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License Plates

Florida uses one metal license plate with a series of alphanumeric numbering systems, or combination thereof, depending on the type of vehicle. The license plate is placed on the back of the vehicle with the renewal decal affixed to the upper right-hand corner. The decal denotes the month and year of expiration. Paper registration documents are also issued and include the license plate and decal numbers as well as the vehicle and owner details. This document should remain in the vehicle.

In addition to the standard license plate, there are a variety of other plates available. 

Specialty license plates

Florida offers over 100 specialty license plates. To view images and additional fees due for each license plate, visit the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' specialty license plates page.

To order a specialty license plate online, use our Specialty Plate form.   

Subject to availability, for an additional fee you can also elect to personalize the letters/numbers on your standard or specialty license plate. These are often referred to as “vanity plates.” Before making a trip to your local tax collector’s office to make your reservation, use the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ personalized license plate check service to find out if the plate configuration you would like is available.

Personalized license plates

Personalized license plates may be issued to most types of vehicles, but there are some exceptions, such as semi-truck tractors, wreckers, and other specialized vehicles. If applying by mail or on another person’s behalf, an application for personalized license plate must be submitted to our office for review. The images below give an example of some of the different plate configurations available.

Centered graphic. Photograph of a sample Florida license plate with a graphic design in the center of the plate. Plate number is the word Sample. The letters Sam are to the left of the graphic design, and the letters Ple are to the right of the graphic design.     Left graphic. Black-and-white drawing that shows the layout of a license plate with a logo design on the left side and a plate number of ABCD1 on the right side.     Specialty motorcycle. Photograph of a sample motorcycle license plate. Plate number is the word Sample. The letters start at the left side of the plate. There is no graphic design requiring separation or special placement of the letters.

 

The license plate characters must be entered carefully on the application for personalized license plate to ensure that the license plate is ordered correctly. In addition, please note the following before submitting your application:

  • If ordering through the mail, the license plate characters must be entered carefully on the application for personalized license plate to ensure that the license plate is ordered correctly. The reservation will be placed exactly as indicated on the application.

  • If you want the configuration centered on the license plate, you must enter enough spaces before and after the configuration on the application to account for all allowable characters on the license plate. There are five allowable characters for a left logo and eight for a center logo.

  • Personalized specialty motorcycle plates are not automatically centered and can only have a maximum of six letters or numbers, including spaces and dashes.

  • If characters are not being printed over the center design, two spaces must be left in the center to allow for the design to be visible.

  • The law permits a maximum of seven alphanumeric characters on plates with a center logo. Spaces or hyphens may be used as long as the total number of digits does not exceed eight. License plates with a left logo must not exceed five characters, including spaces and dashes.

  • Personalized license plate orders take approximately 90 days to be manufactured and mailed to the customer's address of record.

Appointments required / office locations

Appointments are required for all transactions! Visit taxcollector.com to schedule an appointment. We only serve Manatee County residents and businesses. Limit four transactions per appointment.

Manatee County Tag Agency – extended hours and Saturday Hours

The Manatee County Tag Agency processes registration and title transactions for vehicles, boats, and mobile homes as well as parking permits. This office does not offer driver license, hunting and fishing, or property tax services. 

It offers extended hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday) and Saturday hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Appointments are available but are not required. To schedule an appointment, visit www.autotagagency.net. 

First Manatee South County Tag Agency is located in Southwood Shoppes at 5756 14th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34207. Their phone number is (941) 782-6050.

Express Auto Tags North River is located at 4333 US-301, Ellenton, FL 34222. Their phone number is (941) 623-9196

These offices accept cash, check, debit and credit cards. A fee will be charged on all check transactions to guarantee funds and on all debit/credit card transactions as a processing fee. Additional processing fees apply.  Please contact Manatee County Tag Agency for more information. 

The Manatee County Tag Agency is a privately owned office operating under the authority granted by the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office. 

Non-Manatee County residents

Not a Manatee County resident? Out-of-county residents can only be served at the Manatee County Tag Agency. See the section above for more details regarding the Manatee County Tag Agency. Otherwise, you will need to visit your home county tax collector’s office.