It varies by state on what you should do with your license plates after you sell your junk car. Some states want you to remove and return them to the DMV, while other states let you keep to transfer or destroy them. However, it does matter what you do with your plates, so you want to check with your state's guidelines. Plates keep you tied to your registration, which can lead to liability issues, prevent renewal on other vehicles, and toll systems use plate numbers to change accounts.
Common state requirement examples:
- Return to DMV: California, New York, Pennsylvania
- Keep or destroy: Texas, Florida
- Transfer to a new vehicle: Most states
- Stay with the vehicle: Very few states
If you can keep your plates, you can transfer them to another vehicle, surrender to the DMV, destroy them, or keep them as a memento.
It's best to remove your plates before the tow truck driver arrives, just to prevent any last minute issues.
Check your local DMV website or call Junk Car Medics and we can find out for you.
