D.C DMV Vehicle Transfer | Vehicle Donations -->

Washington, D.C. Transfer Notification Support Page

It is Required for the Donor to Either Cancel Their Vehicle Tag Registration or Surrender the Vehicle Tags to the State After the Pick-up Date of the Vehicle Donation to Release Liability

HOW TO HANDLE THE LICENSE PLATES WHEN YOU DONATE A CAR, TRUCK, SUV OR OTHER STANDARD VEHICLE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.


Please remove the license plates of your donated vehicle before the pick-up. Please surrender them to DC DMV if you are NOT transferring tags to another vehicle. Be sure to always retain the tag cancellation receipt for your records.

Tag Transfer

Please See the Steps Below for How to Cancel or Surrender Your Vehicle Tag Registration

There are three ways in Washington, D.C. that you have donated your car: online, by mail, or in person. You can find more information and forms for each notification method below:


1. TO CANCEL YOUR TAGS ONLINE:

*PREFERRED METHOD* If possible, we highly recommend completing forms online instead of by mail, so you may easily save and print out a copy for your records that includes a date/timestamp. Also, when completed online a receipt can be printed ensuring it's been received by the DC DMV.

Click on the button below to begin your Vehicle Tag Cancellation online. Only the primary owner of the vehicle can cancel the tag registration online. If the vehicle is co-owned, then the primary person is the person listed first on the vehicle registration card. If you do not meet these requirements, you must surrender your vehicle tages by mail or in person at a DC DMV service center.

VEHICLE TAG CANCELLATION


2. TO SURRENDER YOUR TAGS BY MAIL:

DC will mail you a receipt for your records. Please wait until you receive your surrendered tag receipt to cancel your insurance to avoid insurance lapse fines.

Mail Tags To:
DC DMV
Vehicle Registration
PO Box 90120
Washington, DC 20090


3. TO SURRENDER YOUR TAGS IN PERSON:

Only the primary owner of the vehicle can cancel the tag registration online. If the vehicle is co-owned, then the primary person is the person listed first on the vehicle registration card. If you do not meet these requirements, you must surrender your vehicle tags by mail or in person at a DC DMV service center.

Click HERE for a list of DC DMV Service Centers.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q: When do I cancel my insurance? A. Only cancel your vehicle's insurance AFTER your vehicle has been picked up and you have notified the state that you’ve donated your vehicle. If your state requires notification, please be aware that you should never cancel your insurance prior to reporting to the state you are no longer in possession of the vehicle. This is a general rule for States/Motor Vehicle Departments that require Notification be submitted or license plates returned.

Q: Who is considerd the purchaser of my vehicle donation? Is it the nonprofit or charity? A. The purchaser of your donated vehicle is NOT the nonprofit or charity. It will either be the vendor or Charitable Adult Rides & Services, the vehicle donation program provider and partner of your nonprofit of choice.

Q. What is State Notification? A. State notification releases the vehicle donor from liability over the vehicle, including registration fees and from having to keep the vehicle insured, after the vehicle is picked up. State notification is a way for the state to create a record that the owner is no longer in possession of the vehicle. The steps needed to release your liability of a donated vehicle vary by state.

Q. Who is supposed to take care of the state notification process? A. If state notification is required, only the donor and/or owner of the vehicle can complete this process. Please do not rely on the pick-up driver or vendor to report to the State/Motor Vehicle Department that you are no longer in possession of the vehicle. If you need support, please contact the vehicle donation support team at donorsupport@careasy.org or call 855-500-7433. We would be happy to assist you.

If you have additional questions, please visit our vehicle donation FAQS.

If you would like assistance with your vehicle donation, please contact us here.

For more information on vehicle transfers, please contact your local Motor Vehicle Division:


DC DMV
Processing Center
95 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024 Phone: 202.737.4404
Email: dmv@dc.gov
DC DMV Website