Organizational/Individual Inquiry:

Legislation approved by the General Assembly is necessary to authorize the issuance of all special license plates. By law, special license plates authorized by the General Assembly can be developed and issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) subject to the following statutory requirements:

• If 350 or more prepaid applications are submitted to DMV within 180 days of the effective date of the authorization associated with the applications, the license plates can be developed and issued subject to the appropriate approvals.
  
• If the $3,500 administrative fee is received by DMV within 180 days of the effective date of the authorization, the license plates can be developed.
  
• After timely payment of the $3,500 administrative fee, if 350 or more prepaid applications are submitted to DMV within two years of the effective date of the authorization, the license plates can be issued and the administrative fee will be refunded.
  
• However, if 350 or more prepaid applications are not received by DMV within two years of the effective date of the authorization, the license plates cannot be issued and the administrative fee cannot be refunded. The administrative fee will be refunded only if 350 or more prepaid applications are submitted to DMV within two years of the effective date of the authorization.
  
• If either (i) the 350 or more prepaid applications, or (ii) the $3,500 administrative fee are not received by DMV within 180 days of the effective date of the authorization, the license plates cannot be developed or issued.
  
• It is DMV's policy to designate one group or individual to sponsor newly-authorized special license plates in order to coordinate the design approval process and to facilitate the collection of the applications and the associated fees.
  
• Sponsor facilitates the collection of the applications and the associated issuance fees, and coordinates the design approval process and payment of the $3,500 administrative fee, when appropriate.
  
• DMV requires written authorization for use of the design for the plate.
  
• Sponsor must provide electronic media artwork for plate design.
  
• The cost for most special license plates for organizations is $10 per year in addition to the prescribed registration fee and any other fees, where applicable. For most revenue sharing license plates, the issuance fee is $25 per year instead of $10.

Further inquiries should be mailed to:

Special Plates Group
P.O. Box 26668
Richmond, VA 23261