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SUMMARY: Washington, D.C. License Plates To apply for license plates in Washington D.C., you'll register your vehicle when you move to D.C. or get a new car. To renew your plates, you'll renew your registration, which can be done online, by mail, or in person. You can transfer your tags to a new car as long as they're still valid. If you don't transfer your tags, or otherwise don't need them, you must cancel and surrender your license plates.

Keep reading for information about standard license plates and tags in Washington, D.C.

Considering personalized or specialty plates? Find all the details on our Types of Special Plates and Applying for Special Plates pages.

Need more information about disabled parking? We have a complete guide on our Disability Placards and Plates page.

Types of D.C. License Plates

Vehicles owned by Washington, D.C. residents must have license plates issued by the Washington, D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (D.C. DMV).

Most vehicles will have a plate on both the front and back. Some vehicles, such as motorcycles, only need a rear plate.

Rear tags have a month decal and a year decal that show the expiration date of your tags.

In addition to standard tags, the D.C. DMV issues several other types of license plates, including:

Vanity plates.

Military honor plates.

Disability plates.

For more information about special plates, such as vanity and military plates, see our Special D.C. Plates and Special Plates Application pages.

To learn more about disability parking permit options, see our Disabled Plates and Placards in D.C. page.

Temporary Tags

You may get a temporary tag valid for 45 days when you register a vehicle for the first time. These tags give you time to get the vehicle inspected, after which you will get a permanent registration.

Temporary tags are issued when you:

Register a used vehicle that you've just bought.

that you've just bought. Register a vehicle from outside of D.C.

You'll pay a $13 temporary registration fee IN ADDITION to the tax, title fees, and other fees to title and register the vehicle in D.C.

If you buy a new or used vehicle from a dealership, you will be issued a temporary tag direct from the dealership.

Apply for License Plates

Whether you move to Washington, D.C. or you're already a resident and buy a vehicle, you'll register your car with the D.C. DMV to apply for license plates.

Some cars may require an inspection, and all applicants must have proof of insurance.

See our Vehicle Registration page for a complete list of requirements.

Before the decal on your license plate expires, you'll need to renew your registration in order to renew your tags.

Once you renew, you'll get a new sticker to put over the current one.

For more information, including ways to renew, see our Registration Renewal in Washington, D.C. page.