Number and registration plates; provision for the issuance of special license plates to the owners of motor vehicles who operate amateur radio stations; special vanity plates.

Del. Code tit. 21, § 2121
in effect
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(a) The Department shall furnish 1 number plate for each vehicle registered. The Department shall also furnish registration plates as hereinafter provided. Upon the termination of the lawful use of any such plates they shall be returned to the Department. (b) Each number plate shall have displayed thereon the registration number assigned to the vehicle, the name of this State, which may be abbreviated and in the case of motor farm trucks used exclusively by farmers in the operation of their farms and which have been registered for the reduced fee as provided by law, such plates for such farm motor trucks shall also display in large type the letter “F,” meaning for farm motor trucks only. In addition to the reduced registration fee to be paid for the registration of such motor farm trucks, the owner thereof shall also pay to the Department the cost of such special number plates for such trucks. In case of vehicles registered for a gross rate of more than 5,000 pounds, the number plate may also show the gross weight for which the vehicle is registered. Each number plate for each vehicle shall also show, in the manner determined by the Department and as hereinafter provided, the period of expiration thereof for which the vehicle has been registered and the required registration fee paid. Each number plate and the identifying letters and numerals thereon, except the registration period or expiration thereof, shall be of sufficient size to be plainly readable at a distance of 100 feet during daylight. Unless otherwise specified in this title, motor vehicles with a registered gross weight of 5,000 pounds or less may be assigned any type of number plate and motor vehicles with a registered gross weight of greater than 5,000 pounds but less than 10,000 pounds may be assigned any type of number plate except an “RV” plate. Motor vehicles, except for recreational vehicles, with a registered weight rating above 10,000 pounds will be assigned commercial or farm truck license plates. The number plate for a “motorcycle” or “moped” as each are defined by § 101 of this title, shall display thereon the letters “MC” for motorcycles and the letters “MP” for mopeds. The number plate for a “recreational vehicle” or “recreational trailer” as each are defined by § 101 of this title shall display thereon the letters “RV” for recreational motor vehicles and the letters “RT” for recreational trailers. The title registration number for mobile homes shall begin with the letters “MH” and park trailers with the letters “PT.” Each number plate and special plate may have displayed thereon, in addition to all other numbers or letters required by this subsection, the words “The First State.” (c) The number plates shall be of such design, size, material and color as the Department may determine and shall be so constructed that validation plates, to be furnished by the Department as provided in this section, may be conveniently attached or affixed thereto and, when necessary, detached and removed therefrom. (d) The Department shall furnish for each vehicle registered and upon the payment of the required fees a validation plate to be attached or affixed to the number plate as provided by subsection (c) of this section. Such validation plates shall be of such design, size, material and color and shall bear such legend or inscription as the Department may determine, showing the period or expiration date thereof. (e) There may also be attached to any number plate an additional removable plate of a size and design approved by the Department, which additional plate may show such other data as the Department may approve. No number plate shall have attached thereto any advertising matter, any fictitious numbers, signs, or symbols or any legend of any character not approved by the Department. (f) The Department shall issue for every passenger motor vehicle, rented without a driver, the number of plates of the same type as issued for private passenger vehicles. (g) Upon written application, the Department shall furnish to any owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident of the State and who holds a valid, unrevoked, and unexpired official amateur radio station license issued by the Federal Communications Commission, a special license plate for a motor vehicle owned by such individual and on which the required registration fee has been paid. The special plate shall bear the official amateur radio station call letters as assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to said individual. The special plate shall supersede the regular numbered plate assigned to such motor vehicle during the time said individual holds a valid, unrevoked and unexpired official amateur radio station license issued by the Federal Communications Commission and while such motor vehicle is owned by such individual; provided that, at all times, the necessary registration fee has been paid for such motor vehicle. Upon making application for such special license plate the owner shall pay, in addition to the regular registration fee, the sum of $10 for such plate. Application shall be made on such form as shall be prescribed by the Department. The special license plate shall have imprinted thereon only the call letters of the licensee, the words, “Delaware,” “The First State” and the expiration date of the license plate. (h) This title notwithstanding, the Department, upon written application, shall furnish to any owner of a motor vehicle otherwise entitled to a license plate, who is a resident of this State, a special vanity license plate for each motor vehicle owned by such individual for which the required registration fee has been paid, which plate shall have displayed thereon: (1) Any single letter or combination of letters or combination of letters and numerals, not to exceed 7 in number. If the combination includes numerals, the numerals shall be displayed to the right of all letters on the plate. A hyphen shall be permitted and shall be counted as 1 letter. In its discretion, the Department may refuse any combination of letters, or letters and numerals. The Department may refuse 7 character combinations that do not allow adequate spacing between letters and/or numbers; (2) The word “Delaware”; (3) The words “The First State”; (4) The expiration date of the license plates; and (5) Gold letters on a blue background, except for license plates provided for in § 2123 of this title, in which case they shall be blue letters on a gold background. Upon making application for such special vanity license plates, the owner shall pay $40 annually for each plate in addition to the regular registration fee. Application shall be made on forms as prescribed by the Department. The Department shall issue such plates in the order in which the applications are received for any letter or combination thereof. Such license plates shall be the personal property of the owner so long as the owner shall comply with this section. No reasonable facsimile of any license plate as provided for in this chapter shall be displayed on the front of any motor vehicle registered in this State. The provisions of subsection (b) of this section relating to the display of the letters “P/C” for combination vehicles shall not be applicable to this subsection. (i) This title notwithstanding, the Department, upon written application, shall furnish to any owner of a motorcycle, otherwise entitled to a Delaware license plate, a special vanity license plate, provided the required registration fee has been paid for such motorcycle pursuant to § 2151(1) of this title. Such special plate shall have displayed thereon: (1) Any single letter or combination of letters or combinations of letters and numerals, not to exceed 5 in number. If the combination includes numerals, the numerals shall be displayed to the right of all letters on the plate. A hyphen shall be permitted and shall be counted as 1 letter. In its discretion, the Department may refuse any combination of letters, or letters and numerals; (2) The word “Delaware”; (3) The letters M/C; (4) The expiration date of the license plate; and (5) Gold letters on a blue background. Upon making application for such special vanity license plate, the owner shall pay $40 annually for each plate in addition to the regular registration fee. Application shall be made on forms as prescribed by the Department. The Department shall issue such plates in the order in which the applications are received for any letter or combination thereof. Such license plate shall be the personal property of the owner so long as the owner shall comply with this section. No reasonable facsimile of any license plate as provided for in this chapter shall be displayed on the front of any motorcycle registered in this State. (j) The number plates for recreational vehicles shall display thereon the letters “RV.” A $10 fee shall be assessed to change the certificate of title, registration and license plate for any vehicle already registered under another type of plate if the owner desires to change to a recreational vehicle tag. (k) Effective March 27, 1996, individual special vanity license plates shall not be recalled when the Department issues other categories of special group license plates with conflicting letters and numbers.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c021/sc02/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026

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