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Oregon DMV

Transferring Your License Plate

Overview​

Oregon license plate with the word DRIVE
This page provides information about transferring your license plate to a different vehicle.
 
Use the links below to go directly to any section:
General Requirements
The general requirements to be eligible to transfer your plates to a different vehicle are:
  • Plates must be transferred to the same type of vehicle to which they were originally issued; for example, plates that were on a passenger vehicle may be transferred to another passenger vehicle, but not to a motor home.
  • Plates must be of current issue, special registration, or customized license plates.
  • Plates must be legible for identification purposes.
If the plates you are transferring are current use, but are not of current issue, the plates must be converted to custom plates in order to be transferred.  The plates must be approved for use.  Contact DMV for more information.

How to Transfer Plates
If you need to transfer plates to a different vehicle, you will need to:

      Oregon DMV 
      1905 Lana Ave NE 
      Salem, OR 97314  

Note: If the plates being transferred do not have current registration, they may need to be approved by DMV.  In order to ensure that your transaction meets requirements, you may wish to contact DMV prior to submitting the transaction.

Note: Due to the added costs of merchant fees, DMV offices only accept cash or checks and do not accept credit or debit cards; however, ATMs are available at most DMV offices.

Note: If you are mailing your Application for Title and Registration, you may want to keep the Notice of Transaction Submitted page in the glove compartment of the vehicle until the registration card is received.

If you are renewing your vehicle registration (tags) at the time of plate transfer, and:
  • There are more than 90 days of registration left on the plates you want to transfer, then follow Option A below.
  • The plates are expired, you must renew the registration at the time of plate transfer and follow
    • Option B below.
  • There are 90 days or less of registration left on the plates you want to transfer, then you can:
    • Renew now and follow Option B below; or
    • Renew later and follow Option A below.
Option A - Plate Transfer Only Option B - Plate Transfer & Reg Renewal
  • If the registration fee for the new vehicle
    is greater than on the old vehicle, pay the difference in fees for the full registration period.
  • Pay the license plate transfer fee.
  • If you are converting license plate configuration to custom, pay the custom license plate fee.
  • The expiration date will remain the same.
  • If there are 90 days or less of the current registration period remaining, you will
    not receive a renewal reminder    .
  • Pay the full registration renewal fee for
    the new vehicle.
  • Pay the license plate transfer fee.
  • If they are Salmon, Cultural, Wine Country or group license plates, pay the surcharge specific to those license plates.
  • The expiration day and month will remain the same; only the year will change.
  • If you are converting license plate configuration to custom, pay the custom license plate fee.

Related Information
Additional information that may be relevant includes: