When you surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV, you may be eligible to transfer the remaining registration (credit) to another vehicle you want to register, or get a refund for the registration fee. You cannot get a refund or registration transfer credit for
If you transfer your remaining registration to another vehicle, your new registration will expire the same day as your old registration. You can only use the transfer credit for a new (original) registration. You cannot use it for a registration renewal.
| Type of registration | Time of surrender | Refund |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (snowmobiles, trailers, motorcycles, etc.) | At any time | No refund |
| 2 year (most passenger vehicles) | Within 60 days of the date the registration was issued | Full registration fee, minus $1 for processing (the registration sticker must be unused and you must surrender the plates, sticker and stub) 1 |
| 2 year (most passenger vehicles) | In first year | 50% of the registration fee (1 year), minus $1 for processing |
| 2 year (most passenger vehicles) | In second year | No refund |
Get all your registration fee refund questions answered! Non-refund related questions cannot be answer through this chat service. Chat is available Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.!
Here is an example to show how your refund amount is determined.
You paid $137.50 to register your vehicle for two years. The amount you paid included $62.50 for the two years of the registration ($31.25 per year), $50.00 for the title certificate and $25.00 for the vehicle plates. You surrender the vehicle plates during the first year of the registration, and you qualify for a refund of $30.25. This is a refund of the $31.25 fee for the second year of the registration with the $1 processing fee subtracted. There is no refund of other fees or taxes.
When you surrender your plates, your Receipt (FS-6T) indicates if you are eligible to receive a refund. If you are eligible for a refund and you do not request a transfer receipt, we will process your refund automatically and you will receive it in the mail in several weeks.
If you are not eligible for a refund or you request a transfer receipt, the DMV office issues a Receipt (FS-6T) that you can use to transfer the registration to another vehicle.
You can apply for a refund of the 2-year registration fee ONLY if the registration was never used and it is not more than 60 days from the date the registration was issued. For example, if you renewed the registration, but never used the new registration sticker, you can apply for a refund of the 2-year fee that you paid when you renewed the registration. A processing fee of $1 is subtracted from the refund amount.
The registration sticker cannot be used. If the sticker was attached to the windshield or the vehicle plate, you cannot remove the sticker and apply for a full refund.
To apply for a full 2-year refund, you must surrender the vehicle plates and the unused registration sticker and stub at a DMV office and request a 2-year refund. If eligible for the refund, the DMV office will issue a receipt that displays "two year refund."
If you have already received a refund for the 2nd year of the registration fee and you have the UNUSED registration sticker and stub, you may be eligible to apply for the 1st year of the registration fee. You have a maximum of 60 days after the date the registration was issued to apply for the 1st year of the registration fee.
To apply for a refund of the first-year registration fee, send the following items to the address on the Request for Refund (MV-215) form
DMV will process a refund of the first-year fee if eligible.
Yes. Follow these instructions
The DMV will issue your refund in your new name, if eligible.
Yes. DMV will issue the refund to the name of the estate. Follow these instructions
If the estate of the registrant is settled, call the DMV Revenue Accounting Unit at 518-474-0902 to request a 'Next of Kin' form. Send the 'Next of Kin' form, Request for Refund (MV-215) and the transfer receipt to the address on form MV-215. The refund is issued in the name of the next of kin.