Proposed Specialty Plates
Information on obtaining a specialty license plate for your charitable group.
Information on obtaining a specialty license plate for your charitable group.
Established non-profit organizations that are registered with the Nevada Secretary of State or governmental agencies may request a specialty license plate through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Plates may also be requested through the State Legislature.
The plate being requested must generate financial support for services to the community relating to public health, education, or general welfare. The plate may not promote, advertise or endorse any specific product, brand name, or service or promote any specific religion, faith or anti-religious belief.
The Nevada Legislature established two tiers of specialty license plates. To apply for a plate, sponsoring agencies must choose one of the two tiers, complete the appropriate application and submit it with the required surety bond.
There is a cap on the number of plates issued in each tier. New plates are produced as openings become available in each tier in the order that applications were received.
The DMV conducts a review of plates each fall. Plates must maintain a minimum number of active registrations in order for the plate to be continued.
| Tier | Bond Amount | Cap | Active Registrations Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | $5,000 | 30 | 1,000 |
| Second | $20,000 | 5 | 3,000 |
Plates are requested using the following applications:
First Tier Specialty License Plate Application and Development Process (SP 68 and SP 69)
Second Tier Specialty License Plate Application and Development Process (SP 68A and SP 69)
Specialty License Plate Surety Bond (SP 73)
Proposed art work may be submitted with the application, but it is not required. Non-profits must meet financial reporting requirements established by the Nevada legislative auditor.
The application must include a budget which includes the proposed operating and administrative expenses of the organization. The applicant must amend and update the application if the organization has prepared a new budget before the plate is issued.
The DMV Commission on Special License Plates reviews applications and determines whether a plate should be issued following a public hearing. See NRS 482.367002 for details.
Approved plates are placed on a list for production. Plates are produced up to the maximum number allowed in each tier. See Annual Plate Review for the plates which have already been approved and are waiting for production.
New plates are approved as older plates are discontinued after the annual reviews each year.
First tier:
Second tier:
No one currently on Tier 2 waiting list
Organizations waiting for their plate to be produced must amend their application to include any name changes of any change in the group for which funds will be raised within 90 days of the change.
When a plate on the waiting list becomes eligible for production, the Department will hold a public hearing on the application, then make the final determination on whether to issue the plate.
The person who applied for the plate and the charitable group will be notified at least 30 days in advance of the public hearing, which is posted and conducted in accordance with Nevada law.
Once a specialty plate has been approved for production, the sponsoring group meets with the DMV for guidelines on color, character placement and other plate requirements.
The group must then submit its formal proposed artwork to the DMV, which may ask for changes based on technical factors. Once the design is agreed upon, the department will produce prototypes.
The prototypes are submitted to the Nevada State Police for field testing for legibility. Upon law enforcement approval, plates are given final approval or rejection by the DMV.
Production begins following the final approval. The DMV will distribute plates to its field offices, post the plate on its website and in display cases in some offices. Sponsoring groups are typically issued lower-numbered plates and they may purchase souvenir plates for fundraising.
For further information, see the Specialty Plate Development Process (SP 69) and contact:
DMV Special Plates
555 Wright Way
Carson City, NV 89711-0875
(775) 684-4750
(775) 684-4797 Fax
The DMV reviews the number of active vehicle registrations for each specialty plate in the fourth quarter of each year. The department will cease to issue plates which do not maintain the minimum number of active registrations required under their tier.
The DMV will complete its review of registrations by October 1. The department must notify any group or organization whose plate does not meet the 1,000 or 3,000 minimum.
The DMV will review the registration figures of affected plates again on December 31. If the number of active registrations on December 31 is still below the minimum, the department will cease to issue the plate. See Discontinued Plates.
Nevada law prohibits the DMV from issuing more than 30 separate designs of specialty license plates at any one time. When plates are discontinued, the department may then approve new plates up to the maximum.
Non-profit groups must submit a Charitable Organization Special License Plate Balance Sheet form (SP-100) and a recent bank statement by September 1 of each fiscal year on a form provided by the Commission.
On or before July 1 of each fiscal year, non-profit groups must provide to the Commission and the DMV:
On or before July 1 of each fiscal year, a non-profit organization shall also post on the organization’s website or publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the organization is based, the most recent federal tax return of the organization, including any related tax schedules.
The DMV Commission on Special License Plates may request the Legislative Auditor to perform an audit of a sponsoring non-profit organization if the Commission has reason to believe that the organization has filed forms or records that are inadequate or inaccurate, has committed improper financial practices, has failed to use adequate methods to ensure money received from plates is expended solely for the benefit of the intended recipient, or determines that an audit is necessary to assist the Commission in administering any provisions of the law.
The Commission may recommend that a plate be discontinued if the Nevada legislative auditor determines that a non-profit group has committed any acts of improper financial administration. The sponsoring group will be given an opportunity for a hearing. The DMV makes the final decision. (NRS 482.38279)
