The Complete Guide to Victorian Personalised Number Plates (2026)

Victoria has the most extensive personalised plate program in Australia. Administered by VicRoads (now part of the Department of Transport and Planning) through the VPlates platform, the range runs from affordable slimline blacks at $250 to handcrafted heritage plates that command six figures at auction.

With over 30 plate styles, multiple colour options, and one of the most straightforward transfer processes in the country, VIC is where the personalised plate market is most active — both for new purchases and secondary market sales.

How VIC plates work

Victoria's personalised plate program runs through VPlates (vplates.com.au), the official ordering platform operated by VicRoads. You can order online or visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre in person.

When you buy a custom plate in Victoria, you're purchasing registration number rights — the right to display that specific combination. Once you pay, the plate is yours for life unless you choose to transfer or sell it. There are no ongoing annual fees, which sets VIC apart from states like NSW where many plate types incur yearly charges.

Most plates take about two weeks to be delivered via Australia Post. Once they arrive, you'll need to call VicRoads on 1300 660 417 or visit a Customer Service Centre to have the plates assigned to your vehicle, then return your old plates.

Plate styles and pricing

VPlates offers over 30 styles — the widest range of any Australian state. Prices were last updated on 1 December 2025. Here are the main categories:

Custom (Classic) plates — The standard personalised plate. Choose your own combination of letters and numbers in a range of colours. These are the most popular style for people who want a specific name, word, or combination. Available in 32 different colours for cars (28 for motorcycles).

Slimline Black — VPlates' most popular style overall. Clean black plates with white characters in a narrower format. Available with pre-determined sequential combinations (next-out-of-the-box) from $250 at VicRoads Customer Service Centres and dealerships, or as a restyle of your existing combination. Slimline White is also available.

Deluxe plates — Frameless 3.0mm acrylic plates with a black background and flat white reflective characters. A smooth, premium finish.

Euro plates — Designed to fit European vehicles with the authentic slim rectangular format. Available in black and white. Standard Euro with a pre-determined combination starts at $335; personalised Euro plates (where you choose the combination) cost $910. Euro Premium plates — available in four colours with more combination flexibility — cost $1,175. Euro plates begin with the letter V. Note: standard-sized Euro plates don't have pre-drilled mounting holes, so you'll need to drill your own or buy a bracket separately. Mini Euros (same size as slimline) do have pre-drilled holes.

Signature plates — One of VPlates' most exclusive ranges. Elegantly framed aluminium plates with up to four embossed characters. Presented in a case with a certificate of authenticity and a keyring. Combinations are 3–4 characters. A brand-new Signature format without the traditional separator is being offered for the first time during a limited 3-day window from 24–26 March 2026.

Heritage plates — The crown jewels of Victorian plates. Faithful replicas of Victoria's first number plates issued between 1932 and 1939, handcrafted using the same techniques from that era. Each character is manually embossed into heavy gauge steel, etched and coated with black and white vitreous enamel, then oven-baked for a high-gloss finish. Heritage plates are generally only available through special release or auction, and come in a crafted wooden box with a certificate of authenticity. Combinations are numerical only. New releases are typically 5–6 digits, though heritage plates with fewer digits exist from the original 1932–1939 series (which ranged from 2 to 285,000) and are highly sought after on the secondary market.

Themed plates — Various themed designs including AFL team plates (with new Premium AFL plates recently launched), Liquid Metal plates (sleek silver 3D-effect characters), fishing plates, and others.

Motorbike Black — Dedicated motorcycle plates in black at $250. Available in the range 5A.1AA to 5Z.9ZZ from VicRoads centres and participating dealerships.

Gold and Silver plates — Available across several styles, these premium colour options incur an additional $130 on top of the standard plate price (as of December 2025).

Colours and sizes

VIC offers exceptional colour variety. Custom plates come in 32 different colour combinations for cars, and motorcycle custom plates are available in 28 colours. Standard size plates are 372mm × 132mm. Slimline plates are 372mm × 100mm. Euro standard plates are 520mm × 112mm, and Euro mini plates are 372mm × 100mm.

You can restyle your existing custom plates to a different colour or format without changing the combination. Restyle pricing varies by plate style.

Buying plates on the secondary market

VPlates has been operating for over 40 years, which means there's a deep pool of combinations already held by Victorian drivers. Many desirable short combinations, meaningful words, and low-digit heritage numbers are no longer available through VPlates directly.

This is where the secondary market comes in. Platforms like AusPlates let sellers list their existing VIC plates for buyers across Australia. The Victorian secondary market is particularly active for heritage plates (low-digit numerical combinations from the 1930s era), short custom combinations (1–4 characters), plates spelling popular names or words, signature plates with desirable combos, and prestige numerical sequences.

Victoria's secondary market is the largest in Australia, reflecting the state's population, wealth concentration, and the maturity of the VPlates program. Heritage plates in particular have shown strong long-term appreciation — three-digit heritage plates regularly sell for tens of thousands, and single or double-digit plates can reach six figures.

Transferring plates in VIC

Victoria has one of the most straightforward plate transfer systems in Australia. Key things to know:

Your plates, your property. Registration number rights can be sold or dealt with like any other personal property. This is explicitly stated in VicRoads' terms and conditions.

Selling or gifting your plates: Complete a Transfer of Registration Number Plate Rights form (available from VicRoads centres or online). Both buyer and seller must submit the form to VicRoads within 14 days. Before transferring, you'll need to have general-issue plates assigned to your vehicle at a VicRoads centre.

Moving plates between your own vehicles: Call VicRoads on 1300 660 417 or visit a Customer Service Centre to have the plates reassigned. An administration fee applies. The new vehicle must be registered in your name.

Selling your car with plates still attached: If you sell a registered vehicle with custom plates on it, VicRoads presumes you've also sold the registration number rights — meaning you lose ownership of your plates. Always remove your custom plates and replace them with general-issue plates before selling your vehicle.

Storing your plates: If you want to keep your plates but not display them (for example, between vehicles), call VicRoads to let them know and store the physical plates securely.

Important: VicRoads will not issue custom plates for taxis, hire cars, buses, tow trucks, or hire motorcycles. Custom plates also cannot go on trailers or caravans.

What are VIC plates worth?

Victoria has the strongest plate market in Australia, driven by the state's large population, the VPlates program's 40+ year history, and the depth of the heritage plate series.

High-value indicators include heritage plates with low digit counts (three digits or fewer regularly sell for $20,000+, and single-digit heritage plates have reached six figures), short signature plates (3–4 characters with meaningful combinations), custom plates spelling common names or powerful words, and plates with cultural significance (especially the number 8 and multiples of 8).

The VIC market benefits from no ongoing fees — once you buy a plate, there are no annual charges. This makes Victorian plates more attractive as long-term holdings compared to NSW, where annual fees can erode value.

For a free estimate of what your Victorian plates might be worth, try the AusPlates AI valuation tool at ausplates.app/valuation.

Selling your VIC plates

If you own Victorian custom plates you'd like to sell, AusPlates gives you access to buyers across Australia. Listing is completely free with no commission — and plates listed before 30 April 2026 are free for life as part of our founding member offer (normally $9.99/year).

To list your VIC plates, visit ausplates.app/create, enter your combination, state, colour scheme, and asking price. Your listing goes live immediately and is visible to buyers Australia-wide.

Remember: when you sell, both parties need to complete the VicRoads Transfer of Registration Number Plate Rights form within 14 days. AusPlates connects you with the buyer — the official transfer is handled through VicRoads.

Quick reference

Official platform: vplates.com.au Phone: 1300 660 417 In person: Any VicRoads Customer Service Centre Delivery time: Approximately 2 weeks via Australia Post Annual fees: None — all VIC plates are one-off purchases Transfer form: Transfer of Registration Number Plate Rights (available at VicRoads centres and online) Transfer deadline: 14 days after sale

Frequently asked questions

How much do custom plates cost in Victoria? It depends on the style. Slimline Black starts at $250 (non-personalised). Personalised Euro plates cost $910. Heritage plates are only available at auction and prices vary widely. Check vplates.com.au/price-list for the full current pricing, last updated December 2025.

Are there annual fees for VIC plates? No. All Victorian custom plates are a one-off purchase. There are no ongoing annual fees, which is a significant advantage over states like NSW.

Can I sell my VIC plates to someone else? Yes. Registration number rights can be sold like any other personal property. Both buyer and seller need to complete a Transfer of Registration Number Plate Rights form and submit it to VicRoads within 14 days.

What happens if I sell my car with custom plates still on it? VicRoads presumes the plates were sold with the vehicle. You'll lose your registration number rights. Always remove custom plates and replace them with general-issue plates before selling your car.

Sources

• vplates.com.au — plate styles, pricing (updated 1 December 2025), combination rules, delivery, transfer process, FAQs, terms and conditions

• vplates.com.au/price-list — full pricing including Euro ($335/$910/$1,175), Slimline Black ($250), gold/silver surcharge ($130), mini surcharge ($65)

• vplates.com.au/browse-styles/heritage — heritage plate history (1932–1939), handcrafting process, auction availability

• vplates.com.au/browse-styles/signature — signature plate specifications, 3–4 character combinations, presentation case

• vplates.com.au/browse-styles/euro — Euro and Euro Premium specifications, mounting details, combination rules (must start with V)

• vplates.com.au/news-and-events — new Signature format launch 24–26 March 2026, Lunar New Year heritage auction, price changes December 2025

• vicroads.vic.gov.au/registrations/number-plates/custom-plates — plate categories, ordering overview, heritage auction info

• vicroads.vic.gov.au/registrations/number-plates/transfer-number-plates — transfer process, Transfer of Registration Number Plate Rights form, 14-day deadline, plate assignment fees

• vicroads.vic.gov.au/about-vicroads/media/Price-changes-for-Custom-Plates — December 2025 price update announcement

• vicroads.vic.gov.au custom plate application and agreement PDF — ownership terms, registration number rights as personal property, vehicle sale presumption, VicRoads recall rights