In Connecticut, license plates stay with the donor, not with the donated vehicle. Remove both plates before your Drive Forward tow. After pickup, either transfer the plates to your next vehicle through the Connecticut DMV or cancel/surrender the plates as the DMV allows.
Keep the plate surrender or cancellation receipt. It is your proof that the registration was cancelled and may be needed before you cancel insurance without penalties.
What to do with your plates
Confirm the Connecticut rule
Before the vehicle leaves, confirm the current Connecticut DMV plate procedure. Connecticut generally treats plates as belonging to the registrant, so the donor removes them and then transfers or cancels/surrenders them. DMV procedures can change, especially for online cancellation or in-person return options. Check the DMV instructions that apply to your plate type and registration status before the tow.
Remove plates before towing
Take both plates off the car before the driver loads it. Check the front and rear brackets, and remove any plate frames only if you want to keep them. Put the plates somewhere safe, not in the glove box or trunk. If the car is already gone, contact Drive Forward right away and ask what access may still be possible.
Surrender or transfer plates
After the donation, choose one DMV path: transfer the plates to another vehicle you own, or cancel/surrender them under Connecticut DMV instructions. Do not leave the plates attached for the buyer, auction, or scrapyard. The plate decision is separate from the donation paperwork. If you are unsure whether transfer is allowed for your situation, ask the DMV before cancelling the registration.
Keep your DMV receipt
Save the surrender, return, or cancellation receipt from the DMV. This receipt is your proof that the vehicle registration was cancelled. In some cases, an insurer may ask for that proof before allowing a penalty-free insurance cancellation. Keep a copy with your donation receipt, towing record, title paperwork, and any Connecticut DMV confirmation pages.
File the transfer notice
Complete any Connecticut DMV notice of transfer or release-of-liability step that applies after the vehicle leaves your possession. Use our separate guide, Drive Forward Connecticut Release of Liability Guide, for that task. Do not treat plate surrender as the same thing. Keep the notice confirmation with your plate receipt so your donation file shows both steps were handled.
If the tow is today
If you are in the Hartford Metro and the tow is close, handle the plates first. Use a screwdriver, check both bumpers, and place the plates in your own vehicle or inside your home. Then complete the title handoff and other pickup paperwork. If a plate bolt is stripped, do not leave the plate behind without asking for help. The main goal is simple: the donated vehicle should leave without Connecticut plates attached unless the DMV has told you otherwise for your specific registration.
Common questions
Do license plates ever stay with a donated vehicle?
Yes, but that is the minority rule. In most states, plates belong to the donor and should be removed before pickup, then surrendered or transferred. A smaller number of states keep plates with the vehicle. For Connecticut, treat the plates as yours to remove, and confirm the current DMV process before the tow.
Can I cancel insurance as soon as the car is towed?
Do not cancel insurance based only on the tow. First, handle the DMV plate cancellation, surrender, or transfer process. The surrender or cancellation receipt is your proof that the registration was cancelled. Some insurers may require that proof before they allow penalty-free cancellation, so call your insurer after you have the DMV receipt.
What if one of my plates is missing?
Do not guess or ignore it. Contact the Connecticut DMV and ask how to cancel, surrender, or document a registration when one plate is missing. Procedures can depend on the plate type and registration status. Keep any DMV confirmation you receive with your donation paperwork and insurance records.
More donation prep guides
For a Drive Forward donation, the clean sequence is: remove the plates, follow the Connecticut DMV surrender or transfer process, keep the receipt, and file any transfer notice. That protects your registration and insurance records after the vehicle leaves. Your donation benefits Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). If you need help matching your paperwork to your donation file, contact Drive Forward.