Everything you need to know about personalised number plates

Victorians can choose between custom plates featuring their own combo of letters and numbers, or special interest plates, such as fishing or footy team colours. Check availability by visiting vplates.com.au or calling VicRoads on 1300 660 417.

Once you pick and pay for your desired plates, they should arrive in two to three weeks. Prior to attaching your new plates to your existing car, call VicRoads on 13 11 71 or take the plates in their box to the car dealership when picking up a brand new car.

So you can even reserve a new combination before you have a vehicle to attach it to for a small fee or renew a hold on an existing plate.

Plates will be either sent via registered mail or picked up from a Service NSW Centre where you'll be asked to hand in your old plates.

In the ACT, personalised plates can only be ordered at an Access Canberra Service Centre in a range of colours and styles including rainbow, long European style, business colours or Brumbies or Raiders colours.

All plates will be sent to your nominated Service Centre within four to six weeks, and you must bring your old plates and a screwdriver to fit your new plates. If you sell your car, you can take your personalised plates to the Service Centre and put them on hold for a fee, put a new set of standard plates on your car, and then collect your plates once again when you purchase a new car.

Queenslanders can head to ppq.com.au to purchase personalised plates and search for available combinations.

From there, simply choose from the various designs such as plain colours, European slimline designs, themed Queensland images, footy colours and even emoji!. Once you buy them, you own them for life even if you move states.

In the Northern Territory, you can only buy the right to display a personalised number plate and renew it yearly, as opposed to owning it. There are a few options of styles, including 3-character or 7-character plates, explorer or regional designs or club cars.

You can apply in person or online at MVR. Plates take between six to eight weeks to arrive and can then be collected from an MVR office.

When you pick up your new number plates, you can hand in your old plates. Number plates must be allocated to a registered vehicle before they can be collected.

Personalised plates attract a $180 one-off fee, while custom plates charge a yearly fee.

You can design and order your personalised ‘optional plates' at plateswa.com. There are hundreds of different styles and they will take up to four weeks to be made. Once they are ready, you can arrange for collection from a Driver and Vehicle Service Centre or Regional Agent. Don't forget to bring your ID, existing plates, and tools and screws to affix your new plates there on the spot.

If you sell your vehicle with the personalised plates attached, the plates are transferred to the new owner. To keep the plates, you must remove them from the vehicle and get other standard plates before selling it.

Tasmanian drivers have a diverse range of styles to choose from at tasplates.com including 3D plates, 7-character plates, animals, causes or large US styles. You can type in your desired plate, or some details such as name, DOB and favourite number and the site will generate a range of options for you. If you want numerals only, you will have to call 1300 787 060 to order.

When your new plates arrive by post, within seven days you must either post back your old plates in the enclosed post bag or take them to a Service Tasmania office.

FAQs

What do I do with my personalised number plates if I sell my car?

If you move states, you can take your personalised plates with you, but you cannot attach them to a car registered in another state.

If you wish to retain the rights to a number plate when you sell your vehicle, you will need to notify your state transport department (e.g. VicRoads or DTR) and obtain a new set of number plates to affix to the vehicle before you sell it. Fees will be charged for the issue of another set of number plates. If you sell your registered vehicle with your number plates attached, all of the rights relating to the use of the number plates will pass to the person who purchases the vehicle.

You can buy and sell personalised plates at platesales.com.au, or other sites such as eBay.

Do I have to update my details when I buy personalised plates?

Yes, you'll need to update your insurance, toll accounts and roadside assistance memberships before you hit the road. It's also worth mentioning that ownership of the personalised plates and cars need to be the same name.

What can't I put on my personalised plates?

All states won't approve plate combinations that have offensive, sensitive or contentious connotations, political messages or any type of hate speech in English or any other language.

You also can't have a contravention of any State or Commonwealth Legislation (for example ANZAC, NAVY, RAN, AFC, RAAF).