History and Purpose of the Share the Road Registration Plate
The Share the Road registration plate was authorized by Act 36 of 2016, known as the David (Dave) Bachman Act. The law took effect 60 days after its June 8, 2016 signing and honors a PennDOT employee who served as the department’s first Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator.
Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1358.1, the department designs and issues the plate upon application and payment of the required fee. All proceeds support PennDOT’s bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts, highway infrastructure signage for bicyclists (for wayfinding and/or safety), and help maintain the central office Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator position.
Official information is available on PennDOT’s Active Transportation page: PennDOT Active Transportation – Share the Road License Plates.
Eligibility Requirements for the Share the Road Plate
Requests for Share the Road registration plates are restricted to the following vehicle types:
- Passenger cars
- Trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds
- Motor homes
The vehicle must have a current Pennsylvania registration (or you must include a renewal application if registration is expired or expiring soon). The plate is available to any eligible applicant and is not limited to specific organizations or groups.
Fees and Costs for Form MV-917
The base fee for the Share the Road registration plate is $40. This fee is in addition to the standard vehicle registration fee. Payment must be made by check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Do not send cash.
Personalization is optional and requires an additional fee. Current official fee schedules list an extra $136 for personalization of most special fund plates, including Share the Road. Always verify the exact current amounts on Form MV-70S (Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees), available on the official PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services site, as fees can be updated.
No refund is issued if you cancel the request after the plate is issued or the order is placed. Additional $2 fees apply for each extra registration card requested.
For the latest fee details, refer to the official payments and fees information: PennDOT Payments and Fees.
How to Apply Using PennDOT Form MV-917?
Follow these steps to complete and submit your application:
- Download and print the current Form MV-917 from the official PennDOT website.
- Complete Section A with vehicle description and applicant information exactly as shown on your current registration card (title number, VIN, plate number, expiration date, make, year, names, PA driver’s license/photo ID number, date of birth, address, and telephone numbers). Indicate if the vehicle is leased.
- If requesting personalization, complete Section B with your preferred combination.
- Sign and date Section C. All applicants (and co-owners if applicable) must certify that the information is true and correct under penalty of law.
- Include a check or money order for the correct total amount (plate fee plus any personalization and extra card fees).
- If registration is expired or expires within the next three months, also submit the appropriate renewal form (MV-105 or MV-140) with a separate payment for the renewal fee.
- Mail the completed application and payment to the address listed below.
Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Completing Form MV-917 Accurately
Use capital letters and print clearly. For zeros in personalized configurations, use a distinct marking (such as Ø) to avoid confusion with the letter O. The form includes space for co-owner information and optional requests for duplicate registration cards.
PennDOT may reject incomplete applications or those with incorrect information. Misstatements of fact can result in penalties under Pennsylvania law (misdemeanor of the third degree).
The current form version referenced in official materials is MV-917 (updated as of early 2026 materials). Always use the latest version available on the PennDOT website.
Personalization Options for the Share the Road Plate
You may request a personalized Share the Road plate. Personalized configurations for this plate may contain up to five letters or numbers in combination. Only one hyphen or one space is permitted (it counts toward the five spaces). No other special characters are available.
Pre-printed elements on the plate design (such as “BK” in some configurations) are fixed. Check availability of your desired combination before applying by using the personalized registration plate tool on the official site: PennDOT Personalized Registration Plates.
Personalized plates are not reserved until PennDOT receives payment, a completed application, and approves the configuration. Processing times are typically longer for personalized plates (often 6–10 weeks).
Mailing Address and Processing Information
Mail the completed Form MV-917, payment, and any supporting documents to:
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Special Tag Unit
P.O. Box 67900
Harrisburg, PA 17106-7900
Allow adequate time for processing and delivery. Standard plates generally process faster than personalized ones. After receiving the new plate, return your old registration plate to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Return Tag Unit (P.O. Box 68597, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597) to help avoid potential issues.
For questions, contact PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services at 717-412-5300 (TTY: 711) or visit www.pa.gov/dmv.
What the Share the Road Plate Funds Support?
Every purchase of the Share the Road plate directly supports important safety initiatives. Proceeds help fund PennDOT’s bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts and the installation of highway infrastructure signage designed for bicyclists. These efforts promote safer shared roadways across Pennsylvania for all users—motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
By displaying the plate, Pennsylvania drivers also help raise public awareness of the need to “share the road” and allow adequate space when passing cyclists.
Additional Tips for U.S. Applicants in Pennsylvania
Keep a copy of your completed application and payment for your records. Confirm that your vehicle’s registration is current before applying. If you need to replace a lost, stolen, defaced, or illegible plate later, use the appropriate forms (such as MV-44 or MV-46) as directed on the official site.
Fees and form details can change. Always download the latest Form MV-917 and check the current MV-70S fee schedule on the official Pennsylvania government websites rather than relying on third-party sources.
Official statute reference: 75 Pa.C.S. § 1358.1 – Share the Road plate.
Download PennDOT Form MV-917
Ready to apply? Download the official Application for Share the Road Registration Plate here:
Download Form MV-917 (PDF) from pa.gov
This guide is based on current official PennDOT and Pennsylvania government sources for U.S. residents, particularly those in Pennsylvania. Verify all details directly with PennDOT before submitting your application, as requirements and fees may be updated.