Proposed Specialty Plates
Sesquicentennial Plate
The planning committee for Nevada’s 150th anniversary celebration has proposed the design for a celebratory license plate. The design, which features the 150th anniversary logo as well as Nevada’s Battle Born seal, includes “The Silver State” wording on a Nevada blue background.
Funds from the plates, which will be available for purchase through the DMV upon finalization, will support the work of the Nevada 150th Commission. The plate is subject to approval by the Legislature, which is considering Assembly Bill 24 this year.
Governor's News Releases:
Planning Committee Proposes Sesquicentennial License Plate Design
Governor Appoints Members to 150th Anniversary Commission
Legislative Commission on Special License Plates
The commission approves proposed license plates and monitors the charitable groups receiving funds.
2003 - 2004 | 2005 - 2006 | 2007 - 2008 | 2009 - 2010 | 2011 - 2013
Sponsoring a New Plate
Established non-profit organizations that are registered with the Nevada Secretary of State or government agencies may request a specialty license plate using the application below. Plates may also be requested through the State Legislature. All plates are submitted to the Commission on Special License Plates for approval.
The plate being requested must generate financial support for services to the community relating to public health, education, or general welfare. The plate may not promote, advertise or endorse any specific product, brand name, or service or promote any specific religion, faith or antireligious belief.
Specialty License Plate Application and Development Process (SP 68 and SP 69)
Specialty License Plate Surety Bond (SP 73)
All sponsoring agencies must post a $5,000 surety bond with the application. Proposed art work may be submitted with the application, but it is not required. Non-profits must meet financial reporting requirements established by the Nevada legislative auditor.
Nevada law prohibits the DMV from issuing more than 30 separate designs of specialty license plates at any one time. New plates are approved by the Commission each year following the Annual Plate Review.
For further information, contact:
DMV Special Plates
555 Wright Way
Carson City, NV 89711-0875
(775) 684-4750
(775) 684-4797 Fax
Once a specialty plate has been approved by the Commission on Special License Plates and production is allowed under the 30-plate maximum, the sponsoring group meets with the DMV for guidelines on color, character placement and other plate requirements.
The group must then submit its formal proposed art work to the DMV, which may ask for changes based on technical factors. Once the design is agreed upon, the department will produce prototypes.
The prototypes are submitted to the Nevada Highway Patrol for field testing for legibility. Upon law enforcement approval, plates are given final approval or rejection by the Commission.
Production begins following the final approval. The DMV will distribute plates to its field offices, post the plate on its web site and in display cases in some offices.
Annual Review
Non-profit groups must submit a balance sheet and bank statements by September 1 of each year along with a list of the names of the persons, whether or not designated officers, who are responsible for overseeing the operation of the charitable organization and the organization's current mailing address and telephone number.
The Commission on Special License Plates may order that a plate be discontinued if the Nevada legislative auditor determines that a non-profit group has committed any acts of improper financial administration.
The DMV reviews the number of active vehicle registrations for each specialty plate in the fourth quarter of each year. The department will cease to issue plates which do not maintain a certain number of active registrations. Plates authorized in 2003 and later require 1,000 active registrations. Most plates issued earlier than 2003 require 250.
The DMV will complete its review of registrations by October 1 of each year. The department must notify any group or organization whose plate does not meet the minimum number.
The DMV will review the registration figures of affected plates again on December 31. If the number of active registrations on December 31 is still below the minimum number, the department will cease to issue the plate. See Discontinued Plates.
Nevada law prohibits the DMV from issuing more than 30 separate designs of specialty license plates at any one time. When plates are discontinued, the Commission on Special License Plates may then approve new plates up to the 30-plate maximum.
The department is currently producing 27 of the 30 authorized designs. The next three in line are:
- US Air Force Thunderbirds
- Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure
- Nevada Airport Managers Association
The following organizations have met all of the application requirements. They will be produced as others are discontinued during the annual plate review and new plates are approved by the Commission.
- Nevada Bicycle Advisory Board
- City of Reno
- Nevada Cancer Institute
- Nevada Big Horn Unlimited
- Indian Health Board of Nevada
- The Great Reno Balloon Race
- Sparks Heritage Foundation and Museum
- Desert Conservation Program
- Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada
- Grant a Gift Autism Foundation
- Northern Nevada Section of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
- Clark County Public Education Foundation dba The Public Education Foundation
- Food Bank of Northern Nevada
- Keep Memory Alive/Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
- United State Olympic Committee Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program