Downtown Administration Records Building –
500 Elm Street, Suite 3300, Dallas, TX 75202
Telephone: (214) 653-7811 • Fax: (214) 653-7888
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Updated
States that do not require you to surrender a License Plate
States that require you to surrender a License Plate
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Connecticut
Arkansas
Delaware
California
Florida
Colorado
Kentucky
Georgia
Louisiana
Hawaii
Maine
Idaho
Maryland
Illinois
Nebraska
Indiana
Nevada
Iowa
New Jersey
Kansas
New York
Massachusetts
North Carolina
Michigan
Pennsylvania
Minnesota
Rhode Island
Mississippi
South Carolina
Missouri
Vermont
Montana
Wyoming
New Hampshire
Washington, DC
New Mexico
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
For the states that do not require you to return the license plate, we encourage you to surrender the plate to the Dallas County Tax Office, deface, trash or recycle it. If the plate becomes lost or stolen, you could be held responsible for any damages or financial burden caused by their use.
For the states that require surrendering the license plate, you can visit the state’s website or contact the motor vehicle department of the state that you were a resident. Some states require you to drop off the plate in person or mail the plate back by mail.
Please contact the motor vehicle department of your previous state for instructions on the proper procedure to dispose of the plates.
Any plates surrendered to the Dallas County Tax Office will be recycled. The Tax Office does not return the plates to other states.