Consumer Auto is an independent guide, not a government agency. We are not part of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), we cannot order or reserve a plate for you, and we do not take payments. Fees and rules can change, so confirm every detail on the official DFA page or form linked in this guide.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick answer
- Characters: up to 7 characters and spaces combined on a standard passenger car plate (6 on a motorcycle plate). No symbols such as a period, plus sign or dash, and no letter Q.
- Cost: a $25 personalization fee every year, on top of your regular registration fee.
- How: order online through DFA MyDMV or by mail. DFA says plates are normally available within four weeks of its order date.
A personalized license plate in Arkansas (often called a vanity plate) lets you choose the letters and numbers on your plate. This guide covers how to order one, what DFA will not allow, what it costs each year and what happens at renewal or when you change vehicles.
Who Can Get a Personalized Plate in Arkansas
DFA’s personalized plate page says any motor vehicle owner may apply. The DFA request forms add these limits:
- Personalized plates of this type are restricted to passenger cars, 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups, and 1-ton trucks used for private transportation only.
- When you sign the form, you certify that your registration privilege has not been suspended or revoked.
- Motorcycles have a separate personalized plate with a 6-character limit and its own form.
Character Limits and What DFA Will Not Allow
The DFA request form lists these as not allowed:
- Combinations that conflict with the regular numbering system of any license plate.
- Combinations longer than seven characters and spaces combined. Spaces count toward the limit.
- Combinations that are suggestive, offensive or not in good taste.
- Symbols and signs, such as a period (.), plus sign (+) or dash (-), interchangeable characters and the letter Q.
Arkansas law also says no identical personalized plate can be issued for more than one vehicle, and it lets the DFA Secretary limit the number of characters or the context in which they appear (Ark. Code 27-14-1009).
On the form you write each choice exactly as you want it to appear. DFA asks you to make clear any characters that look alike, such as 6 or G, 2 or Z, 1 or I, 5 or S, and O or 0.
How to Check Availability and Order Your Plate
We did not find a separate public “plate lookup” tool on the DFA site. Availability is checked when your request is processed:
- Pick up to three choices. The form lets you list three combinations in order of preference. DFA says your first valid choice that is available will be produced.
- Choose how to apply. Order online through the DFA MyDMV page (“Order a personalized license plate”), or fill in the Request for a Passenger Car Personalized License Plate (PDF, revised 10/2023).
- Pay the fees. You will need your VIN and current plate number. DFA orders the plate only after all fees are paid.
- If you use the paper form, mail it. The form says to send it with the fees to: Department of Finance and Administration, Revenue Division – Personalized Plate Unit, P.O. Box 1272, Room 1130, Little Rock, AR 72203.
- Wait for the plate. DFA says plates are normally available within four weeks of its order date. If you chose pickup, you are notified by email with instructions.
If none of your three choices is available, DFA returns the fee and the application. Once a choice is accepted and fees are collected, you cannot change it and you will not get a refund.
Questions go to the DFA Personalized Plate Office. As printed on the official form, its phone number is (501) 682-7024 and its email is personalizedplates@dfa.arkansas.gov. Pickup is at the Ragland Building, Room 1130, 1900 W. 7th St., Little Rock, AR 72201.
Arkansas Personalized Plate Fees
| Fee | Amount (official source) |
|---|---|
| Personalization fee | $25 per year, in addition to the regular registration fee (Ark. Code 27-14-1009; DFA personalized plate page) |
| Passenger car personalized plate order | $31.50 to have the plate mailed, or $26.50 to pick it up in Little Rock (DFA request form) |
| Registration, passenger car 3,000 lbs. or less | $17.00 (DFA fee schedule) |
| Registration, passenger car 3,001 to 4,500 lbs. | $25.00 |
| Registration, passenger car 4,501 lbs. and over | $30.00 |
| Registration, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and private 1-ton trucks and vans | $21.00 |
| Validation decal fee | $2.50, plus 50 cents postage (add $1.00 if a plate is mailed from the Special License Unit in Little Rock) |
| Tag transfer to another vehicle | $1.00, plus the difference if the new vehicle is in a higher weight class |
| Replacement personalized plate | $6.50 to pick up in Little Rock or $11.50 to have it mailed (DFA replacement form) |
Hybrid and electric vehicles pay additional registration fees, and DFA has posted more than one version of its fee schedule, so check the DFA Motor Vehicle Forms page for the current schedule.
Personalizing a Specialty Plate
Many Arkansas specialty plates, such as college, Game and Fish and cause plates, can also be personalized, but usually with fewer characters. Each plate’s page in the DFA specialty plates list shows whether personalization is allowed, the number of characters, the additional plate fee and the personalization fee. Some, such as the Arkansas State Parks plate, are listed with no personalization.
A few examples from the official DFA forms:
- Collegiate 4-character plates (such as UCA, UALR, Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist): limited to 4 characters and spaces. The form lists $41.50 mailed or $36.50 picked up for the specialty plate only, and $66.50 mailed or $61.50 picked up for the personalized version.
- Game and Fish plates: most DFA plate pages list 4 characters, a $35 additional plate fee and a $25 personalization fee.
- Some cause plates, such as Support Our Troops, allow up to 7 characters. Check the fees on the matching DFA form.
On specialty plates, any characters printed vertically on the design must stay on the plate. You can only choose the characters in the horizontal row.
Renewal, Transfers and Replacement
- Renewal: you renew a personalized plate along with your registration each year, and the $25 personalization fee is due every year. DFA’s MyDMV page links to ARSTAR for online tag renewal.
- If you stop renewing it: Arkansas law says an owner who does not want to renew a personalized plate must surrender it when renewing registration. Willful failure to do so is a misdemeanor.
- Moving it to another vehicle: DFA lists transfers as handled at a local Arkansas Revenue Office. The fee schedule shows a $1.00 tag transfer fee, plus the difference if the new vehicle is in a higher weight class. DFA gives no refund when you move down a weight class.
- Lost, stolen or damaged plate: use the DFA replacement form. It asks for a photo of a damaged plate, or a copy of the police report for a stolen plate.
For general renewal steps, see our Arkansas vehicle registration renewal guide.
Watch Out for Fake DFA Texts
DFA warns about text scams asking for payment of fees, fines or tolls. It says it will never ask for payment or bank information by text or phone call.
Official Sources
- DFA: Personalized License Plate
- DFA: Request for a Passenger Car Personalized License Plate (PDF)
- DFA: Personalized Motorcycle License Plate
- DFA: Specialty Plates and Placards
- DFA: Motor Vehicle Forms (plate request, replacement and fee schedule)
- DFA: Motor Vehicle Registration Fee Schedule (PDF)
- DFA: MyDMV online services
- Ark. Code 27-14-1009 (text published by Justia)
Related Guides
- How to check personalized plate availability state by state
- Arkansas vehicle registration renewal
- Arkansas title transfer
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a personalized license plate in Arkansas?
The personalization fee is $25 per year on top of your regular registration fee ($17, $25 or $30 for a passenger car, depending on weight). The DFA form lists $31.50 to order with mailing or $26.50 with pickup.
How many characters can an Arkansas vanity plate have?
Up to 7 characters and spaces combined on a standard passenger car plate, and 6 on a motorcycle plate. Personalized specialty plates usually allow fewer, often 4.
How long does it take to get the plate?
DFA says plates are normally available within four weeks of its order date, after all fees are paid.
Does Consumer Auto sell or reserve plates?
No. We are an independent guide, not a government agency. Only DFA can issue an Arkansas license plate.
Bottom Line
An Arkansas personalized plate costs $25 a year on top of registration, allows up to 7 characters and spaces on a passenger car, and takes about four weeks once fees are paid. List three choices, avoid symbols and the letter Q, and order only through MyDMV or the official DFA form.
