Replace lost/stolen or damaged number plates

Find out how to replace lost or stolen state, district or seasonal number plates, return a found plate, remake damaged plates, and order replacement optional plates.

  Replace lost, damaged, destroyed or stolen state, district or seasonal plates

A vehicle must clearly display both legible plates when driven on gazetted roads.

  • Lost or stolen state district or seasonal licence plates cannot be remade.
  • Lost or stolen state, district or seasonal licence plates will be replaced with new ordinary plates.
  • Only damaged state, district or seasonal licence plates may be remade.

If you find a plate, it should be returned to a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent, or by handing it in to your nearest Police station.

Note: Number plates cannot be returned at an Australia Post Office site.

Where one or both of your ordinary licence plates have been lost or stolen, you must complete a 'Lost - stolen number plates notification (VL14)' form detailing the circumstances surrounding the loss or theft.

Any remaining plates should be presented to a Driver and Vehicle Services Centre or regional agent.

If your plates were confiscated by a police officer, they will tell you where the plates will be taken. If you have not been advised, you will need to contact the Western Australia Police Force.

If your plates were seized by the Sheriff due to outstanding debts, they will be held at the Central Law Courts, 501 Hay St Perth, until the debt has been paid.

If the number plates are not collected within 28 days of paying the debt, the Sheriff will return the number plates to the DVS centre in West Perth where you will have a further 90 days to have the plates reissued.

Note:

  • Only the vehicle licence holder may complete the 'Lost - stolen number plates notification (Form VL14)'.
  • There is a fee involved.

If your number plates have been damaged or destroyed as a direct result of a hazard that has been declared an emergency situation or state of emergency, you may be eligible for a free replacement of the number plates.

A hazard means, but is not limited to, a cyclone, earthquake, flood, storm, tsunami or other natural event as defined under the Emergency Management Act 2005.

An emergency situation means a declaration made under section 50 of the Emergency Management Act 2005.

A state of emergency means a declaration made under section 56 of the Emergency Management Act 2005.

There is no time limit on the fee exemptions; however, these requests must be related to a hazard declared as an emergency situation or state of emergency.

To obtain a free replacement of your number plates you or your representative will need to visit a DVS centre, DoT regional office or agent.

  • Complete the Declared Emergency Situation Damaged Documents/Plates Declaration (E47A) form which includes a statutory declaration stating that the number plates were damaged or destroyed because of the natural disaster.
  • Provide identification as outlined on the Declared Emergency Situation Damaged Documents/Plates Declaration (E47A) form.
  • Complete the Application for Plate Remake/Transfer Form E45.

Can your lost or stolen state, district or seasonal plates be remade?

Plate type Lost Stolen Damaged
State licence plate No No Yes
District licence plate No No Yes
Seasonal licence plate No No Yes

  Remake of lost, destroyed, damaged or stolen optional plates

If your optional or personalised plates have been damaged, lost or stolen, you can have them remade.

Please refer to the schedule of fees below for costs involved.

If your number plates have been damaged or destroyed as a direct result of a hazard that has been declared an emergency situation or state of emergency, you may be eligible for a free remake of the number plates.

A hazard means, but is not limited to, a cyclone, earthquake, flood, storm, tsunami or other natural event as defined under the Emergency Management Act 2005.

An emergency situation means a declaration made under section 50 of the Emergency Management Act 2005.

A state of emergency means a declaration made under section 56 of the Emergency Management Act 2005.

There is no time limit on the fee exemptions; however, these requests must be related to a hazard declared as an emergency situation or state of emergency.

To obtain a free remake of your number plates you or your representative will need to visit a DVS centre, DoT regional office or agent.

  • Complete the Declared Emergency Situation Damaged Documents/Plates Declaration (E47A) form which includes a statutory declaration stating that the number plates were damaged or destroyed because of the natural disaster.
  • Provide identification as outlined on the Declared Emergency Situation Damaged Documents/Plates Declaration (E47A) form.
  • Complete the optional plates/remake application form.

To order your replacement plates download and complete the application form below, and take it to your nearest Driver and Vehicle Services Centre or regional Agent.

  Step 1:Application and payment - number plates

Applications may be submitted by post or in person if ordering a remake.

Only damaged state, district or seasonal licence plates may be remade.

Applications may only be accepted in person where the plate is being replaced with new ordinary plates.

Note:

  • Lost or stolen state district or seasonal licence plates cannot be remade.
  • Lost or stolen state, district or seasonal licence plates will be replaced with new ordinary plates at the time of application.

In person

You can also apply in person at a Driver and Vehicle Services centre or regional agent.

EFTPOS, Visa or Mastercard payments are accepted.

State plates (ordinary) fees

Fee type Fee
Ordinary number plate issue fee (first issue only) $31.10
Reissue a retained ordinary number plate $19.40
Remake an ordinary number plate $47.90

Other plate fees

Fee type Fee
Remake all other plates fees
Remake Acrylic Optional Plates $271.40
Remake converted District Optional plates $134.00
Remake Aluminium Optional plates $134.00
Remake Personalised plates (black on blue - old style) $80.50
Remake Retro series plates $134.00
Plate retention and re-issue fees
Personalised and special licence plates series re-issue fee $19.40
Plate transfer fees
Transfer one-digit numeral licence plates (Great Plate Auction) $11,986.50
Transfer two-digit numeral licence plates (Great Plate Auction) $2,398.30
Transfer three-digit numeral licence plates (Great Plate Auction) $1,193.40
Transfer beneficiary / family law licence plates $24.10
Transfer Name series licence plates $598.40
Transfer other licence plates (Great Plate Auction) $238.10
Transfer of special plates $103.80
Transfer unique licence plates (Great Plate Auction Classic: vehicle makes) $2,398.30
Personalised series licence plates cannot be transferred Not available

By post

Complete the application form and post it with cheque or money order payment to:

Street address Postal address Telephone Fax Email
Department of Transport,
Plates Section,
GPO Box R1290,
Perth WA 6844

Please make cheques payable to Department of Transport.

  Step 2:Collection of your new plates: Lost/stolen or damaged

If your number plates are being remade it takes about 3 to 4 weeks to have them remade.

You will receive written notification in the post advising you that your plates are ready for collection from the Driver and Vehicle Services centre or regional agent you nominated on your application form.

You must take the following with you to the Driver and Vehicle Services Centre or regional Agent when you collect your plates:

  • Your damaged set of plates (to be surrendered).
  • Primary proof of identification.

Optional plate applications

  • If the plates being collected or exchanged are optional plates, the 'Certificate of right to display and trade' must match the vehicle owner's name or a 'Nomination of right to display' form is to be completed by the holder of the 'Certificate of right to display and trade'.
  • If the plates being collected are Europlates, note that these plates are manufactured without pre-drilled fitment holes. If you have the Europlates fitted by an outside service provider (garage or car dealer), you may be charged a fee. DVS accept no responsibility for any damage to the number plates incurred during the attaching process.

Collection of your new plates by a third party

If applying for replacement plates due to theft, the vehicle owner may nominate another person to collect and/or exchange optional and ordinary number plates, subject to the following conditions:

  • The person collecting/exchanging the plates must have proper primary identification.
  • The vehicle must be currently licensed or within the renewal period (i.e. 3 months prior to or following the expiry date).

  Fitting plates to your vehicle

Screws are not supplied with plates issued by DoT.

Standard plates are made of aluminium and have the following dimensions:

  • Motor vehicle plate 372 mm x 134 mm.
  • Motorcycle plate 254 mm x 100 mm.
  • Auxiliary plate 253 mm x 99 mm.

Optional plates are made of aluminium or acrylic and the sizes of the various plate series can be found by visiting PlatesWA, or on the first page of the Optional Plates Application Form.

If optional plates are ordered and the application approved, the plates will not be released until they can be affixed to a licensed vehicle.

You will need to organise the removal of the old plates and attach the new plates or arrange for them to be fitted by a car dealership or garage.

WA number plates are issued to identify licensed vehicles. If you are responsible for a vehicle, you must ensure that any plate or plates issued are kept rigidly fixed to the vehicle and displayed in line with the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 (WA). WA number plates must not be used for decorative purposes or kept for sentimental reasons. If the plates are no longer in use, they must be returned to the DoT. Failure to do so, may lead to a penalty.

You will need to buy and affix an auxiliary plate if a bike rack or mobility device is attached to your vehicle and obstructs the view of your rear number plate. Refer to auxiliary plates

If the existing vehicle number plates have been lost, stolen or damaged then standard replacement processes apply. Refer to Replace lost/stolen or damaged number plates

Page last updated: Mon May 13 2024 4:21:32 PM