How to Replace Illegible License Plate in Pennsylvania

There are two ways to replace an illegible license plate in Pennsylvania due to state law, according to PennDOT.

1. PennDOT can replace a registration plate upon request of a vehicle owner when an authorized PennDOT representative or law enforcement considers the license plate to be illegible. Vehicle safety inspection mechanics are authorized to determine whether a license plate is legible.

The vehicle owner can visit any official Pennsylvania inspection station for verification that their registration plate is illegible and receive Form MV-46, “Application to Replace Registration Plate,” from the inspection station OR have a law enforcement official verify the need for a replacement registration plate on Form MV-44.

2. PennDOT can also reissue a license plate. Standard issue passenger registration plates that start with 'D', 'E', 'F', and truck registration plates that start with the tag configuration 'Y' are the oldest on the road and need to be replaced. You will get a new license plate the next time it is transferred to a different vehicle.

A license plate is illegible when one or more numbers or letters cannot be recognized from 50 feet or if the registration plate shows any blistering, peeling, discoloration or loss of reflectivity, according to PennDOT.