Refunds and Transfer Credits for Surrendered Plates

When you surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV, you may be eligible to transfer the remaining registration (credit) to another vehicle you want to register, or get a refund for the registration fee. You cannot get a refund or registration transfer credit for

• your vehicle plate fee
• title certificate fee
• any other fee or tax you paid when you registered the vehicle

If you transfer your remaining registration to another vehicle, your new registration will expire the same day as your old registration.  You can only use the transfer credit for a new (original) registration. You cannot use it for registration renewal.

Here is an example to show how your refund amount is determined. 

You paid $137.50 total to register your vehicle for two years. You paid $62.50 for the two years of the registration ($31.25 per year), $50.00 for the title certificate, and $25.00 for the vehicle plates. You surrender the vehicle plates during the first year of the registration, and you qualify for a refund of $30.25. This is a refund of the $31.25 fee for the second year of the registration with the $1 processing fee subtracted. There is no refund of other fees or taxes.

Receiving Your Refund

When you surrender your plates, your Receipt (FS-6T) indicates if you are eligible to receive a refund. If you are eligible for a refund and do not request a transfer receipt, we will process your refund automatically and you will receive it in the mail in several weeks.

If you are not eligible for a refund or request a transfer receipt, the DMV office issues a Receipt (FS-6T) that you can use to transfer the registration to another vehicle.

Applying For a Full Refund if the Registration Was Never Used

You can apply for a refund of the 2-year registration fee ONLY if the registration was never used and it is not more than 60 days from the date the registration was issued. For example, if you renewed the registration, but never used the new registration sticker, you can apply for a refund of the 2-year fee that you paid when you renewed the registration. A processing fee of $1 is subtracted from the refund amount.

The registration sticker cannot be used. If the sticker was attached to the windshield or the vehicle plate, you cannot remove the sticker and apply for a full refund.

To apply for a full 2-year refund, you must surrender the vehicle plates and the unused registration sticker and stub at a DMV office and request a 2-year refund. If eligible for the refund, the DMV office will issue a receipt that displays "two-year refund."

Receiving a Refund for the First Year of the Registration Fee

If you have already received a refund for the 2nd year of the registration fee and have the UNUSED registration sticker and stub, you may be eligible to apply for the 1st year of the registration fee.  You have a maximum of 60 days after the date the registration was issued to apply for the 1st year of the registration fee.

To apply for a refund of the first-year registration fee, send the following items to the address on the Request for Refund (MV-215) form

• a completed and signed Request for Refund (PDF) (MV-215)
• the original registration document (stub)
• the unused registration sticker

DMV will process a refund of the first-year fee if eligible.

Refund For Name Change

Follow these instructions

• surrender the vehicle plates at a DMV office and request a ‘transfer receipt’, not a ‘refund receipt’
• send these items to the address listed on the Request for Refund (MV-215)
  • a completed and signed Request for Refund (PDF) (MV-215)
  • a photocopy of the marriage certificate, the divorce documents or other court papers that prove the name has changed
  • the transfer receipt

The DMV will issue your refund in your new name, if eligible. 

Refund for Deceased Registrant

DMV will issue the refund to the name of the estate. Follow these instructions

• surrender the vehicle plates at a DMV office and request a ‘transfer receipt’, not a ‘refund receipt’
• have the executor of the deceased’s will send these items to the address listed on the Request for Refund (MV-215)
  • completed and signed Request for Refund (PDF) (MV-215), with "deceased" written on the form
  • a photocopy of the death certificate
  • the transfer receipt

If the estate of the registrant is settled, call the DMV Revenue Accounting Unit at 518-474-0902 to request a 'Next of Kin' form. Send the 'Next of Kin' form, Request for Refund (PDF) (MV-215), and the transfer receipt to the address on form MV-215. The refund is issued in the name of the next of kin.