Department of Motor Vehicles

We are aware that some older license plates may show delamination (peeling) of their printed coating. 

We will exchange plates that are peeling for a new set of license plates free of charge.  If the plates show natural use, fading, chips or crash damage, you must pay to replace them. You may be asked to submit a photograph of the peeling plates.  

Peeling Plates

Examples of coating delamination (no fee required):

Replace plates and keep plate number

If you want to keep your same plate number, you must pay a $20 fee.

Mail

• a completed Application for Replacement Plates - Keep Same Plate Number (PDF) (PP-7)
• a $20 check or money order payable to ‘Commissioner of Motor Vehicles’

To

NYS DMV
6 Empire State Plaza
Room 414A
Albany, NY 12228

Allow 4 to 6-weeks for your new plates with same number to arrive in the mail.

Replace plates and get new plate number

If you want the next available standard plate number free of charge, please email us at [email protected].  Include your plate number in the subject line, and the following information in the email

• name as it appears on the registration
• address 1
• city, state, ZIP
• daytime telephone number
• peeling plate number

The DMV will continue to issue Empire Gold style vehicle plates until current supplies are gone. 

*Important - once you submit your request through email, it is final and you cannot request changes.

Peeling IRP Apportioned Plates

You may request a new set of plates by submitting a completed Schedule A&C (IRP-6) (PDF). Select the Replacement Plate option in Part 1 of the application and include a photograph of the peeling plate. The information can be mailed to the International Registration Bureau (IRB), faxed to 518-486-6579, or emailed to [email protected]. If you have any questions about the replacement of an apportioned license plate, contact IRB at (518) 473-5834.

Damaged Plates

Examples of aging or damage (fee required):

If your plate shows damage from use, fading or cracking, and not delamination the DMV will issue you a new registration and new Excelsior replacement plates.

You will need to pay $25 for the new plates, and a fee of $3.75 to issue a new registration, plus another $20 if you want your new plates to have your old plate number. 

See how to order new (Exelcsior) plates.

Before you go to an office

Office procedures have changed due to COVID-19.

We recommend you conduct your DMV business at the office or by mail in the County where you are a resident.

See instructions and reservation information for your county

What to do with your old plates

Do not return your old plates to DMV. Destroy your old plates so that they cannot be reused. If your plates are not destroyed and someone else uses them, you could be held responsible for any traffic tickets written against the plates and for any fines resulting from the tickets. When disposing of the old plates, please follow the recycling guidelines for the area where you live. We recommend that you use a permanent ink marker to cross out the plate number or otherwise deface the plates. For your own protection, separate the plates and put them in the recycle bin during different weeks.

For a statewide list of local recycling coordinators, visit the website of the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation.

• 1. Address - The address on your registration must be current