Wyo. Code R. 045-0005-4
Motor Vehicles & Licensing
Chapter 4: Personalized Prestige License Plates
Effective Date: 06/01/1993 to 09/21/2000
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 045.0005.4.06011993
Section 1. Authority. These Rules of Practice and Procedure are promulgated by authority of W.S. 31-1-201.
Section 2. Purpose of the Rules. These rules are intended to provide a uniform and understandable interpretation of the undefined portion of W.S. 31-2-208 pertaining to Prestige License Plates. These rules include Applicable Vehicles, Allowable Combinations, Application Procedure, Issuance of Plates, Use and Transfer, Loss, Mutilation or Destruction of Prestige License Plates, Refund of Application Fees, Implementation of Staggered Registration for Prestige License Plates, and Right to a Hearing.
Section 3. Applicable Vehicles. Personalized prestige license plates may be obtained for use on all regularly registered motor vehicles except motor vehicles for sale or demonstration by licensed dealers (including dealer-owned and factory-new automobiles), antique or historic vehicles, vehicles for which radio amateur license plates are obtained, vehicles apportioned under W.S 31-2-202, and vehicles for which any specialty plates are obtained.
Section 4. Allowable Combinations.
(a) Only capital letters and arabic numerals shall be used. No other symbols or characters will be allowed. A maximum of four letters or combination of four letters and numbers may be requested. The letters and numbers will be the same size as on regular license plates and will be arranged in a straight horizontal line. (b) Any combination which spells, connotes, abbreviates, or otherwise stands for language which is obscene, vulgar, indecent, or pruriently suggestive will not be allowed. The letters I, O, and Q may not be used when all other characters in the combination are numbers nor may the number “1” be substituted for the letter “I” nor the zero (0) substituted for the letter “O.” No four character combinations can contain more than two W’s or two M’s. No combinations consisting of a number or numbers with a double alpha suffix will be issued as a personalized prestige license plate. No combinations consisting entirely of numbers will be issued a personalized prestige license plate.
Section 5. Application Procedure.
(a) Applications for personalized prestige license plates shall contain the following information:
(i) The date and telephone number of the applicant; (ii) The name of the owner or owners of the vehicle, as shown on the title. (iii) Address of the owner or owners; (iv) Current license number and month of expiration, vehicle year, make and type. (v) Indicate choice of combination for prestige license plate, first choice will be granted, if available.
(b) On first application for a prestige plate, a fee of thirty dollars ($30.00) must accompany the application.
(c) When more than one original application is received for the same combination from the same county, it will be issued to the person whose application first received by the Department.
(d) Subsequent renewals of the multi-year plate do not require re-application until sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the multi-year plate.
(1) Reapplication requires the payment of the thirty dollar ($30.00) application fee.
(e) Applications received after the expiration of the renewal period will be issued on a first come, first serve basis.
(f) All applicants will be notified of the acceptance or rejection of their applications.
(g) New applications may be filed with the Department at any time.
Section 6. Issuance of Plates.
(a) Personalized prestige license plates will be sent to the county treasurer of the county from which the application is received. Upon payment of the regular registration fees, the county treasurer will issue the personalized prestige license plates in lieu of regular plates. If the motor vehicle has a current regular registration, the registration and plates must be surrendered to the county treasurer upon issuance of the personalized prestige license plates.
(b) A combination that has been issued during the five year multi-year plate period, and subsequently not renewed during a current registration year within the multi-year period, could be reissued provided the prestige license plates and registration certificate are surrendered to the Department accompanied by a statement from the original owner relinquishing any further claim to the combination.
Section 7. Use and Transfer. Personalized prestige license plates may be transferred in the same manner as regular license plates.
(a) Personalized prestige license plates issued in a leasing company's name become the property of the leasing company and cannot be transferred to the lessee.
(b) The combination may be secured by the lessee provided the leasing company returns both prestige plates and registration certificate to the Department, accompanied by a statement from the leasing company relinquishing any claim to the combination.
Section 8. Loss, Mutilation or Destruction of Prestige License Plates. Upon the loss or destruction of a personalized prestige license plate, the owner shall obtain "in lieu" number plates as provided by W.S. 31-2-212.
(a) Personalized prestige license plates that have been lost or destroyed will not be duplicated during the five (5) year period of the multi-year plate.
(b) If personalized prestige license plates have been mutilated, the owner may secure a "duplicate" prestige plate provided both plates are returned to the Department.
Section 9. Refund of Application Fees.
(a) Applicants whose prestige license plate application is not processed.
(b) Applicants who wish to withdraw the application provided the plates are not held for issue by the county treasurer.
(c) No refund of the application fee for an incorrect vehicle type.
Section 10. Implementation of Staggered Registration for Prestige License Plates. All vehicles displaying prestige plates will be assigned an annual registration month based on the first “alpha” character of the license plate as illustrated in the following table:
| “First” Alpha | Registration Month | Number of Months Fees are to be Collected |
|---|---|---|
| A, J | January | Thirteen (13) Months |
| B,K,S | February | Fourteen (14) Months |
| C,L,T | March | Fifteen (15) Months |
| D,M,U | April | 4 or 16 Months (optional) |
| E,N,V | May | 5 or 17 Months (optional) |
| F,O,W | June | 6 or 18 Months (optional) |
| G,P,X | July | 7 or 19 Months (optional) |
| H,Q,Y | August | 8 or 20 Months (optional) |
| I,R,Z | September | 9 or 21 Months (optional) |
Section 11. Right to a Hearing. Every person who feels aggrieved by a decision of the Wyoming Department of Transportation is entitled to a hearing. The procedure for requesting a hearing is outlined in Rules and Regulations, Chapter III, Appeals and Hearings.