DOT offers more convenient way to get ‘blackout plates’

With the popularity of Iowa's new blackout license plates, the Iowa Department of Transportation will now be providing a supply of the non-personalized, alpha-numeric version of the blackout specialty license plate to local county treasurer's offices.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3, a registered owner will be able to exchange any plates for non-personalized blackout plates at the local county treasurer's office, saving the two- to three-week order processing time if ordered online or by mail.

An owner's new blackout plates will not have the same letter/number combination as their current plates.

Simply bring the existing plates into the county treasurer's office after Tuesday and pay for and pick up the new plates.

The blackout plates are considered a specialty plate, so there is an additional fee to get them.

Due at the time a person picks up their non-personalized blackout plates is:

' a $35 initial fee for the blackout plate fee.

Due the next time the non-personalized blackout plate is renewed is:

' a $10 annual registration fee for the blackout Pplate renewal.

Due to the change, non-personalized blackout plates will no longer be available to order online. To expedite an order, do not mail applications for the non-personalized blackout plates after Tuesday.

The process to order personalized blackout plates has not changed. If a vehicle owner currently has non-personalized, alpha-numeric plates of any type or are seeking a new personalized message, a personalized plates can be ordered online at https://iowadot.gov/mvd/vehicleregistration/vehicleregistration/plates/blackout or by mailing in the form with payment.

If an owner has a current personalized plate and wants to keep the text, they need to use the mail-in form.

Due at the time of order new, personalized plates is:

' a $60 initial fee ($25 personalization fee plus $35 for blackout plate fee).

Due the next time the personalized blackout plate is renewed is:

' a $15 annual registration fee ($5 validation fee plus $10 for the blackout plate fee).

Costs of specialty and personalized plates are set by the Iowa Legislature.