Did you know “Protect the Chesapeake & Coastal Bays” license plates help restore our bays and other natural resources of our region? Simply by purchasing a Bay Plate for only $25, car owners can show their support for the environment and ride with Chesapeake pride. And with the Plate Perks program, you can make your $25 investment back quickly!
For only $25, you can purchase Bay Plates online and they will be mailed directly to your home. Your contribution is distributed through the Chesapeake Bay Trust in the form of local grants to schools, community groups, and other nonprofits for K-12 environmental education, restoration and protection of our waterways.
Use the links below to order your Bay Plate today!
TWO WAYS TO ORDER YOUR
BAY PLATE TODAY:
Order online, OR download, print, and mail the pdf form.
When mailing the form, please include a check or money order made payable to the MVA. Checks must include name and address, driver’s license number (soundex number), and home and/or work phone number.
Our impact extends beyond feet of shoreline restored or number of trees planted: it is also measured in lives touched as everyday people gain a new appreciation for the natural resources of our region. Watch the video to see the impact of every Bay Plate!
Nature isn’t the only one thanking Bay Plate owners. Our Plate Perks program offers preferred parking and discounts on various services!
Bay Plate: Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get a Chesapeake & Coastal Bays license plate?
The Chesapeake & Coastal Bays license plate is available online at the MVA website, at MVA branches, your local tag & title service, or you can ask your car dealership when purchasing your car! Click here for MVA online services.
If I order a Bay plate online, how do I return my existing plates?
You would return your plate at any MVA Branch location.
If I already have a personalized “vanity” plate, can I re-order it on the new Chesapeake & Coastal Bays plate background? How much will it cost?
Yes. The standard license plate replacement cost of $25 applies. You will need to apply for substitute plates with stickers online. When ordering, screen two allows you to select a “Chesapeake & Coastal Bays Plate” as your preferred plate. Click here to order substitute plates online.
For Current Bay Plate Owners:
I have a previous Bay Plate with either the heron or “Protect the Chesapeake” on it already. I want a new Bay Plate with the crab, bridge, and Coastal Bays text. How do I get one?
You can order a Bay Plate online! On the second screen of the ordering system, select “Chesapeake & Coastal Bays Plate” as your preferred option. Click here to order your Bay Plate now!
I have a Bay Plate already, and I like my bay plate number. I’d like to keep the same number but have it on the new crab/bridge/Coastal Bays plate background. Can I keep my number?
Unfortunately, you are not able to keep the same number on a new bay plate (unless it’s a vanity plate; i.e., you paid $50 for a specific set of numbers/letters). If you’d like the new bay plate, you will be getting a new number on your plate.
I have the previous Bay Plate with the heron already. Can I keep it or do I have to get the new Bay license plate?
Customers who have a Bay Plate with the heron on it can keep and continue to use those plates, and in most cases can transfer it to any new vehicle you purchase/obtain.
For People Who Do Not Yet Own Bay Plates:
I don’t have a Bay Plate yet, what is the easiest way for me to get one?
You can order a Bay Plate online with MVA Online Services.
- Scroll down to “To Request a Background Scene Plate.”
- Click “Online”
- Click “Vehicle Services” (under the car icon).
- Scroll down to “Order a New License Plate/Tag” on the left-hand side menu.
- On the second page of the ordering system, select “Chesapeake & Coastal Bays Plate” as your preferred option.
I don’t have a Bay Plate yet. I’d like one, but I’d like to keep my current plate number and have it on the new crab/bridge/Coastal Bays plate background. Can I keep my number?
Unfortunately, you are not able to keep the same number on a new bay plate (unless it’s a vanity plate; i.e., you paid $50 for a specific set of numbers/letters). If you’d like the new bay plate, you will be getting a new number on your plate.
Proceeds from Bay Plates contribute directly to on-the-ground projects in the Chesapeake region: restoration of wildlife habitats, trees planted in urban areas, water quality monitoring in western streams, and so much more… your dollars go far and your impact is wide!
