Temporary surrender of vehicle plates (store plates for a season)

Surrender plates temporarily or for a season

You can surrender your vehicle plates at a local 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 a local 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 in a DMV office to reinstatement of your registration and receive vehicle plates. Bring the following items 

  • a completed Application for Registration or Title (pdf) (MV-82)
  • the receipt (FS-6T) you received when you surrendered your vehicle plates
  • an NY State Insurance ID Card (FS-20) that shows current insurance coverage (see a sample)
  • your proof of identity and date of birth
  • a check or cash for any fees

 

See location, instructions and reservation information for your DMV

 

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.