Is Your New York State License Plate Peeling? Get A Free Replacement

If your New York State license plate is peeling, you can get it replaced for free. The Department of Motor Vehicles announced on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, that it will provide new plates to residents whose current plates are peeling. There is an exception though.

New York State Offering Free Replacements For Peeling License Plates

While the DMV is offering free replacement plates with a new number, keeping the same number will cost you. If you are beholden to your current license plate number, you can pay $20 to get a replacement plate with the current number.

NYS DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said,

We are encouraging New Yorkers who have peeling license plates to get new ones, without any charge, to avoid the risk of being ticketed and having to pay a fine. We do not want that to happen to our customers, so we made the process to replace peeling plates as easy as possible.

 

If your plates are peeling and you'd like to take advantage of the free plates offer, here's what you need to do:

Email DMV at dmv.sm.peelingplates@dmv.ny.gov and include your current plate number in the subject line. You also need to send the following information in the email,

- Your name as it appears on your registration
- Your current address (if you have an old address on your current registration, update it before making your request)
- Your city, state, and zip code
- Your telephone number
- The number of the plate that's peeling
- A pic of the peeling plate

If a customer wishes to keep the same plate number, they should mail a completed Application for Replacement Plates -Keep Same Plate Number, a photograph of the peeling plates, and a $20 check or money order payable to ‘Commissioner of Motor Vehicles’ to:

 

NYS DMV
6 Empire State Plaza
Room 414A
Albany, NY 12228

You will receive a new window registration sticker separately.

How To Properly Dispose Of Your Peeling New York License Plates

Do not return your peeling plates to the DMV. Drop them off at a scrap metal yard or recycling drop-off station in your area. The DMV recommends drawing a line across them in permanent marker or defacing them in some other way before dropping them off.

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