What is a License Plate Replacement in Oregon?
Replacement issues one or both license plates outside the regular biennial renewal cycle. Oregon DMV treats this as a separate transaction with its own fee and application according to ORS 803.530.
- Trigger conditions: loss, theft, destruction, physical damage, fading to illegibility, unlawful alteration, or surrender due to a vehicle arriving from another state. Changing the plate type also qualifies.
- Oregon DMV decides whether to issue a duplicate (same number and background) or a replacement with a new number. Most applicants receive a new number (OAR 735-032-0000). A duplicate of one plate is available for current-issue passenger plates that have not been reported as stolen.
- Vehicles with two plates can replace one plate or both in a single transaction. The $12 processing fee is not doubled, but the manufacturing fee differs: $13 for one plate, $26 for both (Oregon DMV fee schedule).
- Renewal covers the next registration period; replacement covers only the physical plate and processing fee according to ORS 803.575.
When Do You Need to Replace Your Oregon License Plate?
Every vehicle assigned Oregon license plates must display them legibly and visibly. A plate that does not meet this standard requires replacement (ORS 803.540).
- Missing plate (lost or stolen) triggers replacement. The application must state the facts of the loss, but the statute does not require a police report. Submitting one for a stolen plate is recommended; DMV itself only requests a written explanation.
- Cracked, bent, or faded plates that are no longer readable qualify. Oregon does not set a calendar window for replacing a damaged plate, but driving without a legible plate is a class D violation with a presumptive fine of $115 (ORS 153.019(1)(d)).
- New residents must title and register within 30 days of establishing residency in Oregon, surrendering the out-of-state plate in the process (Oregon DMV title and registration). Residency definition is contained in ORS 803.200.
- Failure to register also carries a class D classification and the same presumptive fine of $115 (ORS 803.300).
How to Get a Replacement License Plate in Oregon
Oregon DMV accepts replacement applications online, by mail, and in person. Before choosing a channel, confirm you have an Oregon title in your name and know your plate number.
- In person: Visit any Oregon DMV field office with a completed Form 735-268, identification, and payment. Surrender the damaged plate if you still have it. New plates are typically issued on the spot.
- Mail route sends Form 735-268, a check or money order made out to “DMV,” and any damaged plate to DMV Services, 1905 Lana Ave NE, Salem, OR 97314. Oregon DMV does not publish a guaranteed processing time for mail replacement transactions.
- For a stolen plate, bring the written explanation of the loss mentioned in the trigger conditions section above. A police report is not required to complete the transaction, though having one may help if the plate is later flagged.
- Online replacement through DMV2U requires having an Oregon title in your name and a current address on file. The online channel is detailed below.
Can You Replace Oregon License Plate Online?
Yes, Oregon accepts online plate replacements through DMV2U. The portal covers lost, damaged, and illegible plates for vehicles with an Oregon title in the applicant’s name.
Log in, locate the vehicle, and select “replace your license plate.” DMV2U accepts credit and debit cards. New plates are mailed to the address on file. Expired registrations must be renewed before replacement can be processed; the portal handles both steps sequentially.
Some specialty plate backgrounds and vehicles with title holds may not qualify online. For them, any Oregon DMV field office is the fastest alternative. Mail packaging also works:
- Completed Form 735-268 with a note specifying which plates or stickers you need.
- Check or money order made out to “DMV” for the appropriate fees.
- Damaged plate, if you still have it.
- Send to DMV Services, 1905 Lana Ave NE, Salem, OR 97314.
If DMV2U can process your replacement, use it; visiting a field office is a fallback option when the portal rejects the plate type.
How Much is License Plate Replacement in Oregon?
The replacement receipt consists of two statutory tiers: the plate manufacturing fee according to ORS 803.570 and a fixed processing fee of $12 according to ORS 803.575. The manufacturing fee is where the one plate/two plates split appears.
- $25 replaces one plate: $13 for manufacturing + $12 for processing (Oregon DMV fee schedule; OAR 735-032-0010).
- Replacing both plates at once costs $38: $26 for manufacturing + $12 for processing. The $12 fee covers one or both plates in a single transaction (ORS 803.575(5)).
- Replacing stickers only (without plate replacement) costs $10. Replacement involving both plates and stickers remains $38, as the sticker fee is included in the plate fee.
- A duplicate registration card separately costs $5, but any plate or sticker replacement issued simultaneously includes card replacement at no extra charge (ORS 803.575(6)).
- Oregon does not charge any additional county or local fees for replacement transactions. Multnomah County ($112) and Washington/Clackamas County ($60) surcharges apply only to registration and renewal.