HOW TO TRANSFER PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATES

Personalized license plates, also called vanity plates, are a way to customize a vehicle to express individuality, interests or hobbies. Purchased plates can support causes, recognize service, achievements, licenses, status, historical significance and occupations.

Personalized license plates and Special Interest Plates belong to the license plate owner, not the vehicle. The plate owner assigns them to specific vehicle. The license plates become associated with the VIN record for that vehicle. The plate owner has a few options on how to transfer the personalized license plates when the vehicle is sold. They can retain them for future use, reassign them immediately, surrender them to the DMV or transfer with the vehicle to the new owner.

PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATE OPTIONS WHEN SELLING A VEHICLE

Remove the license plates and transfer the plates to another vehicle immediately
Retain the license plates for future use on another vehicle
Surrender the plates to the DMV
Release interest in the plates and allow them to be transferred with the vehicle to the new buyer

HOW TO TRANSFER (REASSIGN) PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATES

Reassigning personalized license plates prior to selling a vehicle is very simple. Regular Series replacement license plates can be requested to replace them in preparation of a buyer.
If the vehicle is sold prior to reassignment, and the DMV is not notified of the owner’s intent to retain them, the plates can inadvertently be transferred to the new owner in the DMV record.
To prevent this, I recommend the plates be removed prior to selling the vehicle, and either an intent to retain the plates be filed with the DMV, or the plates be promptly reassigned to another vehicle. Either process utilizes the DMV REG 17 form.

DMV REG 17 SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE APPLICATION

The DMV REG 17 is an multi-purpose DMV form for ordering license plates, conversion, replacement, and the reassignment, retention and release of interest in the plates.

To reassign the plates, complete Sections 1, 4, 5, and 6.

HOW TO RETAIN PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATES FOR FUTURE USE

If you wish to keep the plates for future use, it is necessary to inform the DMV and to pay a retention fee. The retention fee is the same fee that is included in the annual renewal related to the personalized plates. Failure to pay the annual retention fee will result in cancellation of the plate and loss of the personalized configuration.

To retain the plates, complete Sections 1, 4, 5, and 6.

Mail the form and the retention fee to: DMV – SPU, P.O. Box 932345 – MS D238, Sacramento, CA 94232-3450

HOW TO SURRENDER THE LICENSE PLATES TO THE DMV

To surrender the plates, complete Sections 1, 4, 5, and 6.

Remove the plates and bring the form and plates to a local DMV office (no appointment needed) or
Mail the form and the plates to: DMV P.O. Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269

HOW TO RELEASE INTEREST IN THE PLATES AND TRANSFER THEM TO THE NEW BUYER

To release interest in the plates and allow them to be transferred with the vehicle to the new buyer, complete Sections 1, 4, 5, and 6.

IN CONCLUSION

Prior to selling a vehicle with personalized plates, the plate owner has options regarding the disposition of the plates. Many times a customer will come to me to reassign their personalized plates after selling or trading-in the prior vehicle and an inquiry will show the plates are now in the name of the new owner. The customer didn’t know that as the plate owner, they need to pay a retention fee to maintain interest in the plates. While they still have physical possession of the plates and still own the plates, the DMV record shows the plates transferred with the vehicle. Correction requires a visit to the local DMV office. To avoid this situation, remove the plates and reassign them before the sale or pay a retention fee in advance if you wish to use them in the future.

How to Transfer Personalized License Plates