Where to take your old license plates

Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the primary place to recycle license plates. Most DMV offices accept old plates at the counter during regular business hours — you do not need an appointment. Bring the plates in person, and staff will either recycle them on-site or direct them to a recycling facility that handles metal and plastic materials.

If visiting the DMV is not practical, some states allow you to mail plates to the DMV with a prepaid envelope or drop them at a local police station or sheriff's office. Call your state DMV before mailing to confirm they accept plates by mail and whether you need a form to include with them.

A third option is a local scrap metal recycler. Search online for "scrap metal recycling near me" and call ahead to ask whether they accept license plates. Many do, and some may pay a small amount for the metal content, though this varies by location and current metal prices.

Key Takeaways

  • Your state DMV is the standard place to recycle plates and accepts them at the counter during business hours without an appointment.
  • Some states allow you to mail plates to the DMV, but you should call first to confirm the process and whether a form is required.
  • Local police stations, sheriff's offices, and scrap metal recyclers may also accept old plates, though availability varies by location.
  • Plates contain aluminum and steel that can be reused, so recycling keeps them out of landfills rather than throwing them away.

Why you should recycle instead of keeping or discarding plates

License plates are made of aluminum and steel, both of which are recyclable metals. When you recycle a plate, the metal is melted down and used to make new products — from car parts to beverage cans to construction materials. Throwing a plate in the trash sends that metal to a landfill where it will not break down for decades.

Keeping old plates at home also creates a security risk. A plate in your possession can be used by someone else to register a vehicle fraudulently or to obscure a vehicle's identity during a crime. Once you no longer need a plate, turning it in removes that risk.

What to do before you recycle your plates

Before you hand over your plates, remove any personalization or custom elements you want to keep. If your plate has a special design, commemorative message, or vanity lettering that you paid extra for, ask the DMV whether you can transfer it to a new plate or keep the old one as a souvenir. Some states allow this; others do not.

If you are recycling plates because you sold your vehicle, make sure the sale is complete and the new owner has registered the car in their name. You can check your state DMV's website to confirm the vehicle is no longer registered to you. Once that is done, your old plates are safe to recycle.

For plates from vehicles you no longer own but never formally sold, contact your state DMV to ask how to remove yourself as the registered owner. They will tell you whether you need paperwork from the current owner or whether you can straightforward surrender the plates and have the registration cancelled.

How to recycle plates by mail

Not all states offer mail-in recycling, so start by visiting your state DMV's website or calling their main line. Search for "recycle license plates" or "return license plates" on the site. If mail-in is available, the DMV will tell you the address to send them to and whether you need to include a form or letter.

Pack the plates securely in a padded envelope or small box so they do not shift during shipping. Use a tracked mailing method — USPS Priority Mail with tracking, UPS, or FedEx — so you have proof of delivery. Keep your tracking number until you receive confirmation from the DMV that the plates arrived.

Mailing takes longer than dropping off in person. Plan for one to two weeks for the plates to arrive at the DMV, plus additional time for them to process and confirm receipt. If you need the recycling documented for your records, ask the DMV for a receipt or confirmation number when you mail the plates.

Recycling plates from vehicles registered in another state

If you moved and have plates from your previous state, you can recycle them through that state's DMV even though you no longer live there. Contact the DMV in the state where the plates were issued and ask about their mail-in process. Most states accept plates from out-of-state residents by mail.

You do not need to be the current registered owner of the vehicle to recycle the plates — you only need to have possessed them legally at some point. If you are unsure whether the plates are still registered to a vehicle, the issuing state's DMV can look them up and tell you the status.

What happens to plates after you recycle them

Once the DMV receives your plates, they are sent to a metal recycling facility. The facility sorts the plates by material — aluminum backing, steel frame, reflective coating — and processes each separately. The aluminum is melted and reformed into new sheets or ingots. The steel is shredded and melted for reuse in manufacturing.

The reflective coating on plates (the material that makes them visible at night) is more complex to recycle and is sometimes separated and disposed of separately, depending on the facility's equipment. The core metals, however, are almost always recovered and reused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I throw license plates in the regular recycling bin?

No. License plates should not go in curbside recycling bins because the metal, plastic, and reflective coating can damage sorting equipment at the facility. Take them to the DMV, a scrap metal recycler, or a police station instead.

Do I need to remove the screws before recycling a plate?

Most DMVs and recyclers prefer that you leave the screws attached. The screws are usually stainless steel and are separated during processing. If you do remove them, bring them along in a separate container so they are recycled too.

What if my old plates have my name and address on them?

The DMV and scrap metal recyclers handle plates with personal information regularly. Your information is not visible once the plate is melted down, and recycling facilities do not keep records of plate numbers or owner details. If you are concerned, you can black out the information with a marker before dropping them off.

Can I recycle a damaged or bent license plate?

Yes. Damaged plates are actually easier to recycle because they do not need to be in working condition. Bent, cracked, faded, or rusted plates all go through the same recycling process as plates in good condition.

Is there a fee to recycle license plates?

No. The DMV does not charge a fee to recycle plates. Scrap metal recyclers may pay you a small amount for the metal content, but this is optional and varies by location and current metal prices.