How to get dealer plates in Massachusetts
What Massachusetts dealer plates cost, the types you can get, how to apply, and the rules on using them. Verified as of June 2026.
MA dealer plates at a glance:
- Issued by
- Massachusetts RMV (Section 5 Division)
- Cost per plate
- $20/plate + $100/yr master registration
- Requirement
- Active MA dealer license (Class I, II, or III)
- Use them for
- Inventory moves, demos, auction runs
- Term
- Annual
Informational only — confirm current fees and rules with the Massachusetts RMV Section 5 Division before you apply.
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What Massachusetts dealer plates are
Massachusetts dealer plates are issued under a Section 5 General Registration — named for M.G.L. Chapter 90, Section 5, the statute that covers general registrations for dealers, repairers, farmers, owner-contractors, and transporters. Instead of registering each vehicle in your inventory individually, one master registration covers the business, and the plates move from vehicle to vehicle.
That's the whole point: a licensed dealer can put a dealer plate on any vehicle the dealership owns to move it, demonstrate it to a buyer, or run it to the auction — without paying to register inventory that might sell next week.
Types of MA dealer plates
For licensed Class I, II, or III dealers. Used on vehicles the dealership owns or controls — demonstrations, transport between lots, auction trips, and other business use of inventory.
For registered repair businesses. Used to road-test and move customer vehicles being repaired, and vehicles the repairer owns. Same $100 master registration + $20/plate fee structure.
For businesses that move vehicles they don't own and aren't selling — drive-away services and haulers. A separate Section 5 registration type with its own qualification rules.
How to get dealer plates in Massachusetts
- 1
Get your dealer license first
Section 5 dealer plates require an active Massachusetts dealer license — the Class II used-car license from your city or town for most independent lots. The RMV verifies your license before issuing a general registration.
- 2
Apply for the Section 5 General Registration
File the Section 5 application with the RMV's Section 5 Division, with proof of your dealer license, your business documents, and insurance. The master registration certificate covers the business.
- 3
Pay the master registration and per-plate fees
The general registration certificate is $100 per year, and each dealer plate is $20. A dealer running 10 plates pays $300 a year total. Vanity Section 5 plates are $50 each, and a replacement plate is $10.
- 4
Keep insurance and renewals current
Section 5 registrations renew annually. Keep your dealer license, liability insurance, and registration current — an expired license invalidates the plates that hang on it.
Rules on using MA dealer plates
- Plates go on vehicles the dealership owns or controls — inventory, not employees' personal cars
- Legitimate business uses: demonstrations with a prospect, moving inventory between lots, auction trips, and road-testing
- A dealer plate is not a substitute for registering a sold vehicle — once a customer buys the car, they need their own registration (the 20-day temporary registration exists for exactly that)
- Keep the master registration certificate available for inspection, and track which plate is on which vehicle
- Misuse — like lending plates to customers or using them on personal vehicles — can cost you the Section 5 registration and put your dealer license at risk
Common questions
How much are dealer plates in Massachusetts?+
Massachusetts charges $100 per year for the Section 5 master registration certificate plus $20 per dealer plate. So a dealer with 5 plates pays $200/year; with 10 plates, $300/year. Vanity Section 5 plates are $50 each and replacements are $10.
Who can get Massachusetts dealer plates?+
Licensed Massachusetts dealers — Class I (new/franchised), Class II (used), or Class III (junk/salvage) — with an active license from their city or town. The RMV's Section 5 Division verifies the license before issuing the general registration and plates.
What are Section 5 plates?+
"Section 5" refers to M.G.L. Chapter 90, Section 5 — the Massachusetts statute covering general registrations. It's the umbrella for dealer plates, repair plates, transporter plates, farm plates, and owner-contractor plates. Dealer plates are the Section 5 type issued to licensed vehicle dealers.
Can my customer drive home on my dealer plate?+
No. Dealer plates are for the dealership's own business use of its inventory. Once a vehicle is sold, the buyer needs their own registration — in Massachusetts that's usually the 20-day temporary registration, which lets the buyer drive the same day while the RMV-1 paperwork processes.
How many dealer plates can I get?+
There's no fixed statewide cap for typical dealers — you request the number of plates your operation needs and pay $20 per plate on top of the $100 master registration. The RMV can question plate counts that look out of proportion to your sales volume.
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