In Michigan, license plates generally belong to you, not the donated vehicle. Remove the plate or plates before the tow leaves. Do not send them with the car unless the Secretary of State tells you to. After removal, either transfer the plates to your next vehicle or confirm whether you should surrender or cancel them. If you surrender them, keep the receipt. It is your proof for registration cancellation and can matter when you cancel insurance.
What to do with your plates
Confirm the state rule
Before the car is picked up, confirm the current rule with the Secretary of State. The general rule here is that plates stay with the owner, not the vehicle. Most states follow this owner-keeps-plates approach. A minority of states send plates with the vehicle. If your title, registration, or plate situation is unusual, get the branch answer before the tow.
Remove plates before tow
Take off the rear plate, and any other plate that is installed, before the driver loads the vehicle. Keep the plate in your possession. Put the screws in a bag if you want them for your next car. If the vehicle has already left with the plates, contact MotorCity Wheels right away. Also contact the Secretary of State for instructions.
Transfer or surrender them
If you are replacing the car, ask whether you can transfer the plate to the next vehicle you own. If you are not transferring it, ask the Secretary of State how to surrender, cancel, or dispose of it properly. Do not assume that throwing plates away is enough. Your goal is to make sure the plate number is not tied to a vehicle you no longer control.
Keep the surrender receipt
If the branch accepts a plate surrender or processes a registration cancellation, ask for written proof before you leave. Keep that receipt with your donation records, title copy, insurance notes, and pickup paperwork. The surrender receipt is your proof that you took action to cancel the registration. Some insurers may ask for it before they allow penalty-free cancellation of coverage.
File the ownership notice
After the plates are handled, complete the ownership notice step for the donated vehicle. Use our separate guide, Release of Liability After Donating a Car, for that task. Do not skip it just because the plates are off. Plate removal helps stop plate misuse. The notice of transfer or release of liability helps show you no longer own the car.
If plates left with car
If your vehicle was already towed from Metro Detroit with the plates still attached, act the same day you notice it. Call MotorCity Wheels and explain that the plates were left on the donated vehicle. Then ask the Secretary of State what record, cancellation, or replacement step applies. Do not wait for the car to be sold or processed. The sooner you report the issue, the easier it is to document that you did not intend for the plates to remain in use.
What not to do
Do not leave plates on the vehicle as a courtesy to the next owner. Do not hand them to the tow driver unless the Secretary of State has told you that the plates must stay with the vehicle. Do not cancel insurance without checking what your insurer requires. If a surrender receipt or registration-cancellation record is needed, get that document first and keep a copy where you can find it.
Common questions
Do plates stay with a donated car?
Usually, no. The general rule in this state is that license plates stay with the owner, not the vehicle. Remove them before pickup. Because plate procedures can change and special plates may have extra rules, confirm your exact next step with the Secretary of State.
Can I cancel insurance after the tow?
Call your insurer before you cancel. Some insurers want proof that the registration or plate responsibility has ended. A surrender receipt or registration-cancellation record can be that proof. Keeping it may help you avoid penalties or disputes about the cancellation date.
What if I plan to buy another car?
Ask the Secretary of State whether the plate can be transferred to the next vehicle you own. If it can, follow the transfer process before using the plate again. If you will not transfer it, ask how to surrender, cancel, or properly dispose of it.
Is the tow driver responsible for my plates?
No. Treat plate removal as your task before pickup. The driver may not be able to advise you on state registration rules. Remove the plates yourself, keep them with your records, and contact the Secretary of State if you are unsure what to do next.
More donation prep guides
Plate handling is a small step, but it protects your registration, insurance records, and name after donation. Remove the plates, confirm whether to transfer or surrender them, keep any receipt, and complete the ownership notice. MotorCity Wheels helps donors complete vehicle donations benefiting Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). If your plates are still on the car, contact us and then confirm the state record step.