Oklahoma License PlatesOklahoma 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:
Oklahoma License Plate Design and FormatsThe 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 PlateWhen 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:
Service Oklahoma recommends that individuals looking to order vanity license plates consider the following prior to their applications:
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:
Mail the completed application to:
Service OklahomaYour 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:
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:
Most Popular License Plate in OklahomaThe most common specialty license plates in Oklahoma are:
Oklahoma License Plate LookupLicense 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.
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:
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:
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 OklahomaOklahoma 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:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Use | Personal use |
|
| Plate design | Standard issue passenger license plate is a six-character license plate number with "ABC 123" serial format | Apportioned license plates have the word "APPORTIONED" screened on them |
| Use Limitations | Typically intended for non-commercial purposes | Typically used for business and commercial purposes |
| Requirements for obtaining |
|
|
How to Renew License Plate in OklahomaIn 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:
Alternatively, you may renew in person by:
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 OklahomaOklahoma 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)47 O.S. §2-110(F) and the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act prohibits the disclosure or dissemination of personal information from motor vehicle records without the express consent of the person to whom the information pertains. Both laws define personal information as information identifying a person, including but not limited to: a photograph or an image in computerized format of the person, fingerprint image in computerized format, signature, signature image in computerized format, social security number, driver's license number, name, residence address, mailing address, telephone number, and medical or disability information.
While federal and state law prohibit the disclosure of personal information in motor vehicle records, the information may be released without the person's express consent for certain reasons, such as when directed by a court order or other circumstances approved by Service Oklahoma.
Due to federal and state restrictions on motor vehicle records, you cannot find the owner of an Oklahoma license plate except in any of the permitted conditions. With Recordsfinder, you can get non-personal information from more than 269 million registered automobiles in the United States.
Oklahoma law prohibits the issuance of a replacement license plate if an original plate was seized by law enforcement due to a lack of insurance until all applicable fines have been paid to, and a release issued by, the county sheriff to whom the seized plate was surrendered.
However, if you lose your license plate, you can obtain a replacement plate by completing Form 797-D. Include proper remittance and liability insurance verification in your submission to an Oklahoma tag agency. If you opt to submit your application by mail, make the payment payable to Service Oklahoma and send the submission to:
Service OklahomaBy submitting Form 797-D, you attest and confirm, under penalty of perjury, that the license plate being replaced was not seized by law enforcement. If it was seized, all applicable fines and penalties must have been paid, and a release from the county sheriff issued. Such release must be submitted with Form 797-D.
When Oklahoma police or law enforcement run your license plates, they can see the following:
Conducting a free license plate lookup can be crucial when purchasing a used vehicle in Oklahoma. It provides a comprehensive vehicle history report that helps buyers avoid potential frauds like title washing, cloned VIN, or odometer rollback. This service, offered by Recordsfinder, helps protect the interest of the buyer when purchasing used cars. Recordsfinder's free license search can help you find information such as:
If you are caught driving a vehicle with expired registration in Oklahoma, you may be fined or have your vehicle impounded. Per Oklahoma Statutes Title 47 § 1151(A)(5), driving without proper license plates or decals is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.
Oklahoma law concerning surrendering license plates changed in 2019. From July 1, 2019, motorists in the state were no longer required to surrender their license plates after selling their vehicles. License plates removed from old vehicles may be used on new vehicles during the titling and registration process with Service Oklahoma. However, if you purchase a car from an individual who failed to remove the license plate from the vehicle, you must surrender the plates to Service Oklahoma or a motor license agent.
You can keep your Oklahoma license plates if you wish, as Oklahoma law no longer mandates motorists to surrender their plates to Service Oklahoma.
Measured edge to edge, Oklahoma automobile license plates are 6 inches (height) X 12 inches (length). However, the area available for designs measures 5.5 inches X 11.5 inches. For designs featuring an organization's emblem on a contrasting background, the size of the organization's logo does not exceed 3 ½ inches tall and 3 inches wide and is located on the left or right side of the plate. A temporary license plate for new motorcycles and scooters measures 7 inches in length and 4 inches in height, while the temporary license plate for motor vehicles, travel trailers, and commercial trailers is 11 ½ inches (length) and 6 inches (height).
Oklahoma changed its law for the validity of temporary license plates in late 2023. Per HB 1390, from November 1, 2023, temporary license plates or tags are now valid for 60 days. Temporary tags are required when purchasing a car from a dealership, but have yet to complete the titling and registration process with Service Oklahoma. You can drive the vehicle with temporary license plates on Oklahoma highways without fear of repercussion for up to 60 days while Service Oklahoma issues your permanent license plates.
To renew your registration online via the Oklahoma Cars Service online system. To use the system to complete your registration renewal system, you must have the following ready:
You can also renew your vehicle registration in person by visiting a Licensed Operation location in the state. You must have the following ready to complete the registration process:
If you lose your license plate in Oklahoma, you should consider reporting the loss to local law enforcement. Afterward, you can obtain a replacement license plate by submitting to Service Oklahoma the following items:
Alternatively, you can make your submission by mail to:
Service Oklahoma