What happens when both plates are missing?
DMV requires you to surrender the registration when plates are lost, stolen or destroyed. If both plates are missing, or the only plate on a one-plate vehicle is missing, notify police and take the police report to DMV. A vehicle sale does not complete this process.
Which report should I request?
For an incident in New York, ask police for MV-78B. The form comes from law enforcement. For an incident outside New York, DMV requests a report on that state’s police-agency letterhead. If police refuse a report, DMV describes an MV-1441.3 alternative that records the request date and refusing agency.
What if one plate remains?
Keep the remaining plate and tell DMV exactly which item is missing. Follow its instructions for the one-plate situation rather than declaring both plates lost. Do not leave the remaining plate on a car being collected for sale.
What records should I retain?
Keep the report, DMV confirmation and sale receipt together. Coordinate insurance cancellation after completing the applicable surrender process. Ask DMV to resolve an existing suspension or notice rather than assuming the buyer’s receipt clears it.
Official sources.
Sources reviewed September 19, 2026. Use the current instructions for your vehicle and transaction.