Obtaining California Motorcycle License Plates

In most cases, getting a motorcycle license plate is easy. This is because in California, the license plate (or license plates, in the case of passenger vehicles) stays with the vehicle – not the owner. So, if you purchased a motorcycle from a private seller, the plate came with it, and it will become yours “on paper” during the title transfer and motorcycle registration process at the CA DMV.

However, if you purchased the motorcycle from a dealer or you’re new to the state, the process will be a bit different – and you’ll need to take care of it before you head out motorcycle riding.

Dealer

When you purchase any vehicle – motorcycles included – from a dealership, typically the dealership will handle all the title and registration paperwork for you. This means any temporary plate and/or paperwork you need to complete to receive your permanent plate, as well as fees, will all be taken care of before you leave the lot.

New to State

If you’re new to the state and need to register your motorcycle and get a California plate, you must do so within 20 days of establishing residency.

You’ll receive your temporary plate and/or paperwork you need to complete to receive your permanent plate during the motorcycle registration process, and the plate fee is included in your overall registration fee.

Special Interest License Plates for Motorcycles

Just as you can with other vehicles, you can order special interest license plates for motorcycles.

A few options include:

• Environmental
• Memorial
• Coastal Commission (Whale Tail)
• Lake Tahoe Conservancy
• Yosemite Foundation
• Firefighters
• Veterans’ Organizations

Fees vary depending on the kind of specialized license plate you order. You must order the environmental plate online from the CA DMV website, but you can order all other specialty plates using the Special Interest License Plate Application (also on the CA DMV website).