Minnesota license plate prices fall in July each year

Minnesota drops the price of personalized license plates on July 1st each year. The state charges a one-time personalization fee when you first order a custom plate, and that fee decreases by $1 on the first day of July. If you are planning to get a personalized plate anyway, waiting until early July saves you money on that upfront cost.

The price reduction applies only to the personalization fee itself — the base registration renewal cost stays the same year-round. So the savings is modest but real if you are already in the market for a custom plate.

Key Takeaways

  • Minnesota personalized license plate fees drop by $1 on July 1st each year, making that the cheapest time to order a custom plate.
  • The price cut applies only to the personalization fee, not to your regular vehicle registration cost.
  • You can order personalized plates through the Minnesota Secretary of State website or at any Driver and Vehicle Services office.
  • The savings accumulates if you order multiple personalized plates, so a family with several vehicles might save $5 or more by waiting until July.

How the personalization fee works

When you order a personalized plate in Minnesota, you pay a one-time fee on top of your standard registration renewal. That fee covers the cost of creating and issuing the custom plate with your chosen letters and numbers. The state sets this fee and adjusts it once per year.

The fee structure means you pay it only once when you first get the personalized plate. If you renew your registration in future years, you do not pay the personalization fee again — only your regular registration renewal cost. So the July 1st price drop matters most if you are ordering a new custom plate, not if you already have one.

Where to order personalized plates

You can order Minnesota personalized plates through two main routes: the Minnesota Secretary of State website or in person at any Driver and Vehicle Services office. The online option is faster and lets you check whether your desired plate combination is available before you commit to ordering.

If you order online through the Secretary of State website, you can complete the entire transaction from home and the plate will be mailed to you. If you prefer to handle it in person, any DVS office can process your order on the spot. Both routes charge the same personalization fee, so the choice comes down to convenience.

What happens between July 1st and June 30th

The personalization fee stays fixed from July 1st through June 30th of the following year. This means the price is lowest when ready after July 1st and highest just before the next July 1st arrives. If you are flexible about timing, ordering in early July saves you the most.

The exact dollar amount of the fee varies depending on the plate type you choose — some specialty plates cost more than standard personalized plates. Check the Secretary of State website to see the current fee for the specific plate design you want, since different categories have different prices.

Planning ahead if you want multiple plates

If you own several vehicles or want to order plates for family members, the July 1st price drop compounds. Ordering three personalized plates in July instead of June costs $3 less total. For households with many vehicles, this can add up to meaningful savings.

You do not have to order all the plates at once. You can spread your orders across July if you want, since the price stays the same throughout the month. The key is to avoid ordering in late June, when you would pay the higher fee from the previous year.

What the price change does not affect

The July 1st reduction applies only to personalized plates, not to standard registration plates. If you are renewing a regular plate with the state-assigned numbers, your cost does not change on July 1st. Standard plates are included in your regular vehicle registration renewal, which you can do any time of year.

The price drop also does not affect vanity plate renewals. Once you own a personalized plate, renewing it in future years costs only your standard registration fee. The personalization fee is a one-time charge that you pay only when you first order the plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to renew my personalized plate on July 1st to get the lower price?

No. The lower price applies only when you first order a new personalized plate. If you already own a personalized plate and are renewing it, you pay only your regular registration renewal cost, which does not change on July 1st.

Can I order a personalized plate online and have it mailed to me?

Yes. The Minnesota Secretary of State website lets you order personalized plates online, check availability, and have the plate mailed to your address. You can also pick it up at a Driver and Vehicle Services office if you prefer.

What if the personalized plate I want is already taken?

The Secretary of State website shows you when ready whether your desired combination is available. If it is taken, you can try different letter and number combinations until you find one that is open. Availability changes as people order new plates, so a combination you want might become available later.

Does the price drop explore to specialty plates like sports team plates?

Specialty and sports team personalized plates have their own fee structure, which may be higher than standard personalized plates. The July 1st price reduction applies to all personalized plate categories, but the exact amount saved depends on which type you order. Check the Secretary of State website for the current fee for your specific plate type.