Vermont License Plate

What is a Vermont License Plate?

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles issues license plates and manages vehicle registration in accordance with Title 23 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated. The DMV sets policies and standards for license plates statewide. Residents conduct registration, renewal, and license plate transactions directly through DMV offices or online at mydmv.vermont.gov.

The standard Vermont license plate features white characters on a green background with the slogan “Green Mountain State.” The plates are made of reflective aluminum at Vermont Correctional Industries in Windsor and are designed for a minimum service life of six years.

Types of License Plates in Vermont

• Standard plates are issued at initial registration. A replacement set costs $29; a single plate replacement is $15.
• Two special fund plates support specific programs: Conservation (32peryear)andBuildingBrightFutures(29 per year), both available with personalized lettering.
• Personalized plates cost $58 per year in addition to the base registration fee, allowing up to seven characters under 23 V.S.A. § 304.
• Military and veteran plates cover Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Prisoner of War, Gold Star Family, and several service theater designs. No additional plate fee applies beyond the base registration.
• Safety and service plates (Amateur Radio, EMS, Firefighters, American Legion, Rotary, and others) have a one-time fee of $21.
• Antique/Exhibition plates are available for eligible vehicles at $28 per year, limited to four personalized characters if customized.

The full catalog is available on the Vermont DMV specialty plates page.

What Vehicles Require License Plates in Vermont?

Every motor vehicle operated on Vermont highways must be registered under 23 V.S.A. § 301. Registration is renewed annually. New residents must register within 60 days of establishing residency.

• Passenger vehicles and light trucks weighing up to 6,100 pounds receive two plates and pay $91 per year for gasoline or diesel models. A two-year option costs $167.
• Motorcycles have one rear plate for $58 per year; motorized bicycles (mopeds) pay $36 per year.
• Trailers receive one plate. Those weighing 1,500 pounds or less cost $33 per year, while trailers over 1,500 pounds cost $63 per year. A five-year option is available for $165 and $315, respectively.
• Trucks weighing 6,100 pounds and more follow a separate weight-based fee schedule maintained by the DMV.
• Electric vehicles pay 178peryear(89 registration plus $89 EV infrastructure fee). Plug-in hybrids pay 135.50(91 registration plus $44.50 infrastructure fee).

License Plate Rules in Vermont

• Most registered vehicles require two plates, one in the front and one in the rear. Motorcycles, mopeds, trailers, antique vehicles, and exhibition vehicles receive only one rear plate. The commissioner determines the number of plates according to 23 V.S.A. § 511.
• Plates must remain fully visible, mounted horizontally, and secured to prevent swinging. Covers, tinted films, and frames that block any letter, number, or state name violate the same statute. Motor trucks may use a rear bracket that deflects and returns to a rigid position after contact, but no other mounting exceptions apply.

Is Driving Around with No License Plate in Vermont Illegal?

Operating a vehicle without the required plate or plates is a traffic violation under 23 V.S.A. § 511(c). The statute applies if one or both plates are missing.

Attaching plates not intended for the vehicle is a separate offense under 23 V.S.A. § 513. Forging, altering, or displaying a fictitious plate falls under 23 V.S.A. § 203, which carries a harsher penalty than a simple display violation.

What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in Vermont?

Vermont treats plate-related violations as civil traffic offenses rather than criminal offenses, but fines escalate quickly when fraud is involved.

• Failure to display violation (§ 511): a traffic violation with a fine of $76 for missing a front plate. Failure to display a rear plate or both plates incurs a higher fine, with a maximum statutory limit of $1,197 including surcharges.
• Improper use of plates (§ 513): attaching plates not intended for the vehicle is a traffic violation subject to a fine up to $1,000 under the standard limit in 23 V.S.A. § 2302(c).
• Forgery or fraud (§ 203): displaying a fictitious, altered, or forged plate carries a fine up to $1,000 and a mandatory 60-day driver’s license suspension.
• An expired registration discovered within 14 days of expiration incurs a reduced fine of no more than $5.00 under 23 V.S.A. § 307(d)(2); beyond this window, the standard registration violation fine applies.