FAQ
License Plate FAQ
Are your license plates real?
Yes, absolutely! Every plate we sell is authentic. We never sell replicas or reproductions. Intentionally deceiving replicas or reproductions hurt our hobby and we've taken great pride in destroying the few that we've gotten.
Do you sell current license plates?
All of our license plates are at least three (or more) years expired. We do not sell pairs for plate designs that are still in use, even if they meet the three year threshold. In some cases, we may also restrict the sale of single plates from current designs even if they meet the three year rule. We know this can impact legitimate collectors—from birth-year runs to those eager to snag a new design—but this has long been an industry standard. We fully support it to help prevent improper use. License plate collecting is a wonderful hobby. Let’s keep it that way!
I’m looking for a specific plate from a specific year and county. Do you have it?
It’s certainly possible. Use the menu to filter by location and year. In most cases, we don’t list the county in the title, so you’ll need to do a quick manual search to see what’s available.
Do you offer year-of-manufacture (YOM) plates for vehicle registration?
Sometimes. Many states allow vintage plates to be registered on classic vehicles. For certain states, we check whether the numbers are clear; if they are, we note that the plate is YOM-clear in the listing title.
That said, requirements vary by state, so we always recommend checking with your local DMV or DOL before purchasing to make sure the plate is correct for your vehicle.
Do you buy license plates?
Yes! Send us an email with an estimate of how many plates you have, and photos if possible—they’re always helpful.
For more information, visit our We Buy License Plates page:
https://rusticplates.com/pages/we-buy-license-plates
Do you buy entire collections?
Definitely. We purchase entire collections, and in most cases, keeping a collection together results in a better overall value. While many plates are common, collections often contain a few harder-to-find and more valuable pieces.
How do you determine value?
We consider several factors, including:
- Rarity
- Condition
- State and year demand
- Graphic vs. non-graphic designs
- Serial number patterns
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Current collector market trends
If your looking for more information on determining value or selling a collection, you can read more here: https://rusticplates.com/blogs/project-ideas-1/how-we-think-about-selling-license-plate-collections
How do you package items?
We do our best to keep more than just license plates out of landfills. We use as much recycled and reused packaging as possible, including repurposed cardboard and corrugated sign material. And yes, we admit it, we love free materials.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we do! License plate collecting is a worldwide hobby, and we’re happy to ship internationally. Please note that import duties, taxes, and customs rules vary by country. Buyers are responsible for any applicable fees or restrictions in their region.
What states or years do you specialize in?
That question might be giving us too much credit. We simply love license plates and collect as many different locations, ages, and types as we can. Ultimately, we serve collectors, artists, decorators, historians, and anyone interested in authentic, expired license plates. We’ve been buying, selling, and collecting license plates for many years and actively participate in the collector community.