Oklahoma License Plate Lookup

Oklahoma License Plates

Oklahoma license plates are metal plates displaying a serial and attached to the front or rear of vehicles to serve identification purposes. Oklahoma license plates provide registration and parking privileges. License plates in Oklahoma are assigned to individuals (not vehicles) and are issued by Service Oklahoma.

Oklahoma requires most vehicles to only rear plates. However, some vehicle types, such as truck tractors, truck tractors registered under the international registration provisions, and trucks with a GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) rating over 26,000 pounds, must have both rear and front license plates.

Per Oklahoma law, motor vehicles in the same are required to be registered with Service Oklahoma before they can operate legally on the state highways. Since license plates are issued upon the completion of vehicle registration, license plates are thereby required for motor vehicles operating in the state.

Service Oklahoma issues the following types of license plates:

• Standard Plates: Standard plates are issued to individuals registering passenger vehicles who have made no specific requests for specialty or customized plates
• Specialty Plates: These plates are designed to show support for a variety of causes or to honor certain categories of people
• Personalized Plates: These are customized plates as chosen by the customer and approved by Service Oklahoma
• Tribal Plates: These plates are issued to Oklahoma residents who are members of the Chickasaw or Choctaw Nation

Oklahoma License Plate Design and Formats

The current iteration of the Oklahoma license plate features a white scissor-tail flycatcher - the Oklahoma State Bird, on top of a design depicting the state's lakes, mountains, and mesas. The design acts as a traveling billboard for persons looking to experience and explore the Sooner State. The plate prominently features the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation's website, TravelOK.com, in red font on the bottom center section and the word "EXPLORE OKLAHOMA" in black font at the top center section.

The Oklahoma standard-issue license plate features two visible boxes for registration decals (displaying month and year separately). The license plate is printed on prismatic sheeting, enhancing its visibility at night. At the middle of the black font serial printed in the center is a state-shaped separator between the first 3 characters and the rest of the serial.

Standard-issue license plate:

Military, Education, Tribal, Civil Service, Special Interest, and Personalized Plates:

* Source: Service Oklahoma

Oklahoma Vanity License Plate

When registering a vehicle or renewing a vehicle registration in Oklahoma, you have the option to upgrade to a license plate different from the standard Oklahoma license plate to a vanity plate. Oklahoma vanity plates are personalized or customized license plates with serials chosen by the individuals to whom they are issued. Before you apply to obtain a vanity plate, you must check the availability of the plate on the Service Oklahoma website. Vanity license plates are manufactured in black upper-case block style letters with the customer's choice of background color. If the customer indicates no color, a white background will be issued by Service Oklahoma.

In selecting the serials that may be printed on the plate, Service Oklahoma limits choices to:

• A combination of 4 letters minimum and up to 3 numbers maximum (for example, ABCD123 or 13-ABCE); or
• Any combination of intermingled letters and numbers (for example, AB12C or 1A7); or
• Between 1 and 7 letters; or
• 7 numbers

Service Oklahoma recommends that individuals looking to order vanity license plates consider the following prior to their applications:

• The only punctuation permitted on vanity plates is a hyphen or space
• Plate serials considered to be offensive to the general public will not be issued
• The Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher plate design is not permitted for vanity license plates
• Special License plate requests conflicting with the Oklahoma regular license plate numbering system or one that has been assigned to someone else will not be approved
• A vanity plate can only be displayed on the vehicle registered with the plate
• When a new plate is issued and assigned to a vehicle, all plates previously assigned to the vehicle will be ceased. All ceased plates must be disposed of or surrendered to a Licensed Operator or Service Oklahoma
• When a new plate is issued and assigned to a vehicle, the new plate will expire the same month as the previous plate
• Once a vanity plate has been assigned to an applicant, the applicant retains priority to such license plate for succeeding years, provided a timely paid application for renewal is submitted
• In order to ensure receipt of a renewal application each year, notify Service Oklahoma of any change in your address
• Upon renewal of a vanity plate, all renewal fees will be due for both primary and specialty registration
• The transfers of vanity plates from one vehicle to another vehicle can only occur when titling a vehicle

To obtain a vanity plate, you can order the plate online or complete Form 746 (Personalized License Plate Application (not for motorcycles) or Motorcycle Personalized License Plate Application)

On the form, you must provide:

• Your name, address, zip code, city, state, email address, and daytime phone number
• 6 serials for the vanity license plate
• Vehicle Identification Number
• Vehicle year and make
• Vehicle license plate number
• The decal number on the license plate
• Decal expiration
• A $26.15 fee made payable to Service Oklahoma. Driver's license number must appear on the check or money order used for payment

Mail the completed application to:

Your vanity plates may take up to 16 weeks after your order to be available.

Service Oklahoma also allows any person to apply to Service Oklahoma for the creation of a special license plate. Per 47 O.S. § 1135.7, the criteria for obtaining a special license plate include the following:

• The license plate must show membership in, or affiliation with, an organization or demonstrate support for an organization, group, or cause
• The license plate must not advertise or endorse a product, service, or brand provided for sale
• The license plate must not promote any philosophy based on prejudice contrary to Oklahoma civil rights laws

Upon reviewing the information provided on the Service Oklahoma Special License Plate Packet, individuals interested in creating a new special license plate are advised to contact the Special License Plate Section of the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Services for information and assistance in understanding application requirements. The Special License Plate section may be reached by phone at (405) 522-0093 or via email at motorvehdiv@service.ok.gov. The following information will be required:

• Contact for Organization
• Phone Number
• Email Address

Most Popular License Plate in Oklahoma

The most common specialty license plates in Oklahoma are:

• Military Plates
• Education Plates
• Tribal Plates
• Civil Service Plates
• Special Interest Plates
• Personalized Plates
• Customized Specialty Plates
• Physically Disabled Plates

Oklahoma License Plate Lookup

License plate look-up is the process of searching for information about a specific vehicle using its license plate number. License plate lookups are often conducted for various reasons, including when buying a used vehicle to verify its history, and law enforcement in cases of hit-and-run incidents to identify the responsible vehicle, or to track down a vehicle involved in a crime.

When conducting a license plate lookup, you can obtain various details about the vehicle, including its make and model, accident history, and registration status. If you have a valid reason to conduct a license plate lookup in Oklahoma, visit a Service Oklahoma location or use Recordsfinder services. Note that access to personal information, such as the owner's name and address, is not publicly accessible. However, law enforcement agencies or other approved entities may be able to access sensitive personal information under limited circumstances.

Oklahoma Reverse License Plate Search

A reverse license plate search, often used interchangeably with a license plate lookup, is a search that allows individuals to access information about a vehicle using the vehicle's license plate number. Recordsfinder allows you to conduct a reverse license plate search by providing the license plate number.

What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Oklahoma?

In order to obtain an Oklahoma license plate, you must complete a vehicle title and registration with Service Oklahoma. A title is a legal document that establishes a business or an individual as the legal owner of a vehicle. When you inherit or purchase a vehicle, the title must be transferred into your name to confirm the ownership has passed from the previous owner to you. In Oklahoma, titles must be applied for and issued within 30 days of obtaining ownership, as required by the state.

To obtain an original Oklahoma title, bring the following items to a Service Oklahoma or Licensed Operator location:

• Proper evidence of ownership, such as assigned MCO (Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin or a Certificate of Origin
• Valid driver's license or FEIN
• Lien information and documentation
• Verification of liability insurance
• A completed Application for Certificate of Title for Vehicles (Form 701-6) and (Form BM-26) Application for Certificate of Title for a Boat or Outboard Motor
• The vehicle purchase price documentation, bill of sale, a purchase contract, Form 722-1 - a Declaration of Vehicle Purchase Price, or a sales agreement (if an MSO applies)
• A completed odometer disclosure statement is required when transferring ownership of a motor vehicle manufactured in 2011 or newer. This statement is typically included in the title certificate of ownership. If the odometer disclosure is not included in the title, Form 729 - Odometer Disclosure Statement must be completed and submitted

For more information on transferring an Oklahoma title or transferring a title from another state, see the vehicles title page of the Service Oklahoma website.

In order to register your vehicle, follow these steps:

• Gather the following documents:
  • Proof of Oklahoma insurance
  • Form 701-6 - Application for Certificate of Title
  • Valid driver's license
  • Vehicle purchase agreement
  • Manufacturer Statement of Origin (MSO) obtained from the dealer
  • Form 729 - Odometer Disclosure Statement. This is only required if your vehicle was manufactured in 2011 or newer
• Visit Service Oklahoma or N Classen in Oklahoma City or a Licensed Operator location

At the visit, your fees will be finalized. Once you have made the necessary payment and your documents have been processed, you will be issued a new standard license plate and decal to be affixed to your vehicle. Fees vary depending on your vehicle type, vehicle year, and other factors. For more information on fees, see the fees page of the Service Oklahoma website. You may also calculate taxes owed using the Sales and Excise Tax Calculator on the website.

In the case of a lien, the vehicle title will be sent to your lienholder. If no lien exists, your vehicle title will be mailed to you within 2 business days as part of your registration.

Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and a Commercial License Plate in Oklahoma

Oklahoma law defines a commercial vehicle as any vehicle over 8,000 pounds combined laden weight used for business or commercial purposes. Vehicles in this category are required to be registered as commercial vehicles, and the license plates issued to such vehicles are called commercial license plates. Passenger license plates are issued to non-commercial vehicles used for personal purposes.

Oklahoma issues prorated and straight tags in the commercial license plate category. A prorated tag, also called an apportioned tag, is a commercial vehicle license plate issued in accordance with the IRP (International Registration Plan). Apportioned license plates have the word "APPORTIONED" displayed on them. Apportioned means the registration fee for the vehicle is shared among the states and provinces through which the vehicle travels or within which the vehicle travels. A commercial straight tag is a commercial vehicle license plate valid for operations within the state where the tag is issued.

Commercial motor vehicles that frequently travel between states typically receive a prorated license plate. Vehicles that do not meet the International Registration Plan (IRP) definition of a vehicle that needs an apportionable plate can also opt to have a prorated license plate. Commercial vehicles that do not often travel between states are given a commercial straight plate regardless of their registered weight.

Oklahoma passenger and commercial license plates are compared in the table below:

How to Renew License Plate in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, motor vehicles are required to have their registrations renewed yearly, even if they are not in operation. Oklahoma allows motorists to renew their vehicles online or in person. When renewing your vehicle registration, your license plates are automatically renewed.

You can renew your registration online beginning the month preceding the registration expiration month. On the Oklahoma cars service portal, you will need the following:

• The last four characters of VIN
• License plate number
• Valid Oklahoma insurance policy
• Driver's license or FEIN, as applicable
• A valid credit card or check

Alternatively, you may renew in person by:

• Gathering the required documents:
  • Proof of Oklahoma vehicle insurance
  • VIN
  • Current driver's license
• Visit a Licensed Operator location or Service Oklahoma on N Classen in Oklahoma City
• Receive renewed registration: After processing your registration renewal, an agent will issue you with your registration and decal
• Pay the required fees

Service Oklahoma allows you to check the status of your renewal using the Where is My Renewal featureon the Service Oklahoma website.

How to Transfer a License Plate in Oklahoma

Oklahoma license plates are issued to individuals and not vehicles. Hence, Service Oklahoma allows you to transfer your license plates from an old car to a new one registered in your name. The transfer process must be completed during the titling and registration process for the new vehicle.

Oklahoma License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)