Form MV-46 at a glance
What it is: Form MV-46 is the Application for Replacement of Illegible Registration Plate of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Who signs: Section C must be signed by the applicant. If applicable, the co-applicant must also sign. Section B has its own signature line, for the Police Officer, Certified Safety Inspector or Online Messenger.
By completing this application, you are requesting to replace your current issue registration plate, with the same style of registration plate, due to the plate being deemed as illegible. The operation of a vehicle with an illegible registration plate is a violation of Section 1332 of the Vehicle Code, which may result in a $100 fine (checked November 3, 2026).
A filled-in Form MV-46 example: replacing a plate that an inspector found illegible
How to fill out Form MV-46, box by box
Applicant and vehicle information as listed on current registration card
Complete Section A exactly as it appears on the current registration card: Title Number, Vehicle Identification Number, Registration Plate Number and Expiration Date.
Individuals should list their PA Driver's License (PA DL) or Photo ID number in the space provided.
Businesses should list their Business ID (Bus. ID) number where indicated (i.e., E.I.N).
For registration plate style, indicate the style of plate that you currently have. For example, Pollinator, Penn State Alumni, Prisoner of War, etc.
When the application is being submitted through an agent/messenger, a legible photocopy of the applicant's valid photo identification (front and back) must be attached.
Owner's change of address
Owner's Change of Address: complete only if different from registration card. If changing the address to an out-of-state address, you must also complete and submit Form MV-8 and qualify for an out-of-state address.
Print address change in space provided, if applicable.
Duplicate registration cards
Enter the Number of duplicate registration cards requested @ $2 each (checked November 3, 2026). In conjunction with replacement of your registration plate, you will receive one registration card. If additional registration cards are desired, there is a $2 fee for each card (checked November 3, 2026). Duplicate registration cards vary in cost depending on the time they are requested, refer to Form MV-70S, "Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees."
Authorization to replace an illegible registration plate
Section B must be completed by a Certified Safety Inspector at an official inspection station, a local or state police officer, or a PennDOT authorized Online Messenger Service when the owner of the standard issue registration plate or a specialty registration plate determines that the registration plate is illegible and wishes to have the illegible registration plate replaced.
A registration plate is deemed 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 over the course of time rather than through a specific incident that damaged the registration plate.
The vehicle owner must take this form, Form MV-46, "Application to Replace an Illegible Registration Plate," to any official Pennsylvania Certified Inspection Station for verification that their registration plate is illegible, have a law enforcement official verify the need for a replacement registration plate on this form or have a PennDOT authorized Online Messenger Service verify the need for a replacement registration plate on this form.
On this date, registration plate number on a Year Make has been determined to be illegible.
For personalized plates, please ensure the configuration is reflected exactly in the registration plate number boxes, including dashes or spaces. Please also attach a photo of the personalized plate. By signing this form, the owner or registrant is requesting the option and will receive another registration plate (with the same style and a new configuration) or a personalized registration plate (with the same style and configuration as the illegible registration plate). NOTE: If the illegible registration plate design being replaced is no longer available it will be replaced with a standard issue registration plate. If the illegible registration plate design has been updated since your registration plate was issued, you will receive the new design.
Free replacement or fee required
Free Replacement: mark I have a personalized registration plate and want to keep my configuration. (FREE), or I have a non-personalized registration plate and want to replace it with a next in series registration plate. (FREE)
Fee Required: mark I have a non-personalized registration plate and want to keep my same configuration. NOTE: Not all registration plates are available for personalization. If the registration plate cannot be personalized, you will receive the next in series of that style of registration plate. The fees associated with each plate type: Ex-Prisoner of War, Disabled Veterans, Severely Disabled Veterans, and Persons with Disability - FEE REQUIRED; Standard issue - FEE REQUIRED; All other registration plates - FEE REQUIRED.
Applicant signature
Any statement made on or pursuant to this application is subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. Section 4904 (relating to unsworn falsification), which include criminal prosecution and a term of imprisonment, the maximum of which may be one year, or up to two years.
Signed on the day of, at (county or other location, and state), (country).
More rules for Form MV-46
The vehicle owner is then responsible for signing and returning completed form to PennDOT in order to receive a replacement registration plate free of charge if you have a Certified Inspection Station or law enforcement official sign off on this form.
DO NOT SEND CASH.
Should you desire to renew your registration in conjunction with this application, you must complete Form MV-140, "Request for Registration," or your registration renewal application and return it with this application.
The registrant MUST continue to use the registration plate they have in their possession until the new replacement plate is received.
Typically, the new plate is received by the registrant within ten days of processing their request.
If an immediate replacement registration plate is needed while waiting for your illegible personalized registration plate, please complete and submit Form MV-44, "Application for Duplicate Registration Card or Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Defaced Registration Plate," and the replacement registration plate fee. A standard issue registration plate will be issued until the replacement personalized registration plate can be provided.
The replacement personalized registration plate will take approximately 6-8 weeks to receive in the mail from the time PennDOT receives and processes the application.
To apply for a never received product, the vehicle owner should visit www.pa.gov/dmv and complete Form MV-50, "Application for Replacement of a Never Received Product."
Common questions about Form MV-46
Where do I file it?
If necessary, make check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and mail to Bureau of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 68593, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8593.
Sources
[1] Form MV-46 (7-25), Application for Replacement of Illegible Registration Plate, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (the Official source link on this page).