Amateur Radio License Plates ARE Available

[jmp883]

For those amateur radio operators who may want to put their callsign on their license plates it can be done with Amateur Radio license plates instead of NJ Vanity license plates.

Contrary to what several local NJ DMV agencies told me, and what NJ DMV's own website has posted, Amateur Radio License Plates ARE available. I never thought to ask the members of my ham radio club simply because the few guys in my ham radio club who have their callsigns on their license plates did it via regular NJ vanity plates.

The applications are only available via telephone, they will mail them directly to you. Just call 888-486-3339 ext. 5061.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Joe, How much does DMV hit you for callsign plates?

 

[jmp883]

Don't know.....

Didn't think to ask when I gave the DMV operator my mailing address for the applications. I'll post it when I get the applications. I would imagine it is probably between $25-$50.

 

[railtrailbiker]

I just received a set. I believe I paid $25, much cheaper than the initial charge for Vanity Plates. Isn't there an annual charge for Vanity Plates as well?

 

[jaymatt1978]

[Putting on my license plate collector's researchers hat]

A few years ago the fee was $12, plus the cost of the annual renewal. Amateur radio plates have the words AMATEUR RADIO instead of GARDEN STATE on the caption These are a lot cheaper than the $50 fee for regular vanity plates. When the bill originally came out in 1995 the fee waz $12 but I just checked the MVC website and they have since rasied the fee to $15 which is the same cost to renew firefighter and EMT license plates. $15 is still a lot cheaper than the $50 renewal fee for vanity plates. I am a license plate collector and have written an article about these plates. You can email me for a copy of the article in PDF format!!

 

[nosoup4u]

On thing to be careful of...if you call up and request the form, it may still say $12 (at least mine did). You need to send in $15.

 

[railtrailbiker]

The other thing to be careful of is that the form you get in the mail doesn't say to include a COPY of your Amateur Radio License. Don't forget to do that or you'll get it everything back in the mail.

 

[jmp883]

I just got my application in this morning's mail. Time to clarify a few things.

Based on some of the other posts it seems they may have been using some old applications, or people were sending out obsolete applications. The application I received this morning clearly states the need for a photocopy of both your valid vehicle registration and valid amateur radio license. It also indicates that the fee is $15.00, payable by check or money order.

Now, do I part with my firefighter plates that I've had for 20+ years ?

 

[jdemers]

Maybe you can staple your Ham plate app and a firefighter plate app together, and get your callsign on a FF plate???? That would be great.

Up here in CT, I bought a new car via a dealer, so they registered it for me on the state system, I sent in form B-6 DMV application for Ham Plate, and they sent it back, saying "Wait 8 weeks, as your registration is not yet in OUR system"

I love government!

 

[jaymatt1978]

Joe
A firefighter plate or a ham radio plate, that's a tough call. Although you could get an attachmennt with the name of you department and put it under the ham radio plate. I have seen callsigns as vanities on optional- plates in NJ. Although I think that qualifies as just a regular vanity plate and doesn't offer a discount like the regular ham radio plate!

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi Jay and all,

"I have seen callsigns as vanities on optional- plates in NJ. Although I think that qualifies as just a regular vanity plate and doesn't offer a discount like the regular ham radio plate!"

I have no idea what you're talking about, you're contradicting yourself, vanity and public service plates are two different animals. Amateur Radio being in the public service puts them in the same category as PD, FD and EMS plates only the DMV calls them "ham" plates. For that reason the registration fee is the same while that for vanity plates is MUCH higher.