Surrender License Plate

SOLD YOUR VEHICLE? SURRENDER LICENSE PLATE

When selling a titled motor vehicle, mobile home, or vessel or trailer, the title should be properly completed and signed.  If you are not accompanying your buyer to one of the Tax Collector’s Service Centers or our partner Tag Agency location to transfer the title, you can complete a Notice of Sale to record the title as sold.

Ownership does not change until the buyer transfers the title into their name.

If the vehicle being sold has a valid license plate but it is not being transferred to a different vehicle—the plate should be turned into to the tax collector’s office. This can protect your driver license from suspension when the insurance on the sold vehicle has been cancelled. 

A Florida license plate may be surrendered/cancelled by submitting a completed Surrender License Plate form. See options for submitting the form below.

Surrender of Plate - by drop box

Located outside of each of the six service centers throughout Lee County, customers can use these secure boxes to turn in unused license plates. 

1. Locate the Drop Box at the location of your choice.

2. Simply take a pre-printed envelope from the container on either side of the box, fill out the information. 

3. Place the license plate inside the envelope and drop it into the box.

No more waiting in line! Plates turned in by 4 p.m. on business days will be processed the same day with a receipt mailed to the address on record. 

Surrender of Plate - by Mail

Mail license plate with completed Surrender License Plate form to:

Lee County Tax Collector PO Box 1590 Fort Myers, FL 33902-1590

Surrender of Plate - in person line

Complete the Surrender License Plate form to submit along with the physical license plate. The plate and completed form may be dropped off at any Lee County Tax Collector location. You may leave with the front desk customer service representative. An appointment is not required to surrender your license plate. The person completing the form must list their Florida driver license or identification card number on the form.

If the person completing the form does not have a valid Florida-issued license or identification card, a copy of their valid, government-issued identification must be provided.

If your Florida license is suspended and/or you would like to receive additional services beyond dropping off the plate during your visit, please make an appointment.

IF Physical Plate is Lost or Stolen

If the physical license plate has been lost or destroyed, check the appropriate box on the Surrender License Plate form.

If the physical license plate has been stolen, check the appropriate box on the form before mailing or dropping off the form and attach a copy of the police report, if applicable. It is the responsibility of the owner(s) to report a stolen license plate to law enforcement.

Why returning plates should be important to you:

  • Failure to surrender a valid license plate when your insurance is cancelled or expires will result in suspension of your driver license.
  • When you dispose of a plate by turning it into a tax collector’s office you will receive a receipt showing the plate was surrendered. If the initial registration fee was paid for the vehicle that the plate was on, that receipt can then be used for credit towards a future vehicle registration to keep you from paying the initial registration fee when you purchase a new vehicle.
  • So scammers do not attach your plate to their vehicle and go through tolls, red light cameras or be used on vehicles that are part of a crime. When this happens, the name and address on file will be yours.
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