Plate transfers between people
Explore reported requirements, forms, and sources for all 50 states and Washington, DC.
These guides preserve the source’s uncertainty; they do not establish permission to sell.
Alabama (AL)
Yes, by release letter
Alaska (AK)
No
Arizona (AZ)
Only with the vehicle sale
Arkansas (AR)
Yes
California (CA)
Only with the vehicle sale
Colorado (CO)
No direct private transfer
Connecticut (CT)
Reportedly no
Delaware (DE)
Yes, active resale market
District of Columbia (DC)
No
Florida (FL)
Yes, by relinquishment
Georgia (GA)
Yes
Hawaii (Honolulu) (HI)
UnKnown
Idaho (ID)
UnKnown
Illinois (IL)
Spouse or child only
Indiana (IN)
UnKnown
Iowa (IA)
Yes
Kansas (KS)
Yes
Kentucky (KY)
Reportedly no
Louisiana (LA)
Close family only
Maine (ME)
UnKnown
Maryland (MD)
Yes
Massachusetts (MA)
Limited
Michigan (MI)
Immediate family only
Minnesota (MN)
Possibly with the vehicle sale
Mississippi (MS)
No
Missouri (MO)
Unclear (sources conflict)
Montana (MT)
No
Nebraska (NE)
Yes
Nevada (NV)
Yes, release to the public
New Hampshire (NH)
Reportedly no
New Jersey (NJ)
Yes
New Mexico (NM)
UnKnown
New York (NY)
Yes
North Carolina (NC)
Yes
North Dakota (ND)
UnKnown
Ohio (OH)
Yes
Oklahoma (OK)
No
Oregon (OR)
UnKnown
Pennsylvania (PA)
Limited
Rhode Island (RI)
Yes, by gift letter (no sale)
South Carolina (SC)
UnKnown
South Dakota (SD)
UnKnown
Tennessee (TN)
Reportedly no
Texas (TX)
Auction plates only
Utah (UT)
Release, then buyer applies
Vermont (VT)
UnKnown
Virginia (VA)
Yes
Washington (WA)
Yes
West Virginia (WV)
Spouse only
Wisconsin (WI)
Yes
Wyoming (WY)
Yes