, typically 25 years, though some states use 20 or 30. A few states also require the antique vehicle to pass a safety inspection or carry separate certification.
Across every plate type, your registration has to be active and in good standing. Outstanding fees, holds, or expired tags will block the application, and the name and address on your registration need to match your application. Clean those up first if anything is off.
How to Apply
The specific forms differ by state, but the process follows the same shape almost everywhere.
Documents You’ll Need
Have your current vehicle registration, your driver’s license or state ID, and your vehicle identification number ready. Some states also ask for your current plate number. For an antique plate, you may need proof of the model year through the title or a VIN decode.
Submission Methods
Most motor vehicle departments accept applications three ways. Online portals let you browse available designs, check whether personalized text is available, and pay by card. This is usually the fastest route. Mail-in applications require the downloaded form, supporting documents, and a check or money order. In-person applications at a DMV office work well if you want help choosing between plate types or have questions about eligibility.
Whichever channel you use, keep the confirmation receipt or tracking number. If your plates take longer than the state’s quoted window, that number is the fastest way to check status.
Personalized Text
If you’re ordering a personalized black and white plate, submit your requested text with the application. Every state reviews personalized requests and rejects anything with profanity, sexual references, racial slurs, or content the reviewing staff considers offensive. Innocent-looking combinations get flagged too when they can be read as slang or double entendres. Submit a backup choice if the form allows one, because rejection rates for creative requests run higher than most applicants expect.
What It Costs
Specialty and personalized plates carry fees on top of your standard registration.
Initial issuance fees for specialty plates typically run between $25 and $100, with personalized designs at the higher end of that range. Most states also charge an annual surcharge, roughly $15 to $40, to keep a specialty plate active. That surcharge is separate from your regular registration renewal fee; you pay both.
Antique and historical vehicle plates are often cheaper. Some states charge a one-time fee with no annual surcharge. The tradeoff is the driving restrictions.
Payment options depend on the channel. Online portals accept credit and debit cards. Mail-in applications generally require a check or money order. DMV offices usually accept all three.
How Long Delivery Takes
Specialty plates take longer than standard plates because they’re manufactured in smaller batches or made to order. Sequential specialty plates, where the DMV assigns the number, generally arrive within three to six weeks. Personalized plates take longer — six to twelve weeks is common, and some states quote up to four months during busy periods.
Your existing plates stay valid while you wait. Most states mail the finished plates directly to the address on file. Some issue a temporary permit or sticker to bridge the gap; many simply let you keep driving on your current plates until the new ones arrive.
Antique Plate Driving Restrictions
This is where people get tripped up. If your black and white plates come through an antique or historical vehicle program, you’re almost certainly accepting limits on how you can use the car. Most states restrict these vehicles to occasional use: exhibitions, club events, parades, and similar outings. Daily commuting and general transportation are typically prohibited.
Some states cap how often you can drive the vehicle, with one day per week a common limit. Others restrict distance from where the car is garaged. A few require a mileage log. Specifics vary; the underlying rule is consistent. Historical plates are for hobby vehicles, not daily drivers.
The upside is lower cost, and sometimes exemptions from emissions testing or annual safety inspections. If you plan to drive the car regularly, a heritage or specialty plate without driving restrictions is the better fit even at a higher price.
Transferring or Holding the Plates Later
If you sell your car or buy a new one, you can usually transfer specialty plates rather than start over. Submit a transfer application, pay a small transfer fee (often under $20), and provide registration documents for both vehicles. The new vehicle generally has to be the same type as the old one, has to be registered in your name, and has to have a current registration with all fees paid.
If you’re not putting the plates on another vehicle right away, many states let you place them on retention or hold status, usually for six to twelve months. There’s a small fee, but it’s cheaper than reapplying if you want to keep a personalized configuration you like.
Digital License Plates
A newer option for the black and white look is a digital license plate, an electronic screen that replaces the traditional metal plate and can display a black background with white text. These are currently legal for consumer vehicles in only a small number of states, with availability expanding slowly as more states pass enabling legislation. The hardware runs around $900, with a monthly subscription of roughly $40 for connected features like GPS tracking and automated registration renewal.
Digital plates are a niche product for now. If your state hasn’t approved them, a traditional heritage or specialty plate is the only route to the black and white look. Check your state’s DMV website or the manufacturer’s site for current availability before ordering.