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What to Do with Your License Plates

Sold, traded, or no longer operate your vehicle? Moved out of Virginia?

If so, Virginia Code section 46.2-707 requires you to immediately surrender your license plates and/or vehicle registration to the nearest DMV customer service center.

Permanently Surrendering Your Plates

You may permanently surrender your plates either by:

  • Taking your plates to a customer service center. (You may be eligible for a refund on the cost of registration fees for this vehicle.)
  • Utilizing DMV’s Online Plate Surrender to report the surrender of your plates. (You will not be eligible for a refund on the cost of registration fees for this vehicle.)

If your registration has a full six months or more remaining before it expires and you have surrendered your plates at a DMV customer service center, you may qualify for a partial refund. Simply complete an Application for Vehicle Registration form (form FMS-210) and return it to DMV. Refunds generally take 30 days to process. You will not be eligible for a refund if you used the Online Plate Surrender process to surrender your plates.

Deactivating Your Plates

If you have cancelled your vehicle liability insurance coverage but wish to keep your license plates, you may temporarily deactivate your license plates and registration.

Not complying with this law may result in severe penalties. If you cancel your insurance and do not notify DMV, your driving and vehicle registration privileges could be suspended.

Transferring Your Plates

To transfer plates to another vehicle, complete a License Plate Application (form VSA-10) and visit a customer service center to complete the transfer transaction.

Replacing Your Plates

If you have replaced your old plates, you may destroy them once the new ones have been received.