Eligibility
Firefighter license plates are available to any Wisconsin motorist who is currently employed as a firefighter or is the surviving spouse of a firefighter who died in the line of duty. The applicant for firefighter plates must be an owner or lessee of the vehicle.
You may select from two plate designs:
- Black numbers/letters on a white background, first issued in 2007.
- Black numbers/letters on a red and white background, first issued in November 2011.
Vehicles that qualify:
- automobiles
- motor homes (annual registration only)
- trucks
- 4,500, 6,000 or 8,000 pounds gross weight including dual purpose farm and dual purpose motor home
- 12,000 pounds gross weight farm truck
Things you should know:
- A $15 fee is required each year in addition to the regular annual registration fee if you choose to receive personalized firefighter plates.
- If you currently have firefighter plates with the white background design and want to replace them with red and white design plates, the fee is $40.
- When you are no longer employed as a firefighter, you must exchange your firefighter plates for regular license plates, unless the retirement is due to an injury suffered during the course of duty. The chief or other authorized person should notify the WisDOT Special Plates Unit by letter or
email if someone uses firefighter plates who does not currently qualify.
For more information, visit personalized and special plates FAQs.
How to apply:
DMV Service Centers do not issue Special or Personalized License Plates you must mail in your application.
To apply for Firefighter license plates by mail, please send the following items:
- If the vehicle you want to register with firefighter plates is already titled/registered in your name, send:
- A completed Civilian License Plate Information and Application
MV2652 including signed Proof of Eligibility and the complete vehicle description
- $15 personalized plate fee, if applicable
- The annual registration fee if your current plates expire within the next three months or you have no plates
- If the vehicle is not titled/registered in your name, send:
- A completed Wisconsin Title and Wisconsin Title & License Plates Application
MV1, or MV11 for dealer sales, including all other fees due
- A completed Civilian License Plate Information and Application MV2652 including signed Proof of Eligibility and the complete vehicle description
- The Certificate of Title assigned to you by the seller
- $15 personalized plate fee, if applicable
- The annual registration fee if you do not have plates or your current plates expire within the next three months
- If you are only replacing your white background firefighter plates with the new red and white design, send $40 and complete the vehicle information on the Civilian License Plate Information and Application MV2652.
- Make the check or money order made payable to Registration Fee Trust.
- Mail with payment to:
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Special Plates Unit
P.O. Box 7911
Madison WI 53707-7911
Personalized license plates
Personalizing your firefighter license plates is optional. A $15 personalized plate fee is required each year in addition to the regular annual registration fee. On the Civilian License Plate Information and Application MV2652, check which option you would like us to follow if your request is not available. Please allow an additional 4-6 weeks for delivery.
Visit personalized plate search to find out if your choice for a personalized license plate is available. WisDOT may refuse to issue, or may recall after issuance, a request that may be offensive to good taste or decency, misleading or conflicts with any other license plate. For more information, visit personalized and special plates FAQs.
For more information: