Where to Take Your Old License Plate
The safest way to dispose of a license plate is to turn it in to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency. Most states will accept old plates at any DMV office during regular business hours, and the process takes just a few minutes. You do not need an appointment in most places — walk in with the plate and hand it to the counter staff.
Some states also allow you to mail your plate back to the DMV. Check your state's DMV website for the mailing address and whether you need to include a form. A few states include a prepaid return envelope with your new registration documents, so check what came with your paperwork before you decide to drive to an office.
If you cannot reach a DMV office easily, some police departments and sheriff's offices will accept old plates as well. Call your local non-emergency police line to ask whether they take them — not all departments do, but many will hold them until someone from the DMV picks them up.
Key Takeaways
- Your state's DMV is the official place to turn in old license plates, and most offices accept them without an appointment during regular hours.
- Some states let you mail plates back to the DMV, and a few include a prepaid envelope in your registration packet.
- Never throw a license plate in the trash or recycling bin, because the plate can be used to commit fraud or identity theft.
- If you sell or donate a car, remove the plate before handing over the vehicle unless your state requires the new owner to keep it.
- Destroying a plate yourself by cutting, bending, or defacing it is illegal in most states — always turn it in intact.
Why You Cannot straightforward Throw Away a License Plate
A license plate with your name and address on it is a tool for identity theft and fraud. Someone who finds or steals your old plate can use it to register a vehicle in your name, commit hit-and-run crimes, or avoid tolls and traffic cameras while driving under your identity. Even a plate from a car you sold years ago can be misused if it is still in circulation.
Throwing a plate in the trash also means it ends up in a landfill where it cannot be recycled properly. License plates are made of aluminum and reflective material that can be reclaimed and reused, but only if they reach a recycling facility that handles them — a regular curbside bin will not process them correctly.
Most states have laws against improper disposal of license plates. The exact penalty varies by state, but you can face a fine if someone reports that you discarded a plate illegally. The safer choice is always to hand it to an official agency.
What to Do If You Sold or Donated Your Car
Remove your license plate before you hand over the car to the new owner or the donation center. In most states, the plate stays with the owner, not the vehicle, so you are responsible for turning it in even after the sale is complete. The new owner will get their own plate when they register the car in their name.
A few states — including California, Florida, and some others — require the plate to stay with the vehicle. Check your state's DMV website to see which rule applies where you live. If your state requires the plate to stay on the car, you still need to notify the DMV that you no longer own the vehicle, usually by submitting a bill of sale or transfer form.
If you forgot to remove the plate before selling the car, contact your state DMV right away and explain the situation. They can flag the plate in their system so that if the new owner tries to register it in their name, the transfer will go smoothly and you will not be held liable for anything the new owner does with the vehicle.
How to Prepare Your Plate for Turnin
You do not need to do anything special to prepare a plate for turnin. Bring it as it is — do not try to clean it, remove the stickers, or alter it in any way. If the plate is bent, cracked, or damaged, bring it anyway. The DMV will accept it and dispose of it properly.
If you have multiple old plates from the same vehicle (for example, a summer and winter set, or plates from different years), bring them all at once. The staff will take them together and make sure they are all recorded as returned in the system.
Bring a photo ID and your vehicle registration or title if you have it, though most DMV offices will not require these documents just to turn in a plate. Having them on hand speeds up the process if the staff needs to look up your account.
Destroying a License Plate Is Illegal
Do not cut, bend, drill, burn, or deface a license plate yourself, even if you think you are making it unusable. Destroying a plate is illegal in most states and can result in a fine. The law exists because defaced plates are harder to track, which makes it easier for someone to use a stolen plate without detection.
If a plate is damaged and you want to get rid of it, the DMV will handle the destruction for you when you turn it in. That is the legal and safe way to may support the plate cannot be misused.
Recycling a License Plate at a Scrap Metal Facility
Some scrap metal recycling facilities will accept old license plates, but this should only be your option if the DMV is truly inaccessible to you. Call ahead to ask whether they take plates — many do not because of the liability and tracking requirements involved.
Even if a scrap facility accepts plates, the DMV is still the better choice because it ensures the plate is officially deregistered in the state system. If you use a scrap facility instead, contact your DMV afterward to report that the plate has been disposed of, so it does not remain active in their records.
Never assume a scrap facility will handle the paperwork for you. You are responsible for making sure the plate is officially removed from your name in the state system, and the only way to may provide that is to turn it in to the DMV directly.
What Happens to Plates After You Turn Them In
Once you hand a plate to the DMV, the agency removes it from the active vehicle registration system when ready. The plate is then either destroyed or sent to a specialized recycling facility that can safely separate the aluminum from the reflective coating and other materials.
The DMV keeps a record that the plate was returned, which protects you if someone tries to use it later. If a plate you turned in is ever used in a crime or traffic violation, the record shows that you returned it and you cannot be held responsible.
Some states reissue old plates to new owners after they have been sanitized and re-registered, so your old plate might eventually be assigned to someone else. This is safe because the DMV erases all connection between the plate and your identity once you turn it in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I throw away a license plate if I scratch off the numbers?
No. Scratching or defacing a plate is illegal in most states, and it does not prevent someone from using the plate for fraud — they can still read the numbers underneath or use the plate as-is. Always turn the plate in to the DMV intact, even if it is damaged.
Do I have to turn in a plate if I never registered the vehicle?
If you have a plate in your possession that was never registered to you, you can turn it in to the DMV or a police department. If you bought a vehicle and it came with an old plate that is not registered to the new owner, remove it and turn it in before you register the car in your name.
What if my old plate has my name and address on it?
Some older plates do display the owner's name. This makes them even more important to turn in, because someone with your name and address on a physical object can use it for identity theft. Bring it to the DMV as soon as you can.
Can I keep a license plate as a souvenir?
Laws vary by state. Some states allow you to keep a plate from a vehicle you owned if you request it in writing and pay a small fee. Contact your DMV to ask about their souvenir plate policy — if they allow it, they will issue you a special version that cannot be used on a vehicle.
How long does it take to turn in a license plate?
The actual turnin takes two to five minutes at a DMV office. You may wait longer depending on how busy the office is, but the transaction itself is quick. Some DMV offices have separate windows for straightforward tasks like plate turnin, so you might not have to wait in the main registration line.