In Indiana, remove the license plates before your donated vehicle is towed. The plates belong with you, not the next owner. After the tow, either transfer the plates to your next eligible vehicle through the BMV or ask the BMV how to surrender or cancel the registration if you will not reuse them. Keep any surrender or cancellation receipt. That receipt is your proof for ending the registration and may be needed before penalty-free insurance cancellation.
What to do with your plates
Confirm the BMV plate rule
Before the tow, verify the current Indiana BMV instructions for donated, sold, or transferred vehicles. The general rule here is that the donor removes the plates. Still, BMV procedures can change, and the office may have specific instructions for cancellation, surrender, transfer, or disposal. If the answer you receive conflicts with any written guide, follow the BMV’s current direction.
Remove plates before towing
Take off both license plates before the donated vehicle leaves your driveway, parking space, or repair lot. Check the front and rear of the vehicle, then look inside the trunk or cargo area for any spare plate or old registration item. Do not leave plates in the glove box. Keep them with your vehicle paperwork until you decide whether to transfer or surrender them.
Transfer or surrender them
If you are replacing the donated vehicle, ask the BMV whether the plates can be transferred to your next eligible vehicle. If you are not reusing them, ask how to surrender the plates and cancel the registration record. Do not guess based on another state’s process. Some states leave plates on the vehicle, but that is not the rule you should follow for this donation.
Keep the surrender receipt
Keep the BMV receipt, cancellation confirmation, or other written proof showing that the plates were surrendered or the registration was ended. Store it with your donation documents and insurance records. This receipt is your proof for canceling the registration. In some situations, an insurer may ask for it before allowing penalty-free cancellation of coverage tied to that vehicle.
File the release paperwork
After the vehicle is picked up and the plates are handled, complete the transfer or liability paperwork required for your records. Use our separate guide, Notice of Transfer / Release of Liability Guide, for that task. Do not skip this step just because the plates are no longer on the vehicle. Plate removal and release paperwork serve different recordkeeping purposes.
If the tow already happened
If your vehicle has already been towed and the plates are still attached, contact Indy Car Connect first so the situation can be routed correctly. Then contact the BMV and ask what record you need to protect yourself. Do not cancel insurance based only on memory or a verbal understanding. Ask for written proof if the plates are recovered, surrendered, or the registration is canceled. Keep notes showing who you contacted and when.
Why plate rules differ
Plate rules are state-based. In most states, plates belong to the donor or seller, so they should be removed before pickup and then transferred, surrendered, canceled, or handled under that state’s motor-vehicle process. In a smaller number of states, plates may stay with the vehicle. Because those two systems are different, follow the BMV’s instructions for your vehicle record, not advice from a buyer, tow driver, or out-of-state checklist.
Common questions
Can I leave my plates on the donated car?
No. For an Indiana donation, remove the plates before the vehicle is towed. Leaving plates on the vehicle can create confusion about registration, insurance, tolls, parking notices, or later ownership records. If pickup already happened, contact the donation program and the BMV for next steps.
Do I have to surrender the plates if I plan to buy another car?
Not always. If you are replacing the donated vehicle, ask the BMV whether the plates can be transferred to your next eligible vehicle. If you do not transfer them, ask how to surrender or cancel the registration. Keep written proof either way.
Why do I need a surrender or cancellation receipt?
The receipt is your proof that the registration tied to those plates was ended or that the plates were handled through the BMV process. Keep it with your donation records. Some insurers may ask for that proof before they cancel the policy without penalty.
Should I cancel insurance before or after removing plates?
Remove the plates and confirm the BMV record first. Then talk with your insurance company about cancellation. Ask whether they require a plate surrender receipt, registration cancellation proof, or donation paperwork. Do not cancel coverage until you are comfortable that the vehicle is no longer your responsibility.
More donation prep guides
Handle the plates before you call the donation finished: remove them, confirm the BMV process, transfer or surrender them, keep the receipt, and complete the separate release step. That gives you a cleaner record after donating through Indy Car Connect in support of Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). If you are unsure which BMV action applies, ask before you discard anything.