Start with the plate.

Send a message

You don’t need a car or a plate of your own. Open New message, choose the state or province, enter the plate number and check every character. Then write your note.

If nobody has claimed the plate yet, we keep your message for up to 90 days and deliver it to whoever claims it. You can withdraw it while it waits.

If sending doesn’t go through, try the same draft again rather than writing a new message.

The first message is a request

Your first message to someone is a single request. The owner can accept or decline it, and the conversation continues only if they accept. If they decline, nothing more is delivered.

Accepting a conversation never makes you friends. You can stop contact at any time.

Getting the plate right

Camera

On iPhone, point the camera at the plate while you’re safely parked. Check the state or province and every character it reads, and correct anything that’s unclear.

Keyboard

Type or correct the letters and numbers yourself. This always works, including when camera access is off.

In the web app, camera support depends on your browser and device; typing the plate always works.

Claim your own plate

Claiming is optional. It adds a way for people to reach you; you can send messages and receive replies without one.

1. Sign in, then open My plates.
2. Choose to claim a plate, then enter its state or province and number by camera or keyboard.
3. Check every character, and choose the design shown on your plate if you like.
4. Confirm that you drive the car and have permission to use it, then claim it.

You don’t need to be named on the title. You can claim more than one plate, and they all reach your one inbox. Each plate belongs to one account at a time. If someone else drives your car, messages to its plate still reach you.

Choose what you share

Open My profile in Settings to set your display name, home area and status. They appear with a plate only if you choose to show your name with that plate.

Under My plates, each car has its own make, model, color, design and visibility. Filling in a field doesn’t publish it: turn on only what you want people who know the plate to see.

Friends, if you both want to

You can add a friend from a conversation you’ve both replied in, or share a single-use invite with someone you know. Friendship is separate from message requests.

Someone else claimed your plate?

Open Claim reviews & updates, choose the plate and attach a clear photo of your registration. The photo stays private.

A reviewer decides the claim and records a reason, and you’ll see the outcome in your account updates. Uploading a photo doesn’t move the plate to you automatically.

Stop unwanted contact

Decline a message request, or open a message and choose Stop contact to block new messages and friend requests from that account. Choose Report this message to send it to our team for a private review; you can follow the response in Message reports.

Plated isn’t an emergency service. If someone may be in danger, call 911.

Contact us

Email [email protected] for help with your account or the app, and [email protected] for privacy questions. We’ll never ask you for a sign-in code.