Before the car is towed, confirm the plate rule with the Minnesota DMV. Plate rules are state-dependent. In most states, plates belong to the donor: remove them before the tow, then surrender them or transfer them to another vehicle. In a minority of states, plates stay with the vehicle, so you leave them on.
If you must surrender plates, keep the receipt. You will also file a notice of transfer / release of liability after the donation.
What to do with your plates
Confirm the plate rule
Do not assume plates are handled the same way everywhere. Before the tow, check the current rule with the state motor vehicle office or your title paperwork. Ask one direct question: do the plates belong to me, or do they stay with the vehicle? If the answer is unclear, wait to remove or surrender anything until the office confirms the correct process.
Remove plates before tow
If the state office confirms the plates belong to you, remove both plates before the tow truck leaves. Put the screws back in a bag or tape them to the plates so you can handle them together. Take a quick photo of the vehicle after the plates are off. If the office confirms plates stay with the vehicle, do not remove them.
Surrender or transfer plates
If the plates belong to you, choose the allowed next step. You may be told to surrender them to the motor vehicle office, mail them in, destroy them, or transfer them to your next vehicle. Follow the exact instruction you receive. Do not keep active plates in a drawer if the registration is still open and tied to the donated vehicle.
Keep the surrender receipt
If you surrender plates, ask for a receipt or confirmation. Keep it with your donation paperwork, title copy, and insurance notes. That receipt is your proof for canceling the registration. In some situations, an insurer may also require plate surrender or proof of registration cancellation before it will cancel coverage without a penalty. Keep a digital photo too.
File the transfer notice
After the vehicle is donated, file the notice of transfer / release of liability if your state requires one. This is separate from plate surrender. Use our separate guide, How to File a Release of Liability After Donating a Car, for that task. Keep the confirmation with the plate receipt and donation records.
If the tow already happened
If the vehicle has already been picked up and the plates went with it, act quickly. First, confirm whether that was correct under the plate rule. If plates are supposed to stay with the vehicle, document the tow and keep your donation records. If plates are supposed to be removed, contact our donor-services team and the towing party to ask whether the plates can be retrieved before the vehicle is processed further. If they cannot be retrieved, ask the motor vehicle office what proof or statement it will accept.
Common questions
Do the plates go with my donated car?
Plate rules are not the same in every state. In the common donor-owned plate system, you remove the plates and then surrender or transfer them. In a minority system, the plates stay with the vehicle. Confirm the current rule before the tow so you do not create a registration or insurance problem.
What if the car was already towed with plates on it?
If the vehicle is gone, first confirm whether the plates were supposed to stay with it. If yes, keep your donation records. If no, contact the donor-services team and the towing party right away. If the plates cannot be retrieved, ask the motor vehicle office what documentation it will accept.
Can I cancel insurance right after pickup?
Do not cancel coverage only because the vehicle was picked up. First, make sure the title transfer, plate step, and any release-of-liability filing are handled. Some insurers want proof that plates were surrendered or registration was canceled before they cancel without a penalty. Ask your insurer what it requires.
Can I transfer the plates to my next car?
If your state treats plates as belonging to the donor, transfer may be an option. The motor vehicle office will tell you whether the donated vehicle’s plates can be moved to your next vehicle. Do not bolt them onto another car until the transfer is accepted and recorded.
More donation prep guides
Plate handling is a small task, but it protects you after the vehicle leaves your control. Confirm the rule, remove plates only when required, keep the surrender receipt, and save the release-of-liability confirmation. Twin City Wheels helps donors complete clean vehicle donations that benefit Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). If your plates are still on the car or you are unsure what to do next, contact us for help.