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Changes ahead for personalized plates

State changes renewal policies

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Monday, October 13, 2008

Drivers with personalized or specialized license plates should be on the lookout for a notice about changes in renewal policies, beginning in November.

Currently, plates are issued and renewed throughout the year. The Missouri Department of Revenue eventually plans to renew all such plates in July. In the next year or so, the Department will renew plates to ensure that all personalized and specialty plates will have a July expiration date by the end of 2010. The change begins in 2009.

This change does not apply to standard license plates, or specialized/personalized plates for motorcycles and certain heavy trucks.

The Department also is switching plates from the previous style to the new "Bluebird" style already being used for standard plates. Those who renew their personalized and specialty plates before Nov. 14 will be issued plates with the same design they have now. After that date, renewals and new issues will use a new plate design.

Because these plates do not follow a uniform design, the new personalized and specialty plates will differ from the new standard “Bluebird” plate and will undergo either slight or substantial revisions. The tab location of specialty and personalized plates will be in a different location and the month of expiration will now be printed on the plate instead of the tab.

Holders of special license plates also will have to register in order to keep their designation. For example, the owner of a plate that reads “DRIVER” must register that plate by the time noted on their notice. Otherwise, someone else could use the “DRIVER” designation for their own plates.

The same goes for those with specialized plates such as those with military or college designation along with the plate number.

The revenue department plans to send notices out “well in advance of their plate expiration,” said spokesman David Griffith. Those notices will ask if the person wants to keep their current personalized or specialty plate. Drivers will be able to respond online or in the U.S. mail. People who have multiple vehicles registered with personalized and/or specialty plates will receive a separate notice for each.

Missouri drivers have several options to individualize their license plates.

Personalized plates allow drivers to select up to 6 characters (depending on the type of plate and vehicle) to appear on their plate. For example, one can use initials or names as their license plate “numbers.”

Specialty plates offer the same license plate character options, but also offer special designs related to the organization, college or military branch the driver supports. There usually is a $15 fee.

Amateur radio operators may have that designation on their plates if they submit a copy of their Federal Communications License and an Amateur Radio Statement swearing they hold an unrevoked and unexpired amateur radio license.

Missouri also offers close to 200 special license plate designs that allow drivers to show support for organizations and sports teams, or their affiliation to military service. License plates that include organizational names or logos may require the payment of an additional fee to the organization sponsoring the license plate.

For example, to get a plate that includes the Webster University emblem, one must submit an Emblem Use Authorization Statement from Webster University as proof of the required minimum donation.

Retired veterans, Silver Star and other military award winners and participants in various wars may choose plates that reflect those achievements. Drivers will need to submit proof of honorable discharge or active duty status and proof that they have received the necessary military award or decoration that makes them eligible for the particular military plate.

Pet lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, sportsmen and 4-H members are among those who can order a special license plate reflecting their passion or membership in an organization. Available plates and more information about personalized and specialized license plates can be found here.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.

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