Registration & Plates

Des Moines University

Please note there are different requirements depending upon plate choice. Be sure to review the specific information for each plate.

Eligible vehicles:

  • Automobiles
  • Multipurpose vehicles
  • Sport utility vehicles
  • Vans
  • Trucks
  • Motor homes
  • Trailers and travel trailers


Numbered plates:

  • $25 initial fee to the Road Use Tax Fund for the Blackout Plate fee
  • $5 annual renewal fee
  • Annual registration renewal fee

Personalized plates:

  • $50 initial fee
  • $5 annual renewal fee
  • Annual registration renewal fee (paid to county treasurer)
Personalized license plates may consist of up to seven characters and numbers. All personalized plate choices must have at least two characters.
  • No punctuation marks are allowed
  • No denoting a government agency (i.e., DOT)
  • No display of characters that are sexual in connotation
  • No characters suggesting profane, obscene or inflammatory words or phrases, or those contrary to public policy
  • No characters or words defined in dictionaries as a term of vulgarity, contempt, prejudice, hostility, insult, or racial or ethnic degradation
  • No characters considered to be offensive
  • No characters that conflict with the regular license numbering system
  • Recognized as a swear word
  • Reference to an illegal substance or criminal act
  • Any foreign word falling in any of these categories
  • Cannot be all numbers

How to apply

Order online (You will need an Iowa Driver's license or ID and a credit card to complete the transaction.)

Your plates will be sent to your county treasurer's office and staff will notify you when your plates are available. Typical processing time is 3-6 weeks. Plates must be assigned to a vehicle within 90 days or the plates will be voided and no refund issued. Your current plates must be exchanged for your new plates.


For questions:

Department of Transportation