California: transferring a plate to another person
Only with the vehicle sale
How To Accomplish
REG 17 (both parties)
Transfer permission is not necessarily permission to accept payment.
Confirm current requirements for your plate type with the issuing agency before proceeding.
Process, conditions, and sources
- Rule: Personalized plates can stay on a vehicle you sell if you release priority and the buyer applies for them. Otherwise most special plates can’t be reassigned to another person.
- Form: REG 17, Special Interest License Plate Application.
- Steps:
- You complete a REG 17 releasing priority.
- The buyer completes a REG 17 applying for the plate.
- Both forms are filed with the vehicle transfer.
- Related case: Plates can pass to an heir along with the vehicle.
- Source: Available with Pro or Premium
Before arranging a transfer
- Confirm whether transfer to this recipient and payment are permitted.
- Ask which forms, fees, plate classes, and vehicle-transfer conditions apply.
- Confirm how the agency protects the requested configuration during the process.
- Get the agency’s instructions before releasing your rights or paying the other person.