We Buy License Plates

We love license plates! We have bought collections of 100,000 plates, and we have bought a single plate. Whatever you have, we would love to see it!

Sell a few plates, a bulk lot, or an entire barn full of plates. Send us a photo or two and an approximate count for a free, no-obligation offer. We often cover shipping either with direct pickup or through shipping. Let us know your zip code so we can figure out the logistics.

Common, vintage, specialty, rusty, or damaged, we’re interested. You don’t need to catalog every plate or pull out only the best ones. We buy whole collections. In fact, we highly recommend keeping collections intact. Oftentimes a significant portion of value can be among a handful of plates.

Shelves of vintage license plates sorted into boxes from a collection Rustic Plates purchased

Collecting Since 1995A family road trip started it all

Founded in 2015Buying plates since 2015

Whole Collections WelcomeAll types welcome

1 to 100,000+No collection is too small or too large

Tell us what you have

Fill in the form and add a few photos. A rough count is plenty to start, and photos of the stacks or shelves as they sit are super helpful. You do not need to sort or catalog anything. If you have an asking price in mind, let us know. Have a cool story or a neat history of the plates? Please share it with us!

What we buy

All license plates, booster plates and frames.
Types include porcelain, passenger, motorcycle, trailer, dealer, disabled, sample, tribal issues, occasional use, specialty and year of manufacture plates
Early embossed steel through modern graphics
Rusted and weathered plates for craft and decor
Precut letters and numbers or cut halves

Who we buy from

Individuals and families
Estates and storage units
ALPCA members and their families
Antique companies and dealers
Auto recyclers, auto auctions, repossession and tow companies
DMV, DOL and police department overstock, where plates have been canceled through an applicable registry of motor vehicles.

Rather just email?

You can use the form or just send an email straight to tags@rusticplates.com and we will pick it up from there.

What happens next

Three steps from the moment you send us photos to the plates leaving your garage.

1. We look at what you sentIf we need more detail, or a better photo of something unusual, we will ask.

2. We value the collectionWe price fairly, and we will tell you honestly if something in there is worth more than you expected.

3. We handle the logisticsShipping, or us traveling to you. We sort it out and we have done it in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Sorting through a large license plate collection

Bulk pallet of canceled license plates from a recycling yard

Classic cars in a salvage yard where vintage plates are sourced

Selling a collection you inherited

We understand the sentimental value of license plates. Plates are our passion, so we get it. We also know a collection can feel overwhelming, especially one that came to you from a spouse, parent or grandparent, or one that has been sitting in a garage for years.

We value plates fairly and we handle the logistics. We genuinely enjoy traveling and meeting collectors and their families, and we take pride in making sure plates end up back with people who will enjoy them for generations to come.

Bulk and commercial sellers

We work with auto industry professionals buying plates in bulk from auto auctions, car rentals, auto recyclers, repossession yards, detail centers, tow companies and scrap metal recyclers.

We purchase overstock from DMVs, DOLs and local police departments where plates have been canceled through an applicable Registry of Motor Vehicles. We even buy cut halves, which we cut down further for license plate letters and signs.

Common questions

Tap a question to see the answer.

Is there a minimum?

No. We have bought collections of 100,000 plates and we have bought a single plate, though that one is rare. Not sure what you have? Just ask.

Do you buy rusty or damaged plates?

Yes. We buy everything from pristine to rusty and we do not cherry pick. Rusted and weathered plates have a real market with decorators, crafters and sign makers, so please do not throw anything out before talking to us.

What sort of photos should I send?

Nothing fancy. Photos of the stacks, shelves or boxes as they sit tell us more than individual close ups. If there is something unusual in the collection, a closer shot of that helps.

Do you travel to see collections?

We sure do! We have traveled to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean buying plates, and we would love the opportunity to see yours.

How do you work out what a collection is worth?

Rarity, condition, state and year demand, graphic versus non graphic designs, serial number patterns, and what the collector market is doing at the time.

What happens to the plates after I sell them?

They go back to collectors. That is the part we care about most!

Ready when you are

Send a rough count and a few photos and we will come back to you with a real answer. No obligation, and no collection is too small or too large.

Tell us what you have