How to get dealer plates in Minnesota
What Minnesota dealer plates cost, the types you can get, how to apply, and the rules on using them. Verified as of October 2026.
MN dealer plates at a glance:
- Issued by
- Minnesota DVS (Form PS2405)
- Cost per plate
- $86 first 4; $51 each after
- Requirement
- Licensed new or used motor vehicle dealer
- Use them for
- Demos, staff driving, loaners, promos
- Term
- Per registration year (license year)
Informational only — confirm current fees and rules with Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) before you apply.
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What Minnesota dealer plates are
Minnesota calls them demonstration plates, and the rules are set out in one place: Minn. Stat. 168.27, subdivision 16. New and used motor vehicle dealers order them from Driver and Vehicle Services on Form PS2405. Fees are charged per registration year, which is your dealer license year, and they aren't prorated.
Two things set Minnesota apart. There's a hard cap of 50 dealer plates at any one time. And the statute lists exactly who can drive on them and for how long, from your spouse to a buyer heading out of state. Get it wrong and law enforcement or DVS can impound the plate.
Types of MN dealer plates
For new and used motor vehicle dealers only. On the current PS2405, car, truck, trailer and motorcycle plates are $86 each for the first four and $51 each from the fifth on; the $11 filing fee is already included. You can't hold more than 50 at once.
For moving vehicles between your source, storage, your lot and other dealers (subd. 17). $16 each on the PS2405, available to new, used, wholesale, auction, lessor and salvage pool dealers. They don't count toward the 50-plate cap, but they can't be used for demos or for driving to a repair or inspection site.
How to get dealer plates in Minnesota
- 1
Hold a new or used dealer license
Demonstration plates go to dealers licensed as new or used motor vehicle dealers. Wholesalers, auctions, lessors and salvage pools can get in-transit plates only.
- 2
Fill out Form PS2405
List how many demonstration and in-transit plates you want. The owner or an officer of the dealership must sign it. If a runner picks the plates up in person, they need a signed authorization from an owner or officer.
- 3
Pay the per-year fees
$86 each for the first four demo plates, $51 each after that, $16 per in-transit plate. The $11 filing fee is built in, so don't add it again. Fees aren't prorated, so a plate ordered late in your license year costs the same as one ordered at the start.
- 4
Stay under 50 plates
DVS rejects any request that would put you over 50 dealer plates. Send a new form with a lower count if that happens. In-transit plates don't count toward the limit.
Rules on using MN dealer plates
- Only on vehicles you own or are holding for resale, firmly attached to the rear (not in the back window)
- You, your spouse and full-time employees can drive them for business or personal use
- Part-time employees only while doing dealership business
- A prospective buyer can demo a vehicle for up to 14 days (DVS lists 7 days for trucks, truck-trailers and semi-trailers)
- A buyer can drive a just-sold vehicle on the plate for up to 72 hours while registering it in another state or waiting for plates
- Promotional events with 3 or more vehicles: up to 4 days
- Courtesy cars only while the customer's car is being repaired, with a signed user agreement listing drivers and dates
- Not on tow trucks, service or parts trucks, consignment vehicles, lease cars, or a car sold to an employee on contract
- Every plated vehicle carries proof of the driver's license, proof of insurance and the reason for use
Common questions
How much are dealer plates in Minnesota?+
On the current DVS application (PS2405, rev. 05/2026), demonstration plates for cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles are $86 each for the first four and $51 each from the fifth on. In-transit plates are $16. Those amounts include the $11 filing fee and are charged per registration year. A duplicate plate is $16.25 and a duplicate sticker is $12.50.
How many dealer plates can I get in Minnesota?+
Up to 50. Minn. Stat. 168.27 subd. 16 says a dealer must not possess more than 50 dealer plates at any point in time, and DVS rejects any request that would put you over. In-transit plates don't count toward the 50.
Can my spouse or employees drive on MN dealer plates?+
Your spouse and full-time employees can, for business or personal use. Part-time employees can only while they're doing dealership business. DVS specifically lists the spouse of an employee as improper use, so the spouse allowance is for the dealer's spouse only.
Can a customer drive home on a Minnesota dealer plate?+
Yes, briefly. A buyer can drive a vehicle they just bought on your dealer plate for up to 72 hours, to register it in another state or until they get plates. A prospective buyer can demo a vehicle for up to 14 days. A customer whose car is in your shop can use a courtesy car on a dealer plate with a signed user agreement.
What insurance do I need for Minnesota dealer plates?+
A dealer-plated vehicle has to carry written proof of insurance along with the driver's license info and the reason for use. Your license can be canceled if you don't keep the insurance chapter 65B requires, and your insurer has to tell the registrar if it cancels your coverage.
What happens if a Minnesota dealer plate is misused?+
Law enforcement and DVS can impound it, and an impounded plate is invalid. You then have to title the vehicle in the dealership's name and pay all title and registration fees, and you pay the full dealer plate fee to replace the plate.
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