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There are currently road test cancellations or DMV offices closed for in-person services. See our “Cancellations, Closings and Delays” page for more information. 

Temporary Surrender of Vehicle Plates and Registration (Store Plates For a Season)

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Temporary Surrender of Vehicle Plates and Registration (Store Plates For a Season)
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Overview

You can surrender your vehicle plates at a DMV office and reinstate the registration later. For example, you can surrender your vehicle plates and cancel liability insurance when you take your vehicle off the road for the winter.

Surrender in an Office

Bring your plates to your DMV office and request a ‘receipt for transfer’. Do not request a registration fee ‘refund receipt’.

Be sure to remove plate frames and fasteners before you surrender them. We will not accept plates with frames or fasteners attached.
 

See location, instructions and reservation information for your DMV

Plate Storage

The DMV does not store standard vehicle plates. If you surrender standard plates, they will be destroyed. You can apply for reinstatement of the registration at a DMV office that processes registration transactions. The DMV office will issue a new set of vehicle plates and can charge a vehicle plate fee of up to $25.00.

If you surrender personalized plates or custom plates, the DMV office will store them. You must apply for the reinstatement of the registration at the same DMV office where you surrendered your personalized plates or custom plates.

Reinstate Surrendered Plates

You must apply at a DMV office to reinstate your registration and receive vehicle plates. Bring the following items 

Remember that the registration expires on the same date as the registration you surrendered. If you reinstate your registration within 60 days before the registration expires, you can renew the registration and pay the renewal fees.