When you need to surrender plate(s)

Before you end the vehicle's liability insurance coverage

If you do not turn in your plate(s), we will suspend your registration and can suspend your driver license.

If you want to register your vehicle in another state

You must surrender your New York State vehicle plates to the New York DMV.

How to surrender New York State plates

Note: If you need to surrender plates from another state, you need to surrender them to that state's DMV (not the New York State DMV). 

By mail

Step 1: Make sure your address is current.

We will mail you a plate surrender receipt (form FS-6T) as well as a refund check, if applicable. DMV will mail these to the address on the registration. If the address on your registration is not current, change your address [1] before you mail your license plates. If you are moving, you must also file a change of address with the United States Postal Service [2] so that your mail is properly forwarded to your new address.

Businesses: If the registration is in a business name and the address has changed, be sure to submit a change of address with the United States Postal Service so your receipt is forwarded to you.

Step 2: Remove plates and stickers

This includes the plate frames and fasteners - we will not accept plates with them attached. Destroy the registration and inspection stickers from your windshield.

Do not give your plates to another person unless that person will surrender the plates for you.

Step 3: Complete the PD-7 application

You must complete the Plate Surrender Application (PDF) [3] (PD-7) for each set of plates that you are surrendering.

Step 4: Mail the application with your plates in an envelope (no boxes) to

NYS DMV
6 Empire State Plaza
Room B240
Albany, NY 12228

We use the mail postmark date as the date that you surrendered your plates. Please allow 21 days to receive your FS-6T receipt. If you do not receive a FS-6T receipt, please contact the DMV [4].

Note: If you need to surrender plates from another state, you must surrender them to that state's DMV (not the New York State DMV).

At a DMV Office 

Step 1: Remove plates and stickers

This includes the plate frames and fasteners - we will not accept plates with them attached. Destroy the registration and inspection stickers from your windshield.

Do not give your plates to another person unless that person will surrender the plates for you.

Step 2: Complete the PD-7 application

You must complete the Plate Surrender Application (PDF) [3] (PD-7) for each set of plates you are surrendering.

Step 3: Bring the plates and PD-7 to a DMV 

Find a DMV office [5] near you.

County motor vehicle offices will charge you a $1 fee to process the surrender. If another person surrenders your plates for you, make sure that the person gives you the FS-6T receipt for your records. 

See location, instructions and reservation information for your DMV [6]

Refunds

Will I receive a refund when I surrender my plates?

It depends.  See registration refunds for surrendered plates [7] for more information. 

Temporary surrender

Can I surrender my plates temporarily?

Yes. See special procedures to surrender plates for a season [8] (temporary surrender of plates).

Motorcycle and trailer plates
 

Do I need to surrender motorcycle plates?

It’s not necessary to surrender motorcycle plates, but your motorcycle must be insured if you ride it. 1

Do I need to surrender trailer plates?

Even though some trailers are not required to have liability insurance, you must surrender the plate if the trailer does not have a valid registration. 2

Lost, stolen, or destroyed plates

Do I need to surrender the registration if the plates are lost, destroyed, or stolen?

Yes. You need to report plates that are lost, stolen, or destroyed [9] and surrender the registration.  In these cases, the DMV can issue you a new registration and plates.