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Lost a plate or sticker? Bring your ID, plate number if you have it, and payment. If the plate was stolen, file a police report first, as that creates a record if the plate is misused.
License plates, stickers, and registration are all handled by BMV offices (deputy registrars). Your vehicle title is a separate document from the County Clerk of Courts, and you do not need your title to replace a plate or sticker. Most replacements are quick counter transactions. DMVQ is an independent informational resource and does not process transactions.
Sticker, plate, or registration card, which do you need?
People use “tags” loosely, so let’s sort out the three things that can go missing:
- Validation sticker, the small dated sticker on your plate that proves your registration is current. Replace it with a replacement sticker transaction.
- License plate(s), the metal plate itself. If one or both are lost, stolen, or too damaged to read, you need replacement (exchange) plates, which come with new plates and a new sticker.
- Registration card, the paper proof of registration you keep in the vehicle. Replace it with a duplicate registration.
You may need more than one, for example, a stolen plate means new plates and a new sticker, all covered under the replacement-plates transaction.
Fees
These are the current Ohio BMV fees (Documents & Fees, last updated 1/5/2026). They include the service fee.
| What you’re replacing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Replacement sticker | $9.00 |
| Duplicate registration (card) | $9.00 |
| Replace / exchange plates, 1 plate | $15.00 |
| Replace / exchange plates, 2 plates | $16.25 |
| Retain (keep) your existing plate number | + $10.00 |
| Plate(s) mailing fee | Based on current postal rates |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
Fees change. Confirm the current amount on bmv.ohio.gov or with BMV staff before you visit.
What to bring (checklist)
A replacement is fast when you arrive prepared. Bring:
- Photo ID (Ohio driver license or state ID)
- Your license plate number and/or current registration, if you have them
- Proof of Ohio auto insurance
- Last four digits of the primary owner’s Social Security number
- For a stolen plate, your police report number (if you filed one, recommended; see below)
- Payment for the replacement fee
- Any damaged plate(s) you still have (to surrender at the counter)
If you do not have your plate number handy, BMV staff can usually look up your registration with your ID and vehicle information.
Step by step
- Confirm what’s missing, sticker only, one or both plates, or the registration card.
- For a stolen plate, file a police report. It’s not always required, but it protects you if the plate is used in a crime or toll/parking violation and creates a record.
- Gather your documents from the checklist above.
- Visit a BMV office (or use the online option below for stickers and duplicate registrations).
- Tell the counter which item you’re replacing and surrender any damaged plates.
- Pay the fee. A new sticker or registration card is issued at the counter. Replacement plates may be issued on-site or mailed, depending on plate type.
Online options
Ohio’s official OPLATES service lets you order a replacement sticker and a duplicate registration online, and they will be mailed to you. For replacement plates, in-person service at a BMV office is the clearest route, especially if you want to keep your existing plate number or need to surrender damaged plates. See online vs. in-person to decide which is right for you.
Keeping your plate number
If you’re replacing damaged plates and want to keep your existing plate number, you can, for an additional $10.00 retention fee. If you don’t mind a new randomly assigned number, you skip that fee. Personalized and specialty plates are replaced as the same design with the same characters, subject to availability.
Lost vs. stolen: what’s different
- Lost or damaged: Straightforward replacement. Bring your ID, insurance, and any damaged plate to surrender.
- Stolen: Same replacement transaction, but you should file a police report first. A stolen plate can be attached to another vehicle or used to dodge tolls, red-light cameras, and parking tickets that would otherwise come back to you. A report creates a paper trail and may be requested. For the full process, see this guide on lost or stolen plates.
What causes return trips
- Driving on a missing or unreadable plate. Replace it promptly. A missing front or rear plate is a citable offense in Ohio.
- Skipping the police report for a stolen plate. Without one, you have no record if the plate is misused.
- Forgetting proof of insurance. Ohio requires it for plate and registration transactions.
- Assuming a sticker replacement renews your registration. It doesn’t. A replacement sticker just reissues your current one. If your registration is expiring, renew it instead.
- Confusing a replacement with your title. Replacing plates or stickers never touches your title. Titles come from the County Clerk of Courts.
Common questions
How much does it cost to replace a lost license plate in Ohio? A replacement/exchange is $15.00 for one plate or $16.25 for two plates (service fee included). Keeping your existing plate number adds $10.00. A replacement sticker or duplicate registration card is $9.00 each.
How do I replace just a lost or peeled-off registration sticker? Order a replacement sticker for $9.00, in person at a BMV office or online through OPLATES, where it’s mailed to you. Bring or have your plate number and proof of insurance ready.
My plate was stolen. Do I need a police report? It’s strongly recommended. A report protects you if the plate is used in a crime or to dodge tolls and tickets, and it may be requested at the counter.
Can I keep my same plate number? Yes. When you replace damaged plates you can retain your current number for an extra $10.00, or accept a new randomly assigned number at no extra charge.
Will I get my replacement plates the same day? Standard plates are often issued at the counter; some plate types are mailed.
Is a replacement the same as a renewal? No. A replacement reissues a lost or damaged plate, sticker, or card for your current registration. If your registration is expiring, you need a renewal instead.
Helpful next pages
before you visit
Lost a plate or sticker? Plan your visit to a BMV office or check queueing options, and bring any damaged plate you still have.
Where this information comes from
- Ohio BMV, Documents & Fees (Vehicle Registration Transactions, last updated 1/5/2026): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-fees.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Registrations & Titles hub: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/registration-titles.aspx
- Ohio BMV Online Services / OPLATES (replacement sticker, duplicate registration): https://bmvonline.dps.ohio.gov/oplates/