How To Cancel License Plates?
If you need to cancel your license plates, each state has its own requirements for doing so. We’ll get into the details.
Here are some of the reasons you might need to cancel your license plates:
The most common reason for canceling license plates: you sell your vehicle. While Minnesota and California mandate that you leave your license plates on the vehicle, 48 states require you to remove them.
Of the 48 states that mandate license plate removal, some allow you to transfer your license plates to another vehicle you own. Some don’t.
Read our complete guide about what to do with your license plates after selling your vehicle. It goes into a lot more detail.
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You are selling your vehicle (most common)
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The vehicle is not being used
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Your vehicle is declared salvaged or deemed unfit for the road
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Violations of traffic laws and regulations
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Failure to renew registration or maintain proper insurance coverage
The most common reason for canceling license plates: you sell your vehicle. While Minnesota and California mandate that you leave your license plates on the vehicle, 48 states require you to remove them.
Of the 48 states that mandate license plate removal, some allow you to transfer your license plates to another vehicle you own. Some don’t.
Read our complete guide about what to do with your license plates after selling your vehicle. It goes into a lot more detail.
Step 1 Identify Your State’s Motor Vehicle Authority
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the most common name for the state government body that deals with license plates. Some states call their motor vehicle licensing authority by a different name, however.
To complicate matters further, some states delegate license plate authority to another department. In Kentucky, for example, you’d surrender your license plates at your county clerk’s office. In Missouri, you’d go to an office of the Department of Revenue. In Illinois, the Secretary of State's Vehicle Services Department handles plates. In Louisiana, you’d go to the Office of Motor Vehicles.
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Registry of Motor Vehicles
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Motor Vehicle Division
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Bureau of Motor Vehicles
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Office of Motor Vehicles
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Etc
To complicate matters further, some states delegate license plate authority to another department. In Kentucky, for example, you’d surrender your license plates at your county clerk’s office. In Missouri, you’d go to an office of the Department of Revenue. In Illinois, the Secretary of State's Vehicle Services Department handles plates. In Louisiana, you’d go to the Office of Motor Vehicles.
If you’re not sure where to turn in your license plates, Google the name of your state (or even county and state), plus the phrase “return license plates,” and the appropriate agency should come up at the top of the search results.
Step 2 Complete the Proper Form
Each state has its own form to initiate the cancellation of license plates. Use the correct form for the state in which the car is registered.
Here are a few examples of official state request forms:
1. Colorado: lost or stolen license plate/permit affidavit form (DR 2283)
2. Florida: application of voluntary registration cancellation (Form MV-18J)
3. Massachusetts: affidavit for cancellation of registration (REG100-0922)
4. New York: plate surrender application (Form PD-7)
Most states make their forms available for download as PDFs. They’re usually formatted so that you can fill them out on your computer or device before you print them. You can usually find your state’s form by Googling your state’s name plus “license plate cancellation form.” If that fails, contact your state’s DMV and ask them where you can find the form.
Here are a few examples of official state request forms:
1. Colorado: lost or stolen license plate/permit affidavit form (DR 2283)
2. Florida: application of voluntary registration cancellation (Form MV-18J)
3. Massachusetts: affidavit for cancellation of registration (REG100-0922)
4. New York: plate surrender application (Form PD-7)
Most states make their forms available for download as PDFs. They’re usually formatted so that you can fill them out on your computer or device before you print them. You can usually find your state’s form by Googling your state’s name plus “license plate cancellation form.” If that fails, contact your state’s DMV and ask them where you can find the form.
Step 3 Submit the Form and Pay the Fee
When you submit the cancellation form, you may be required to pay a fee, depending on your state.
Cancellation fees vary considerably from one state to the next. Here are a few examples.
Cancellation fees vary considerably from one state to the next. Here are a few examples.
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New York: $1
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Connecticut: no fee
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California: $22
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Pennsylvania: $6
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Mississippi: you get credit toward another tag
Which States Require You to Surrender Your License Plates After Selling Your Vehicle?
Different states have different rules for what to do with old license plates after you remove them from a car you're selling. Some states require you to return them to the DMV (or equivalent motor vehicle registry department).
Returning your license plate can potentially save you money. Many states will give you a credit towards your next vehicle registration if you turn in your old plate.
Here are the states that require license plates to be returned to the DMV:
