1. Plate issue year. In a year in which new registration plates are issued, the Secretary of State shall reserve for one year the same registration number for the succeeding registration year for a person who notifies in writing the Secretary of State of that person's desire to retain that registration number. The fee for retention of the same registration number is $25.
The Secretary of State may issue a facsimile plate that is valid for a 90-day period during production of a reserved plate. A facsimile plate must be attached to the rear plate bracket.
All numbers other than those reserved may be issued 6 months after the plate issue is complete.
2. Nonplate issue year. In other than a plate issue year, when a person fails to reregister and the registration remains expired for 6 consecutive months, the reservation of the same number ceases and the number becomes available for reissuance.