SellCarAdvisor is reader-supported, when you sign up through links on this post, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. How We Work.
The bottom line: In most states, you remove your license plates when selling your car and either transfer them to your next vehicle or return them to the DMV.
Five states (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Minnesota and Oregon) require standard plates to stay on the car when you sell it. And a few states like Florida and New York can suspend your driver’s license if you don’t handle plates and paperwork correctly.
Kentucky switched to an owner-keeps-plates system on January 1, 2024. Before that, plates stayed with the car in Kentucky.
Key Takeaways
- In most states, you remove your plates and either transfer them to your next car or turn them in to the DMV. Leaving them on is almost never the right move.
- Alaska, California, Hawaii, Minnesota and Oregon require standard plates to stay on the car when sold. You still have a notice of sale to file, and in Alaska it is due immediately rather than within days.
- Florida and New York can suspend your driver’s license if you don’t surrender plates and file the required paperwork correctly.
- Removing plates is only half the job. Filing a release of liability or notice of sale is what actually protects you from future tickets and violations.
- You stay legally connected to the car until the new owner registers it in their name, no matter what you do with the plates.
- Handle plate removal and all required paperwork on the same day you hand over the car.
Automated assistant — general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Compare Instant Offers
How to Handle License Plates When Selling a Car: 4 Steps
The process is the same in almost every state. Where states differ is in what you do with the plates once they’re off, and what paperwork you file.
- Check your state’s rule. Find out whether plates stay on the car, go back to the DMV, or come with you. The quick reference table below covers the most common states.
- Remove the plates (if required). Use a Phillips or flathead screwdriver. Takes about two minutes if screws aren’t rusted. If they are, spray with penetrating oil and wait 15 to 30 minutes before trying again.
- File your notice of sale or release of liability. This is the step most sellers skip, and the one that actually protects you from the new owner’s tickets. Many states let you do this online the same day you sell. Deadlines range from immediately to 30 days depending on your state.
- Handle the plates. Transfer them to your next car, return them to the DMV, or destroy them properly. Don’t leave them in your garage or hand them to the buyer.
Quick Reference: What You Need to Do?
Important note: The table above is built from our state paperwork data and covers all fifty states. Rules do change, so confirm anything binding with your own DMV before the car leaves.
States Where You Leave the Plates on the Car
Alaska, California, Hawaii, Minnesota and Oregon are the states where standard plates stay with the car when you sell it. In every case, the key step isn’t the plates. Filing the right paperwork fast is what matters. Missing the deadline leaves you on the hook for the new owner’s violations.
California: You leave the standard plates on the vehicle, or remove personalized/specialty plates and transfer them to another vehicle you own. File Form REG 138 (NRL) within 5 days. Miss the deadline and you remain liable for tickets, tolls, and accidents until you file.
Hawaii: You leave your plates on the vehicle for the buyer; personalized plates stay with you and must be transferred or surrendered through your county. File your Notice of Transfer within 10 days. The form is Form CS-L(MVR)53 (Notice of Transfer), so check with your local office before the sale.
Minnesota: You leave your plates on the car for in-state sales; remove them if the buyer is taking the car out of state; personalized or specialty plates can be transferred to another vehicle you own. File your Notice of Sale online within 10 days.
Oregon: You leave the standard plates on the vehicle for the buyer; personalized or specialty plates stay with you and can be transferred to another vehicle you own. File Form 735-6890 (Notice of Sale or Transfer) within 10 days. In the meantime, you stay listed as the owner on record until the buyer transfers the title.
Alaska: You leave the standard plates on the vehicle for the buyer, and remove personalized or specialty plates to keep. File Notice of Vehicle Sale (tear-off from title). Immediately is the rule here, not a window of days. This stops the registration from auto-renewing until the new owner takes care of their end.
States Where You Must Return or Surrender Plates
These states require you to physically hand over your plates or actively surrender them to the DMV. The consequences for skipping this step in some of these states include license suspension.
Delaware: You transfer your plates to another vehicle you own for a $35 fee, or surrender them to any Delaware DMV office. File Seller's Report of Sale (detached from your title) Immediately.
Florida: You transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or surrender them to your county Tax Collector to avoid driver's license suspension. Then file Form HSMV 82050 (Notice of Sale) within 30 days. Florida can suspend your driver’s license if you don’t surrender your plates, so treat this as a hard requirement.
New York: You transfer your plates to another vehicle you own at the DMV, or surrender them to the DMV (in person at a county DMV office, or by mail to the DMV Albany address) before canceling your liability insurance. Do this Immediately. The form to use is Form PD-7 (Plate Surrender Application). New York has no separate release of liability form. Surrendering your plates combined with the title transfer and bill of sale serves as your legal protection.
Pennsylvania: Remove your plates after the title transfer. You transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or return them to PennDOT Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Return Tag Unit, P.O. Box 68597, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597. There’s no separate notice of sale form. Returning the plates handles your liability.
States Where You Keep Your Plates
Most states let you keep your plates and transfer them to your next car. Remove them before handing over the vehicle. In nearly all of these states, the plates belong to you, not the car.
Texas: Remove your plates before handover. You transfer them to another vehicle you own, or destroy them. File Form VTR-346 online within 30 days to cut your liability.
Colorado: You must remove your plates, because Colorado changed their law in 2021 so old plates can’t be used by the buyer. You transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, return them to your county motor vehicle office, or destroy them. File a release of liability online 5 days.
Illinois: Take your plates off before you hand over the keys. You transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or destroy them. File Form VSD 703 (Seller's Report of Sale) Immediately.
Kentucky (changed January 1, 2024): Kentucky switched to owner-keeps-plates in 2024. Remove your plates before the sale. You transfer your plates and any unexpired registration to another vehicle you own of the same class, or surrender them at your county clerk's office. If the buyer hasn’t transferred the title within 15 days, you can file Form TC 96-3 (Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer) at the County Clerk’s office to protect yourself.
Ohio: Remove your plates when you transfer ownership. You remove your plates and either transfer them to another vehicle with Form BMV 4809 or destroy them. Buyers receive a 45-day temporary tag at the time of title transfer, so they can drive while they get their registration sorted. Ohio has no separate notice of sale form. The title transfer handles your liability.
Michigan: Take your plates with you. Never let the buyer drive off with them. Michigan recommends handling the title transfer together at a Secretary of State office. There’s no separate notice of sale form in Michigan, so keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale for at least 18 months as your proof of sale.
Learn more: Paperwork for Private Sales, a full checklist of every document you need when selling your car directly to another person.
What to Do With Your Plates After Removal?
Once they’re off, you’ve got three options.
Put Them on Your Next Car
This works if you’re buying the same type of vehicle: passenger car to passenger car, truck to truck. You’ll need both vehicle titles, your current registration, proof of insurance, and your driver’s license.
Most states charge $5 to $25 for the transfer and give you 7 to 60 days to get it done. Visit your DMV and they’ll verify everything and issue new registration stickers.
Return Them to the DMV
Some states require this, others make it optional. If you return them, the DMV cancels the plates and may give you a small refund for unused registration time, typically $10 to $50 depending on timing.
You can usually do this in person, by mail, or sometimes online. Keep whatever receipt they give you as proof.
Dispose of Them Properly
If you’re not buying another car or your state doesn’t allow transfers, get rid of them the right way. Cover all numbers and letters with permanent black marker, then bend or cut them so they can’t be reused.
Don’t give them to friends or throw them in regular trash. Someone could find them and use them illegally.
Timeline and Deadlines That Actually Matter
Here are the filing deadlines for states with the strictest requirements.
Keep in mind: You’re still on the hook until the buyer finishes registering the car, no matter what the deadlines say. Filing your paperwork on the day of sale is always the safest move.
Protecting Yourself During the Sale
Handle Paperwork the Same Day
If your state has a release of liability form, fill it out the day you sell. Take photos of everything and keep copies for at least two years.
Meet at the DMV If You Can
Some buyers will agree to handle the title transfer right at the DMV office. This is ideal because you can watch them register the car and your liability ends right away.
You may need to pay for temporary tags ($10 to $30), but it’s worth it to know everything’s handled correctly.
Handle Insurance Correctly
Keep your car insurance until you’ve removed plates and filed any required forms. Cancel too early and some states will fine you or suspend your license.
But don’t wait too long either. You don’t want to pay for insurance on a car you no longer own.
Read more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
When Things Go Wrong?
The buyer wants to borrow your plates temporarily
Never agree to this. You’re taking on legal responsibility for everything they do with that car. They need to get temporary tags from the DMV or handle registration before driving off. That’s their responsibility, not yours.
I sold my car but the plates stayed on
Contact the buyer first. They may not realize they need to register quickly. If you can’t reach them or they won’t cooperate, call your DMV and explain the situation. You may need to file additional forms to protect yourself.
I’m selling to a dealer vs. a private party
Dealers usually handle most of the paperwork for you, but ask specifically what they need you to do with plates. Some want you to remove them, others handle everything. If you’re going the private sale route, you’re responsible for all plate and paperwork steps yourself.
I’m selling to someone in another state
Your state’s rules still apply to you. If you normally remove plates, you still remove them. The buyer then needs to figure out how to get the car registered in their state. Some states issue temporary tags for out-of-state buyers.
Special Situations You Might Run Into
Personalized and Specialty Plates
These almost always stay with you, no matter what your state’s regular rule is for standard plates. You’ll usually need to fill out specific forms and pay a fee ($10 to $50) to transfer them to your next car. Military plates, organization plates, and custom designs typically fall into this category.
Moving to Another State
Most states want their plates back when you move away. Return them along with a copy of your new state’s registration to avoid getting renewal notices at your old address.
Antique or Classic Cars
These often have different rules than regular cars. Some antique plates (especially low-number Delaware plates) can be worth serious money, so check their value and any special rules before getting rid of them.
Cars With Liens
If you still owe money on the car, the title process gets more complicated. You’ll usually need a lien release from your lender before you can complete the sale. This doesn’t change the plate rules, but it may affect your timeline.
Compare Instant Offers
Questions People Ask
What happens if I just leave my plates on the sold car?
You stay legally connected to that car until the new owner registers it. Every parking ticket, toll violation, or other issue that happens with your plates can come back to you.
This can drag on for months if the buyer doesn’t handle registration right away.
What happens to the car’s registration when plates stay with the car?
In the five states where plates stay on the car (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Minnesota and Oregon), the registration goes to the new owner along with the plates. That transfer is not automatic: the new owner still has to register the car in their own name.
Until they do, you are still connected to the vehicle. Filing a notice of sale or release of liability right after the sale is what actually cuts that connection for you.
Do online car buyers handle the plate and title paperwork for me?
Online buyers typically handle the title transfer on their end, but plates are your responsibility. You’ll need to remove them before the driver picks up the car, unless you live in a state where plates stay with the vehicle.
Have the plates off before pickup day . Drivers won’t wait on-site for you to remove them.
Once you’re ready to sell, you can compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor to see who gives you the best deal before committing.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely, including how to deal with stripped or rusted screws.
Article Update History
State plate rules, deadlines, filing offices, and form numbers were confirmed against each state's DMV records, with a few details refined to reflect the correct requirements.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
What to Do With License Plates
"leave the standard plates on the vehicle, or remove personalized/specialty plates and transfer them to another vehicle you own" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form REG 138 (NRL)" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"5 days" Accessed Sep. 15, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"leave your plates on the vehicle for the buyer; personalized plates stay with you and must be transferred or surrendered through your county" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"10 days" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form CS-L(MVR)53 (Notice of Transfer)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"leave your plates on the car for in-state sales; remove them if the buyer is taking the car out of state; personalized or specialty plates can be transferred to another vehicle you own" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"10 days" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"leave the standard plates on the vehicle for the buyer; personalized or specialty plates stay with you and can be transferred to another vehicle you own" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form 735-6890 (Notice of Sale or Transfer)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"leave the standard plates on the vehicle for the buyer, and remove personalized or specialty plates to keep" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer your plates to another vehicle you own for a $35 fee, or surrender them to any Delaware DMV office" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Seller's Report of Sale" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"Immediately" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or surrender them to your county Tax Collector to avoid driver's license suspension" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form HSMV 82050 (Notice of Sale)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"30 days" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer your plates to another vehicle you own at the DMV, or surrender them to the DMV (in person at a county DMV office, or by mail to the DMV Albany address) before canceling your liability insurance" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form PD-7 (Plate Surrender Application)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or return them to PennDOT Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Return Tag Unit, P.O. Box 68597, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer them to another vehicle you own, or destroy them" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form VTR-346" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, return them to your county motor vehicle office, or destroy them" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or destroy them" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form VSD 703 (Seller's Report of Sale)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"transfer your plates and any unexpired registration to another vehicle you own of the same class, or surrender them at your county clerk's office" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form TC 96-3 (Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer)" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026
What to Do With License Plates
"remove your plates and either transfer them to another vehicle with Form BMV 4809 or destroy them" Accessed Sep. 10, 2026