A Special Group Recognition plate is a way to promote your organization while using the revenue to improve services provided or special projects. An organization seeking initial participation in the Special Group Recognition (SGR) license plate program must submit a completed application including required documentation to the BMV on or before end of business hours on April 1 for potential issuance in the following year.
Review the SGR Checklist to ensure you have all of the necessary documentation for your SGR application.
The applicant must email, mail, or hand deliver one original application with the required documentation to:
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
100 North Senate Avenue
Room N483
Indianapolis, IN 46204
What Happens After an SGR Application is Submitted?
First, the BMV will confirm receipt of your application. Next, your application packet will be reviewed by BMV to assess completeness. Complete application packets will be presented to the House of Representatives Roads and Transportation Committee, which usually meets mid to late summer. Note: The BMV will contact applicants when incomplete application packets are submitted. The committee will make recommendations as to which plates should be accepted, and the public may attend this meeting to support or object to the issuance of your plate. Based upon these recommendations, the BMV will then determine which plates are accepted into the program.
When is the Roads and Transportation Committee meeting this year?
The 2025 Roads and Transportation Committee will be held in the Senate Chamber of the Indiana Statehouse on September 22, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Specialty Group Recognition Plate FAQs
To apply for a Special Group Recognition (SGR) plate program, a Special Group Recognition License Plate Application – State Form 54852 and Petition (complete with minimum of 1,000 signatures obtained within one calendar year) must be submitted to the BMV by April 1 for potential issuance in the following year. The applicant must email, mail or hand deliver one original application with the required documentation to:
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
100 North Senate Avenue
Room N483
Indianapolis, IN 46204
The petitions are validation that at least 1,000 people are pledging to purchase your specialty plate if approved.
The petitions are validation that at least 1,000 people are pledging to purchase your specialty plate if approved.
If your application is approved, you will only need to submit the SGR packet documents, minus the petitions, every 10 years to continue participation. If your application is incomplete you would need to resubmit a new application the following year if you would still like to be considered. If your group is terminated, you can only reapply after two years.
First, the BMV will confirm receipt of your application. Next, your application packet will be reviewed by BMV to assess completeness. Complete application packets will be presented to the House of Representatives Roads and Transportation Committee, which usually meets mid to late summer. They will make recommendations as to which plates should be accepted. Based upon the recommendations by the Committee, the BMV will then determine which plates are accepted into the program. Note: The BMV will contact applicants when incomplete application packets are submitted.
Once your packet is submitted, the remaining process depends on the date the committee meets, but usually the process takes several months.
If your application is incomplete, you may reapply again the following year.
Petitions must include State form 55352, however, you can submit signatures electronically as long as they meet all of the requirements.
If you do not have everything by April 1st, you would need to apply the following year.
Individuals who sign the petition are pledging to purchase your plate. Signatures must be obtained within one calendar year. They must have an Indiana address (no P.O. Boxes). The address must be complete (Street, City, State and ZIP Code).
We will acknowledge receipt of your application but may not reach out after that until we have a date for the Roads and Transportation Committee.
An SGR group that entered the program before 1-1-2026, can have their plate terminated if they fail to meet the required sale of 500 plates each year. If an organization has entered the program after 1-1-2026, during the first two years, the group must sell 1,000 plates, subsequent years must meet the required 1,000 plate sales. If the group fails to meet that requirement, they will be placed on probation for one year. If the group fails to meet the sales requirement during probation, they will be terminated.
If a group has been terminated, they may reapply after 2 years. Any group that was terminated and reapplied after 2 years will be required to meet the new plate sales of 1,000 each year, regardless of when they entered the program.
See the previous question.
There may be up to 150 groups.
Groups may make up to $25.00 per plate.
A Special Group Recognition plate is a way to promote your organization while using the revenue to improve services provided or special projects.
There is no fee to Join the SGR program.
