Find out how to transfer your state, district or personalised plates to an immediate family member, and how to transfer your optional plates.
Transfer of state/district plates to an immediate family member
You can transfer your state, district or personalised plates to an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child or sibling). A fee is applicable.
Complete the Application for plate remake/transfer (Form E45) and attend a Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure service centre or regional agent with both sets of plates and primary ID (e.g. driver’s licence).
If you're selling a vehicle that displays state or district plates but wish to retain the plates, you must remove them before the sale and arrange for replacement plates to be issued by DTMI.
Sell or transfer your optional plates
When you purchase optional plates in Western Australia, you’re issued with a 'Certificate of Right to Display and Trade'. This is an official document issued by DTMI that confirms your legal right to display and sell specific optional number plates. This allows you to:
- transfer the display rights to another person or organisation
- sell the plates privately.
If you’re the owner of the 'Certificate of Right to Display and Trade', you must complete the Transfer of right to display optional plates (Form VL176). This form must be submitted within 14 days of the sale, along with the certificate and the plates, to your nearest DTMI service centre or regional agent. If you've lost your 'Certificate of Right to Display and Trade' or need a replacement, call us on 13 11 56 or email plates@transport.wa.gov.au.
If you’re the buyer of the 'Certificate of Right to Display and Trade' you must submit the completed original copy and pay the required plate transfer fee at any DTMI service centre or regional agent.
Optional series plates aren’t automatically transferred to a new owner as part of the transfer of a vehicle licence. The new owner must also apply to transfer the right to display the plates into their name by completing and submitting the Transfer of right to display optional plates (Form VL176). The new owner must pay the required fees at any DTMI service centre or regional agent.
Additionally, when selling a vehicle, should the Notification of change of ownership vehicle licence transfer (Form MR9) have the option for both parties (seller and purchaser) to transfer the ownership of any optional plate, there is no need to complete Form VL176. Transfer of the plates can be nominated by using Form MR9. A separate invoice with be issued to the purchaser.
Estate or Family Court Orders
If you are the beneficiary of an Estate or Family Court Order, you’ll pay a reduced plate transfer fee (refer to the current schedule of plate fees). You must present a copy of the will or the court order at a DTMI service centre or regional agent.
Exchanging optional plates
If the seller wants to retain ownership of the optional series plates when the vehicle is sold, they must attend a DTMI service centre or regional agent with the optional plates.
The optional plates can be retained by DTMI and changed for state or district plates. Plate fees apply. The vehicle can then be sold with the state or district plates attached.
Storage of plates (retention)
Plates are usually stored at the DTMI service centre or regional agent where you handed them in for retention.
If you handed them in at one of our regional agents, then the plates may have been relocated to one of the regional DTMI service centres due to storage limitations.
To find out where your plates are currently stored, or to have them sent to another location, you can call us on 13 11 56 or visit a DTMI service centre or regional agent.
Note: Optional plate series can be retained indefinitely. State, district and PTV number plate series can be physically retained for a maximum of 90 days and electronically for a further 275 days. Once the plates have been destroyed a plate remake fee is payable. The plates can’t be remade once these time periods have lapsed.
Outstanding transfer fees for optional series plates
If you’ve outstanding plate transfer fees, you’ll be contacted by post and advised of the requirement to pay those fees.
State plate (ordinary) fees
| Fee description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ordinary number plate issue fee (first issue only) | $32.00 |
| Reissue a retained ordinary number plate | $19.40 |
| Remake an ordinary number plate | $52.10 |
Remake all other plate fees
| Fee description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Remake Acrylic Optional Plates | $285.00 |
| Remake converted District Optional plates | $140.70 |
| Remake Aluminium Optional plates | $140.70 |
| Remake Personalised plates (black on blue - old style) | $80.50 |
| Remake Retro series plates | $140.70 |
Plate retention and re-issue fee
| Fee description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Personalised and special licence plates series re-issue fee | $19.40 |
Plate transfer fees
| Fee description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer one-digit numeral licence plates (Great Plate Auction) | $12,593.20 |
| Transfer two-digit numeral licence plates (Great Plate Auction) | $2,519.60 |
| Transfer three-digit numeral licence plates (Great Plate Auction) | $1,253.70 |
| Transfer beneficiary / family law licence plates | $25.30 |
| Transfer Name series licence plates | $628.60 |
| Transfer other licence plates (Great Plate Auction) | $250.10 |
| Transfer Retro series and all other special licence plates | $109.00 |
| Transfer unique licence plates (Great Plate Auction Classic: vehicle makes) | $2,519.60 |
Personalised series licence plates can't be transferred
Displaying optional plates on a nominated vehicle
Optional number plates can be displayed on a vehicle that isn’t in the name of the holder of the 'Certificate of Right to Display and Trade'.
To display your plates on a vehicle that isn’t licensed in your name, complete the Nomination of vehicle to display optional plates (Form E63).
Take the form to a DTMI service centre or regional agent to be processed.
YYou’ll need to organise the removal of the old plates and attachment of the new plates yourself or arrange for them to be fitted by a car dealership or garage.
Note: Screws aren’t supplied with plates issued by the DTMI.
'Personalised' series plates
Personalised series plates aren’t issued with a 'Certificate of Right to Display and Trade', so they can’t be transferred. Once approved, personalised plates can only be assigned to a vehicle registered in the name of the person they were issued to, or to a member of their immediate family.
If you sell your vehicle with personalised plates still attached, the plates will transfer to the new owner during the vehicle transfer process. You’ll lose the right to display those plates on another vehicle in your name.
To transfer your personalised plates to an immediate family member, you’ll need to complete the Application for Plate Remake/Transfer (Form E45).
If you no longer need your personalised plates and don’t want to transfer them to a family member, you’ll need to return them to a DTMI service centre or regional agent.
If you’re selling a vehicle that currently displays personalised plates but want to keep the plates, you must remove them before the sale and fit the vehicle with other plates. The personalised plates will be stored at a DTMI service centre or regional agent. They can be reissued to the person or organisation they were last registered to.
If you want to transfer your personalised plates to another vehicle registered in your name, you’ll need to visit your nearest DTMI service centre or regional agent. Bring primary and secondary ID, proof of ownership for both vehicles, and both sets of plates. Fees apply. You mustn’t drive a vehicle without plates attached, so you’ll need to use a different vehicle or remove the plates once you arrive at the centre.