Where to turn in old license plates

The fastest way to get rid of old license plates is to turn them in at your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office during business hours. You do not need an appointment at most locations — walk in with the plates and hand them to the counter staff. They will take them, scan or record them, and dispose of them properly. The whole process usually takes five minutes.

If you cannot visit in person, some states allow you to mail plates to the DMV. Check your state's DMV website for the mailing address and whether you need to include a form. A few states require you to submit a form called a Notice of Disposal or Release of Liability along with the plates, which protects you if the plates are later misused. Your state's DMV website will tell you whether this is required where you live.

Some counties and cities also accept old plates at their local tag offices or vehicle registration centers. These are often faster than the main DMV office if you live near one. Call ahead to confirm they take plates without an appointment.

Key Takeaways

  • The DMV is the official place to turn in old license plates, and most offices accept them during regular hours without an appointment.
  • Some states require you to file a Notice of Disposal or Release of Liability form when you turn in plates, which protects you legally if the plates are later used illegally.
  • Mailing plates to the DMV is an option in many states, though you should confirm the mailing address and any required forms on your state's website first.
  • Do not throw license plates in the trash or recycle bin — they contain metal and reflective material that should be handled through official channels.
  • If you sell or donate a vehicle, the new owner is responsible for turning in the old plates or transferring them to their name.

Why you should not throw plates away

Old license plates should never go in the trash or curbside recycling. Plates are made of aluminum and reflective sheeting that can damage sorting equipment at recycling facilities. More importantly, an unreturned plate can create legal and financial problems for you even after you no longer own the vehicle.

If someone finds or steals an old plate with your number on it and uses it on another vehicle, law enforcement may trace violations back to you. Parking tickets, toll violations, or even criminal activity tied to that plate can end up on your record. Turning in the plate or filing a Notice of Disposal cuts off that risk by creating an official record that you no longer have it.

What to do if you sold or donated the vehicle

If you sold the car to a private buyer, you are responsible for removing the plates before handing over the keys. Take them off and turn them in to the DMV yourself. The new owner will get new plates when they register the vehicle in their name.

If you sold the car to a dealer, the dealer removes and handles the plates as part of the sale process. You do not need to do anything. If you donated the vehicle to a charity, ask the charity what happens to the plates — most remove them before the vehicle leaves the lot, but confirm in writing so you have proof you did not keep them.

In all cases, file a Notice of Disposal or Release of Liability with the DMV if your state requires it. This form tells the state that you no longer own the vehicle and are not responsible for anything that happens to it afterward. Some states file this automatically when you sell to a dealer, but you must file it yourself for private sales and donations.

Plates from vehicles you no longer own

If you have old plates from a vehicle you sold years ago and never turned in, take them to the DMV now. Bring any paperwork you have about the vehicle — the title, registration, or bill of sale — but the DMV can usually look up the vehicle by the plate number alone. Staff will record that you turned them in and file the paperwork to close out your connection to that vehicle.

If you cannot find the paperwork, tell the DMV staff when the vehicle was sold and to whom, if you remember. They have records going back years and can verify that you no longer own it. The goal is to create an official record that the plates are no longer in your possession.

Damaged, faded, or unreadable plates

If your current plates are damaged, faded, or the numbers are no longer readable, you can turn them in at the DMV and request replacements. Bring your vehicle registration and driver's license. The DMV will issue new plates with the same number, and you pay a replacement fee that varies by state — typically between $5 and $20.

Do not try to repair or repaint old plates yourself. Reflective material and paint used on official plates are specific to state standards, and homemade repairs can make the plate unreadable to cameras and law enforcement. It is cheaper and faster to get a replacement from the DMV.

Specialty and personalized plates

Personalized or vanity plates follow the same process as regular plates — turn them in at the DMV. If you want to keep the personalized number for a new vehicle, tell the DMV staff before you hand in the old plates. Many states allow you to transfer a personalized plate to a different vehicle you own, though there may be a small transfer fee.

If you are not transferring the plate, the DMV will take it back into inventory. Some states recycle personalized plates for reissue; others retire them. Either way, once you turn it in, that number is no longer tied to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to file paperwork when I turn in old plates?

It depends on your state. Some states require a Notice of Disposal or Release of Liability form, which you can file at the DMV when you turn in the plates or mail separately. Check your state's DMV website to see if this is required. Filing it protects you if the plates are later misused.

What if I lost my old license plates?

Report the lost plates to your DMV in writing or online, depending on what your state offers. Provide the plate number and the vehicle it was on. The DMV will flag the plate as lost or stolen in their system, which protects you if someone finds it and tries to use it. Keep a copy of the report for your records.

Can I keep old license plates as a souvenir?

Laws vary by state. Some states allow you to keep retired plates from vehicles you owned, while others require all plates to be turned in. A few states issue special retired-plate certificates instead. Contact your DMV to ask what is allowed in your state before you keep any old plates.

Do I have to turn in plates if I am moving out of state?

Yes. Before you register your vehicle in the new state, turn in your old plates to your current state's DMV. You can do this in person before you move or by mail. Once you register in the new state, you will get new plates. Turning in the old ones closes your record with the original state.

What if the DMV is far away or has limited hours?

Many states allow you to mail plates to the DMV with a prepaid envelope or your own postage. Check your state's website for the mailing address and any required forms. Some states also accept plates at county tag offices or vehicle registration centers closer to where you live — call ahead to confirm.