PD-7

The Plate Surrender Application (Form PD-7) is used by individuals and businesses to formally return active New York State license plates to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Surrendering plates is a mandatory step before canceling a vehicle's liability insurance to avoid registration or driver license suspensions. The form is commonly used when a vehicle is taken off the road, sold without transferring plates, or when the owner moves out of state.

To complete the process, applicants must remove all frames and fasteners from the plates and submit a separate PD-7 form for each set. Submissions can be made by mail to the DMV office in Albany or in person at a local DMV office, though county offices may charge a small processing fee. Once processed, the DMV issues a plate surrender receipt (Form FS-6T), which may be required for insurance cancellation or to claim a registration fee refund from the NYS Comptroller. If plates are surrendered temporarily for seasonal storage, specialized procedures allow for future reinstatement of the registration and plates.