Do I have to hand in my plates if I cancel my insurance in New York?

Asked by: Linnea Goldner  |  Last update: February 22, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (19 votes)

Before you cancel the vehicle's liability insurance coverage you must surrender your plates and registration. If you do not turn in your plate(s), we will suspend your registration and can suspend your driver license.

Do I need to turn in my plates to cancel insurance in NY?

If you do not have liability insurance, you must surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV immediately. If your liability insurance is about to lapse and you do not plan to replace it with other insurance, surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV before the lapse.

Do I need to surrender plates to cancel insurance?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that plate cancellation procedures vary by state, but generally require: Return plates to your local DMV. Complete a plate cancellation form. Provide proof of insurance cancellation.

Does NY require you to return license plates?

You must surrender your vehicle registration and plates to the DMV before the New York State liability insurance is canceled. Once you surrender your New York State vehicle plates and register your vehicle in another state, you can get insurance in the other state.

What happens to my license if I cancel my insurance?

Remember that most states require you to have at least the minimum coverage for your vehicle even if you're not driving it. When you cancel your car insurance too soon, you can be subject to fines and even have your license suspended.

How to cancel your New York Auto Insurance when moving out of state?

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What happens when you cancel car insurance?

Generally, insurers will refund you the money for the unused portion of your policy, assuming you paid in advance. However, depending on your state, and when you cancel, your insurer may charge a cancellation fee.

What happens if I remove a driver from my insurance?

Excluding them means the insurance company is no longer considering their driving history on your policy. If an excluded driver or one you have removed from your policy gets into an accident with your vehicle, your policy may not cover the incident.

Can I keep my old NY license plate?

When you receive your new plates, you must destroy your old plates to protect against fraudulent use. Mark each plate with a permanent marker or cut each plate into pieces. Consider separating the plates when you recycle, putting one plate in your recycling bin each week.

Which states require you to return license plates?

You are required to surrender your plates when you sell your car in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, ...

Do you need front and back license plates in New York?

New York follows the “two-plate law,” which means that drivers must ensure they have a license plate secured at the rear of their vehicle and also one in the front.

Do I have to turn in my license plate when I cancel insurance in South Carolina?

Per the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “If you have a South Carolina license plate on the vehicle then you must maintain insurance on the vehicle or you must turn the license plate into your local SC DMV office before removing insurance from the vehicle or you can be suspended and penalized for no ...

Do I have to turn in my license plate when I cancel insurance in Louisiana?

What are the penalties for not turning in a license plate in Louisiana? In Louisiana, failure to surrender your license plates after selling your vehicle, cancelling your insurance, or moving to a different state can result in penalties. This may include fines or other legal consequences.

Do I have to turn in my license plate when I cancel insurance in PA?

Send your registration plate and registration card into PennDOT immediately upon canceling insurance.

Can I cancel insurance without returning plates?

Keeping your license plates while dropping your car insurance might seem like a harmless move, but it can lead to severe repercussions. In many places, retaining your plates without insurance can result in the suspension of your vehicle's registration or even your driver's license. Here's why this matters: 1.

Is there a fee to surrender license plates in NY?

Requires $1.00 in cash • If surrendering plates for someone else, please have the name of the registrant.

Do I have to turn in my license plate when I cancel insurance in Florida?

Failure to surrender a valid license plate when your insurance is cancelled or expires will result in suspension of your driver license. When you dispose of a plate by turning it into a tax collector's office you will receive a receipt showing that the plate was surrendered.

How do I deactivate my license plate?

Each state has its own form to initiate the cancellation of license plates. Use the correct form for the state in which the car is registered. Most states make their forms available for download as PDFs. They're usually formatted so that you can fill them out on your computer or device before you print them.

Can I throw away old license plates in Illinois?

1.) You can return Your Plates to The Illinois DMV

Make your Illinois plates unusable by bending them, removing and destroying the stickers, and/or recycling them. Return them in person to your local IL DMV office. There will be bins for recycling your license plates outside every DMV office.

Do I need to change license plates when I move states?

Lastly, you'll likely need to get a new license plate for your vehicle. Be sure to check with your new state on their specific process and fees to complete the vehicle registration task.

What happens if I don't return my license plates in NY?

When to Surrender Plates and Registration. Before you cancel the vehicle's liability insurance coverage you must surrender your plates and registration. If you do not turn in your plate(s), we will suspend your registration and can suspend your driver license.

What states require you to return license plates?

What States Require You to Return Your License Plates
  • Florida.
  • Georgia.
  • Kentucky.
  • Louisiana (if not keeping a prestige or specialty plate)
  • Mississippi.
  • Nebraska (if not transferring to a new vehicle)
  • New Jersey (if not transferring to a new vehicle)
  • New Mexico (if not transferring to a new vehicle)

Can I get a refund on my car registration in NY?

Applying For a Full Refund if the Registration Was Never Used. You can apply for a refund of the 2-year registration fee ONLY if the registration was never used and it is not more than 60 days from the date the registration was issued.

Can my husband drive my car if he is not on my insurance?

Usually, yes. Your car insurance coverage should be able to extend to anyone else driving your car. Even if someone isn't listed on the policy, they can operate your vehicle. If you explicitly name someone as an excluded driver in your policy, however, none of this applies to them.

Can you cancel insurance on a car you don't drive?

To cancel your insurance, cancel your vehicle registration first to avoid creating a gap in car insurance coverage. You may need to fill out an affidavit of non-use with your state. You may also be required to turn in your plates and store the vehicle in a locked facility.

What happens if I let an uninsured driver use my car?

As the vehicle owner, you may also be held accountable for allowing an uninsured driver to use your car. This could result in fines and penalties, even if you weren't in the vehicle at the time.