Nebraska License PlatesA Nebraska license plate is a piece of aluminum plate containing a combination of numbers and letters attached to a conspicuous part of the vehicle as a means of identification. Per Chapter 60-399 of the Nebraska Revised Statute, no person may operate, park, or cause a motor vehicle to be operated or parked unless such motor vehicle displays the proper number of plates required in the Nebraska Motor Vehicle Registration Act.
Per NRS 60-3,100, two license plates are issued to all motor vehicles except in certain circumstances. Only one license plate is issued to apportionable vehicles, dealers, buses, minitrucks, motorcycles (other than autocycles), special interest motor vehicles using the special motor vehicle license plate authorized and issued pursuant to NRS 60-3,135.01, trailers, and truck-tractors. Also, only one license plate is issued to any passenger vehicle not manufactured to be equipped with a bracket on the front to display a license plate.
Nebraska registration plates are issued by the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The state DMV issues three types of license plates:
Nebraska License Plate Design and FormatsNebraska's standard-issue passenger license plate features a blue Genius of Creative Energy mosaic from the Nebraska State Capitol on a white background. On the top of the design is the word "NEBRASKA" printed in dark blue, and the serials (a combination of numbers and letters) are printed at the center in a blue font. This standard issue design is valid from 2023 to 2029.
The Huskers Spirit plate design is also one of Nebraska's popular specialty plates. It features a red design across the top and bottom; the word "NEBRASKA" is screened at the top in a white font, and the word "GO BIG RED" is screened in white font at the bottom. The design also features a gray stadium image on a white background, black plate numbers, and letters.
The Message license plate design, another popular specialty license plate, closely mirrors the standard issue design but features the chosen message in a dark blue font at the center of the design
* Source: Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
Nebraska Vanity License PlateVanity plates are license plates that contain a specific serial or combination of letters or numbers selected by a customer and approved by the Nebraska DMV. You can request a vanity license plate via Nebraska's eDMV portal.
On the portal, you will be required to select your vehicle type (passenger car, motorcycle, or trailer). Afterward, you must provide the following information:
After your specialty plate request has been approved, you will get an approval letter via email or mail. The approval letter will provide the date the vanity plates will be available at your county treasurer's office for pick up. It is recommended that you allow 4 - 5 weeks for the plates to become available. You can check the status of your vanity plate using the specialty license plate status check resource on the DMV website.
Note that messages chosen for printing on the plates are reviewed to ensure they meet state law requirements (selected characters must not express, connote, or imply any obscene or objectionable abbreviations or words). Also, payment for the plate is not withheld from your bank account or credit card until the chosen message is approved. Either a verification or rejection email will be sent after the message is reviewed, which, in most cases, is the next business day.
Most Popular Nebraska Special Plate NumbersThe Nebraska DMV offers specialty license plates under the following categories:
Nebraska License Plate LookupBefore you purchase a used vehicle in Nebraska, consider conducting a license plate lookup to gather more information about the vehicle you are interested in. A Nebraska license plate lookup can provide valuable details such as the car's collision history, safety recall information, odometer history, VIN, and vehicle trim and model specifications. You may find these details helpful in making a decision to purchase and in bargaining a final purchase price.
You can perform a Nebraska license plate lookup on the RecordsFinder website. Note that RecordsFinder complies with federal and state driver privacy laws by making only non-sensitive information available. Sensitive information, such as previous vehicle owner data, is off-limit except in specific cases as permitted under law.
A reverse license plate lookup and a license plate lookup both provide information about a vehicle. Both terms can be used interchangeably, as you need to provide a license plate number to obtain information about the vehicle in either search.
You can use RecordsFinder to perform a reverse license plate search on Nebraska-registered vehicles. Note that sensitive information, such as the identity of the owner of the vehicle, is prohibited from public disclosure.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Nebraska?Nebraska license plates may only be obtained upon completing a vehicle titling and registration process in the state. In order to be issued a Certificate of Title, signaling the completion of the vehicle titling process, follow these steps:
Note that if you purchased the vehicle and were not issued with the appropriate documents to provide ownership evidence, you may be eligible for a Bonded Certificate of Title. Also, the exception to county-issued titles is titles issued for vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds that cross state lines. Titling applications for such vehicles must be submitted to Nebraska Motor Carrier Services. For more information on titling a vehicle in Nebraska, see the motor vehicle certificate title page of the state DMV website or contact the DMV by phone at (402) 471-3918.
In order to register a vehicle for the first time, you may visit the County Treasurer's office in person or complete the process by mail. For a first-time registration, the required documents are:
After the required documentation has been verified and the relevant fees paid, you will be issued a registration certificate, license plates, and validation tabs. If you register by mail or online, these items will be sent to you by mail.
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and a Commercial License Plate in NebraskaNebraska differentiates passenger cars and commercial vehicles by defining the features of each class of vehicle. Per Section 60.465(1) of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, commercial vehicles typically have gross vehicle weight and gross combination weight of 26,001 or more, including any towed unit. While the state issues commercial license plates, it does not categorize it as a separate license plate type.
The following are the differences between passenger and commercial license plates in Nebraska:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Use | Personal, private use | For commercial or profit purposes |
| No of passengers | Issued to vehicles designed to transport 10 passengers or less | Issued to vehicles designed for carrying 16 passengers or more, including the driver |
| Requirements for obtaining | Completed vehicle titling and registration with the Nebraska DMV and payment for the appropriate license plate | Completed vehicle titling and registration process with the Nebraska Motor Carrier services |
How to Renew a License Plate in NebraskaYou can renew your license plates by renewing your vehicle registration via the Online Registration Renewal system, by mail, or in person. If you are renewing in person or by mail, the following documents must be presented to your County Treasurer:
How to Transfer a License Plate in NebraskaIf you trade in your vehicle to a licensed dealer, and the dealer lists the vehicle as a trade-in on your purchase contract, Nebraska allows you to put plates from the old vehicle onto a new car. However, if you sell your vehicle in a separate transaction, that is, you traded it in on a different vehicle or sold it through a private party sale, you cannot display the old plates on the new vehicle until you have obtained a new vehicle registration showing the old plates have been reassigned to your new vehicle.
Note that the request for transferring license plates from an old vehicle to a new vehicle must be made at the County Treasurer's office when registering the new vehicle. You may be required to submit your old registration certificate when applying for a license plate transfer.
Nebraska License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Finding the owner of a Nebraska license plate is illegal unless you have obtained legal permission to access such information. Nebraska's Uniform Motor Vehicle Records Disclosure Act mirrors the federal Driver Privacy Protection Act of 1994 by prohibiting the disclosure of sensitive personal information from driver and vehicle records except when the record holder's written consent has been obtained. The Nebraska law only permits individual photographs from the motor vehicle records to be released to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies.
If you are looking to identify a vehicle owner in Nebraska based solely on the license plate number, you may face limitations due to stringent privacy laws. However, RecordsFinder can still be a valuable resource by providing access to non-personal license plate-related information. Moreover, RecordsFinder offers information on over 269 million registered vehicles across the US, accessible with either the plate number or VIN.
Per Chapter 60-3,157 of the Nebraska Revised Statute, you can obtain a duplicate or replacement license plate if you lose your current license plate. To obtain a replacement license plate, visit your County Treasurer's office with the following information:
When police run your license plates in Nebraska, they typically obtain information about the vehicle, its registration, and any potential violations associated with it. This information may include details such as the vehicle's make, model, year, and color, as well as the vehicle identification number (VIN), registration status, and expiration date of the plates. It may also reveal if the vehicle is reported stolen or if there are any outstanding warrants or violations associated with the registered owner or the vehicle itself. However, access to certain information, such as the registered owner's personal details, is restricted and requires specific authorization or a valid legal reason.
You can search license plates for free in Nebraska using RecordsFinder services. Running a license plate look can be a useful step in mitigating the potential risks associated with buying a used car.
A free license plate lookup on RecordsFinder can help you:
If your vehicle registration in Nebraska has expired, law enforcement may issue you a citation. However, the state offers a grace period of 30 days after the expiration date. Within this grace period, you can renew your registration without incurring additional fees or penalties. However, once the grace period ends, you will be required to pay a late fee of $25, in addition to the standard registration fee, when you renew your registration.
If you are moving out of Nebraska and are looking for a refund on your motor vehicle license and registration, you must return at least one of your license plates to your County Treasurer's office.
It is compulsory to return your license plates if you are moving out of Nebraska. However, if you are looking for a refund on your vehicle registration, you must return your license plate to your County Treasurer's office.
Nebraska license plates typically follow the standard 12-inch (width) x 6-inch (height) dimension implemented by most states across the country.
Nebraska allows motorists to drive with temporary license plates for up to 30 days in the state. However, for vehicles that require apportioned registration, the state may issue temporary registration valid for a period of 45 days.
To renew your license plate in Nebraska, you must renew your vehicle registration by following these steps:
Alternatively, you may visit the Nebraska Online Registration Renewal system to renew your vehicle registration.
If you lose your Nebraska license plates, or if your license plates are stolen, follow these steps: