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.
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.
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 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.
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