In Michigan, remove the license plates before your donated vehicle is towed. Plates do not go with the donated car. After pickup, either transfer the plate to another vehicle you own if eligible, or confirm with the Secretary of State how to surrender, destroy, or document unused plates. If you surrender a plate, keep the receipt. That receipt is your proof for registration cancellation and may be needed for penalty-free insurance cancellation.
What to do with your plates
Confirm the plate rule
Start by confirming the current Secretary of State rule for your registration. The working rule for this donation is simple: remove the plates before the vehicle leaves. Plates are state-controlled records tied to an owner and registration. Do not rely on the tow driver, the buyer, or Great Lakes Givers to decide plate handling for you. If anything about your registration is unusual, check with the Secretary of State first.
Remove plates before towing
Take off all license plates before the tow truck leaves with the car. Check the front and back of the vehicle. Remove any plate frame only if you want to keep it. If screws are rusted, use basic hand tools or ask someone nearby for help before release. Do not place loose plates inside the donated vehicle. Keep them with your donation paperwork.
Transfer or surrender plates
If you are putting another vehicle in your name, ask whether your plate can be transferred to that vehicle. If you are not transferring it, follow the Secretary of State instruction for unused plates. That may mean surrendering the plate, or another documented disposal method if allowed. Do not guess. The goal is to make the plate record stop pointing to the donated vehicle.
Keep the surrender receipt
If you surrender plates, ask for a receipt or written confirmation and keep it with your title, donation receipt, and insurance records. The surrender receipt is your proof for cancelling the registration. It is also sometimes a prerequisite to cancelling insurance without a penalty. If your insurer asks for proof that the plate is no longer active, send a copy, not your only original.
File release of liability
After the vehicle is picked up and the plate issue is handled, complete the notice of transfer or release of liability step that applies to your situation. Use our separate guide named Release of Liability After Donating a Vehicle. Do this even if the plates were removed. Plate handling and liability notice are related cleanup tasks, but they are not the same task.
Why plate handling matters
Across the country, plate rules usually fit two patterns. In most states, plates belong to the donor, so the donor removes them and then transfers, surrenders, or documents disposal through the DMV. In a minority of states, plates stay with the vehicle. Do not use another state’s rule for your donation. For your Great Lakes Givers donation, the safe sequence is to remove the plates before tow, verify the Secretary of State instruction, keep proof, then update registration, insurance, and liability records.
Common questions
What if my car was already towed with the plates on it?
Call Great Lakes Givers right away and ask whether the plates can still be retrieved. Also contact the Secretary of State for instructions. Do not wait for a ticket, toll bill, or insurance issue to appear. Write down who you spoke with, the date, and any next steps you were given.
Can I cancel insurance as soon as the car is donated?
Check with your insurance company before cancelling. Some insurers want proof that the registration was cancelled or that plates were surrendered, transferred, or otherwise handled correctly. A surrender receipt, when issued, can be the proof needed for penalty-free cancellation. Keep coverage questions separate from the donation receipt and tax paperwork.
Should I give the plates to the tow driver?
No, not unless the Secretary of State has specifically instructed that the plates must stay with the vehicle. For this donation, remove the plates and keep them with your records. The tow driver’s job is to take the vehicle, not to decide your registration, insurance, or DMV paperwork.
More donation prep guides
Handle the plates before you hand over the vehicle, then keep written proof of what you did. That keeps registration, insurance, and liability records cleaner after donation. Great Lakes Givers is the vehicle-donation program benefiting Heritage for the Blind (EIN 58-2164446). If your plates are still on the car or you are unsure what the Secretary of State wants next, contact us before you finish your paperwork.