In Maine, remove the license plates before the donated vehicle is towed. The plates stay with the registered owner, not with the car. After pickup, either transfer the plates to another eligible vehicle or surrender them to the motor vehicle office. Keep the surrender receipt. It is your proof for canceling the registration and may be needed before your insurer cancels coverage without a penalty.
What to do with your plates
Confirm the state plate rule
State rule: plates stay with the registered owner, not the donated vehicle. If your title, registration class, or plate type is unusual, confirm the current handling rule with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles before pickup. Do this before you release the car. It prevents the plates from being sent to auction, storage, or a buyer by mistake.
Remove plates before towing
Take off both plates before the tow truck leaves with the vehicle. Check the front and rear of the car. Put the plates in a safe place with your registration papers. If the car has already been towed, contact your pickup contact right away and ask whether the plates can still be retrieved before the vehicle is processed.
Surrender or transfer plates
After the vehicle leaves, choose one path. If you are putting the plates on your next eligible vehicle, transfer them through the motor vehicle office. If you are not using them, surrender the plates. Do not store old plates in the garage and forget about them. Until the registration is properly handled, your name may still be connected to that plate record.
Keep the surrender receipt
Ask for and keep the surrender receipt or other written confirmation. This is your proof that the plates were turned in and the registration can be canceled. Insurance companies sometimes ask for this proof before they cancel coverage without a penalty. Keep a photo or scan with your donation records, title copies, and any pickup paperwork.
File the transfer notice
After the plates are handled, complete the state notice of transfer or release of liability step. Use our separate Maine Release of Liability Guide. This is a separate task from plate surrender or plate transfer. Do not skip it just because the vehicle was picked up, the title was signed, or the plates were removed.
If the plates already left
If the tow already happened and the plates are still on the car, act quickly. Call your donation pickup contact and ask whether the plates can be removed and returned. If the vehicle has already moved beyond pickup control, call the motor vehicle office and ask what to do next. You may be told how to document missing, lost, or unrecovered plates. Follow their instructions and keep written proof of every step.
Why the receipt matters
The plate surrender receipt closes the loop. It helps show that the plates were no longer in your possession and that you took the required step to cancel or clean up the registration. Your insurance company may also ask for that proof before ending the policy without a penalty. Do not rely only on the tow receipt. The tow receipt shows pickup. The plate receipt shows what happened to the plates.
Common questions
Do I have to surrender plates after donating a car?
If you are not transferring the plates to another eligible vehicle, surrender them to the motor vehicle office and keep the receipt. If you are transferring them, complete the transfer through the proper office. Do not leave the plates on the donated car.
Can I cancel insurance as soon as the car is towed?
Call your insurer before canceling. Many insurers want proof that the registration or plates were handled first. The surrender receipt is often the cleanest proof. It can also be a condition for avoiding a cancellation penalty, depending on the policy.
What if I plan to use the plates on my next vehicle?
Keep the plates after pickup and ask the motor vehicle office how to transfer them to the next eligible vehicle. Do not put them on a different vehicle until the transfer is approved. Keep the transfer paperwork with your donation records.
What if one plate is missing or damaged?
Do not guess or ignore it. Contact the motor vehicle office and ask how to document the missing or damaged plate. Follow their instructions before canceling the registration or insurance. Keep any written confirmation you receive.
More donation prep guides
Before your donated vehicle leaves, remove the plates, decide whether to transfer or surrender them, and save the receipt. Then complete the release-of-liability step using the separate guide. Your donation through Maine Motors Giveback supports Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). If you are ready, gather your plate, registration, and pickup paperwork and finish the checklist today.