License plates and revalidation decals shall be issued only upon applications made to the local tag agent. License plates and revalidation decals may be issued by the local tag agent upon a proper application and in accordance with the terms of this chapter or by the commissioner on an appropriate application forwarded to him by the local tag agent where the type of license plate applied for is not maintained in local inventory or where the license plate applied for is one of those special license plates provided by law. The commissioner shall not be authorized to receive any applications for license plates or revalidation decals except those received through the local tag agents as provided for in this chapter.