License plates serve more purposes than just being a pretty ornament on your car.
License plates serve more purposes than just being a pretty ornament on your car. At some point, you may need to turn in your current license plates, especially if you switch from an old vehicle to a new one. If you live in Maryland or in the District, you are required to turn in your old license plates. Let’s learn more!
Breakdown by State
Besides Maryland and DC, several other states require their drivers to return license plates as well. This is the case in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wyoming. While drivers in other states, such as Virginia, aren’t obligated to return their plates, they must render them useless.
What Do I Do?
If you do need to turn in your plates, then you might not know how to go about doing it. Read the information presented on each state’s DMV website, or call your local branch. Depending on the situation, you’ll have to surrender plates after moving to a new state, or transferring ownership of the car to someone else. Maybe you don’t have insurance for that vehicle anymore, or you plan on taking it off the road for months or even years at a time. If this is what is going on, then you need to surrender your license plates – but you don’t necessarily need to turn in your driving license.
What About Surrendering a License?
Giving up your driver’s license is much different than simply surrendering your license plates. When you surrender the plates, you’re doing this because you have to. The DMV will collect them if they have expired or aren’t being used anymore. On the other hand, when you surrender your license, you are giving it up because it is no longer considered valid. If there are mistakes on the license, you must surrender it. Likewise, if you can’t drive anymore, then you must also surrender it. It might also become necessary in the event of license revocation or suspension.
Questions? The United States Vehicle Registration Services is Here to Help You!
If you still have questions regarding auto fleets or vehicle title work, get in touch with us and fill out our online form. We understand that vehicle inspections can be a tricky business, and we are helping to guide you through the process. Make sure that you leave your name, phone number, email address, and a summary of how we can best help you and your needs. Feel free to give us a call at 202-342-2558 or send us an email at greg@usvrs.com. We can help you to navigate the DMV in DC or Virginia or even the MVA in Maryland. For tips, tricks, and to see what we have been up to, make sure that you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms.