Compare License Plate Rules by State
Pick up to 4 states and see their character limits, allowed characters, and issuing agencies side-by-side. Useful when you're deciding where to register or planning a multi-state vanity plate.
States:CaliforniaOhioTexas
Letters, numbers, spaces, and - ' & . ·, see which states accept it.
Plate previews
CALIFORNIA
VANITY
California
BIRTHPLACE OF AVIATION
VANITY
OHIO
Ohio
THE LONE STAR STATE
VANITY
TEXAS
Texas
Rules side-by-side
| Rule | California | Ohio | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CA | OH | TX |
| Max characters | 7(you: 6) | 7(you: 6) | 7(you: 6) |
| State preview text | VANITY | VANITY | VANITY |
| Can "VANITY" work? | ✓ Fits | ✓ Fits | ✓ Fits |
| Allowed characters | A–Z, 0–9, plus the half-space symbol | A–Z, 0–9 | A–Z, 0–9 |
| Spaces | Allowed (counts toward limit) | Allowed (counts toward limit) | Allowed (counts toward limit) |
| Symbols / punctuation | Half-space ( · ) allowed; no other symbols | Hyphen ( - ) allowed; no other symbols | Hyphen ( - ), apostrophe ( ' ) and ampersand ( & ) allowed |
| Issuing agency | DMV | BMV | TxDMV |
| Full agency name | California Department of Motor Vehicles | Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles |
| Apply / check availability | Visit site | Visit site | Visit site |
| Dedicated generator page | /states/california | /states/ohio | /states/texas |
Notes on accuracy
Character limits and rules can change without notice. Always verify the current rules with the issuing agency before submitting an application, most states publish a personalized-plate guide on their official DMV site.