How to get dealer plates in Pennsylvania
What Pennsylvania dealer plates cost, the types you can get, how to apply, and the rules on using them. Verified as of June 2026.
PA dealer plates at a glance:
- Issued by
- PennDOT (Form MV-349)
- Cost per plate
- $54/yr or $108/2yr (car dealers)
- Requirement
- Active PA Vehicle Dealer license
- Use them for
- Dealer-owned inventory + demos
- Term
- 1 or 2 years
Informational only — confirm current fees and rules with PennDOT (Driver and Vehicle Services) before you apply.
DealerVLO tracks your inventory, deals, and paperwork so the plates are the only thing left on your list. $99/month, free to try — no credit card.
What Pennsylvania dealer plates are
Dealer plates let a licensed Pennsylvania dealer legally drive and demonstrate the vehicles in inventory without registering each one. You apply for them from PennDOT on Form MV-349 once you hold a Vehicle Dealer license — they're a benefit of being licensed, not a substitute for it.
Pennsylvania issues a few different plate types depending on what your business does, and the rules on how each can be used are spelled out in the Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S. § 1336) and PennDOT regulations (67 Pa. Code Ch. 53). Get the type wrong, or use a plate outside its limits, and you risk citations.
Types of PA dealer plates
The standard plates for a new/used vehicle dealer — used on vehicles the dealership owns for sale, demonstration, and business use. $54/year or $108 for two years per plate (motorcycle dealers: $27/$54).
For a business regularly engaged in transporting a registered dealer's vehicles. Requires a copy of an active contract with the dealer, and they may only be used on vehicles hauling loads of 1,000 pounds or less — not on loaded trailers or truck tractors towing mobile homes.
Other miscellaneous motor vehicle business plates (e.g., manufacturers) under 67 Pa. Code Ch. 53, each with its own use limits. Most independent lots only need standard dealer plates.
How to get dealer plates in Pennsylvania
- 1
Hold a valid Pennsylvania dealer license
Dealer plates require an active Vehicle Dealer license from the State Board. PennDOT won't issue dealer plates before your Board license is approved.
- 2
Complete Form MV-349
Fill out the Application for Vehicle Dealer Registration Plates (MV-349), indicating the number and type of plates you need.
- 3
Pay the per-plate fee
Include the fee for each plate — $54/year or $108 for a two-year registration per car-dealer plate. Payment is by check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Transporter applications also include the dealer contract.
- 4
Submit to PennDOT and receive your plates
Send the completed MV-349 with payment to PennDOT, Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Once processed, your dealer plates arrive by mail and you can use them on your inventory.
Rules on using PA dealer plates
- Dealer plates may be used on vehicles the dealership owns for sale, demonstration, and business use under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1336.
- Transporter plates are limited to vehicles hauling 1,000 pounds or less — never on loaded trailers or truck tractors towing mobile homes.
- Keep the dealer-plate registration card with the vehicle and renew before expiration (1- or 2-year cycle).
- Customers don't drive off on your dealer plate — Pennsylvania uses temporary registration cards/plates (67 Pa. Code Ch. 43) for buyers, issued through the title/registration process.
Common questions
How much do Pennsylvania dealer plates cost?+
For new/used vehicle, trailer, and special-purpose dealers, a dealer plate is $54 for a one-year registration or $108 for two years, per plate. Motorcycle dealers pay $27 (one year) or $54 (two years). Personalizing a dealer plate adds $104.
How do I get dealer plates in PA?+
Once you hold a Pennsylvania Vehicle Dealer license, complete PennDOT Form MV-349 (Application for Vehicle Dealer Registration Plates), pay the per-plate fee, and submit it to PennDOT's Bureau of Motor Vehicles. You can't get dealer plates before your dealer license is approved.
What's the difference between dealer plates and transporter plates?+
Dealer plates go on the vehicles a dealership owns for sale and demonstration. Transporter plates are for a business that regularly transports a dealer's vehicles under contract, and are limited to light loads (1,000 lbs or less) — they can't be used on loaded trailers.
Can a customer drive home on my dealer plate?+
No. Pennsylvania dealer plates are for the dealership's own vehicles and business use. A buyer drives off using a temporary registration card/plate issued through the title and registration process, not your dealer plate.
Do PA dealer plates expire?+
Yes — they're issued on a one-year or two-year registration cycle and must be renewed (with the fee, and for transporter plates a current contract) before they expire. Keep the registration card with the plated vehicle.
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