Whether you’ve recently purchased a new car or simply have old license plates piling up in your garage, it’s important to properly dispose of these plates rather than simply tossing them in the trash or attempting to reuse/repurpose them.
Failing to follow proper license plate disposal procedures for the state of Washington can lead to legal penalties. The rules on how to destroy, recycle, or return old Washington plates depend on the license plate type.
This comprehensive guide will provide you with the necessary information to smartly and legally dispose of your old license plates under the Washington State Department of Licensing’s policies.
Why You Must Properly Dispose of Old License Plates
Simply throwing your outdated Washington license plates in the garbage or failing to invalidate their numbers opens you up to multiple risks, including:
- Fraud liability. If someone finds your plates and puts them on another vehicle, you could be held legally responsible for any fines, penalties, or legal violations tied to that vehicle. This happens more often than you would think! In 2021 alone, over 5,000 license plate identity theft cases were reported to the Washington State Department of Licensing.
- Financial identity theft. While less common, old plates also carry personal information that savvy identity thieves could utilize to access your bank accounts or credit cards. Your old plates contain your address, VIN, and other data criminals can leverage for harm.
To avoid these headaches down the road, it’s critical you correctly dispose of your unneeded Washington license plates per the guidance below. Don’t become another statistic!
what to do with old license plates?
Old license plates should not just be tossed out. You need to fully destroy them before throwing them away so the numbers and letters are impossible to read. Use scissors or pliers to cut them up into small pieces. Also, scratch off any stickers on them. Doing this prevents criminals from trying to reuse them illegally with your personal information.
There are also options to properly dispose of your old license plates instead of damaging them. Many states allow you to return plates by mail or at your local DMV office. Some scrap metal recycling centers may also accept old plates to shred and destroy. Just remember to remove any identifiable stickers first before dropping them off anywhere.
How to Permanently Dispose and Destroy Plates Yourself
If you choose to destroy your outdated Washington vehicle license plates yourself before disposal, here are the recommended steps to invalidate them permanently:
- Deface the plates so the numbers/letters are fully obscured. A permanent black marker works well for this. Ensure no parts of the number/lettering are visible.
- Bend or tear the plates to alter their shape. Metal snips, pliers, or even a hammer can help destroy the shape of the plate.
- Cut the plates into pieces for good measure. Slice plates into a few pieces so they cannot be puzzleed back together.
These steps prevent criminals from flattening or manipulating the plates back into usable condition. Criminals have used everything from hammers to heat guns to try restoring tossed plates into functioning form. So taking these precautions protects your identity.
Once fully destroyed and unreadable, you may then dispose of the plate scraps normally as recyclable metal pieces.
Recycling and Drop-Off Disposal Options
Many Washington residents choose to have their local recycling company dispose of their old vehicle license plates. A few guidelines on this method:
- Always remove or permanently mark through the expiration stickers on your plates so they cannot be reused or cause confusion
- Some recyclers may not accept metal license plates due to their shape/size. Check policies first before dropping them into your curbside recycling bin.
- Illegible Plate pieces can generally be disposed of at any local scrap metal recycling location. Just inform them you destroyed old plates.
- If keeping your old plates intact for recycling whole, at a minimum bend them significantly to alter their original shape/numbers.
Returning Special Design Plates by Mail or In-Person
While standard Washington license plates can simply be destroyed and recycled, the Department of Licensing has strict rules in place for handling outdated specialty and design plates:
- These plates MUST be returned to a vehicle licensing office in person:
- Commercial Vehicle (over 12,000 lbs)
- Personalized
- Disabled Parking
- Collector Vehicle
- Horseless Carriage
- Failing to return these plates in person leaves you liable for any crimes/fines associated with their reuse.
- Other special design plates like Pearl Harbor Survivor, Purple Heart, etc. can optionally be mailed back (with postage) but we strongly recommend visiting your local vehicle licensing office for best tracking purposes.
- Specialty plate return is heavily tracked/monitored so do NOT attempt to recycle or destroy them yourself.
Failure to return these plates properly can also result in up to $1000 in civil fines per plate. When in doubt, contact your local vehicle licensing office for clarification.
Mailing Back Old Plates to the Washington Department of Licensing
If you have standard or specialty Washington license plates you wish to return to the Department rather than destroy/recycle, review this helpful information:
- Address to Mail Back Plates:
Department of Licensing
1125 Washington St SE
Olympia, WA 98504
- Add the PROPER POSTAGE prior to mailing. Plates received without postage will be discarded.
- For large specialty plate returns (more than 2 plates), visit the vehicle office instead.
- Include your name/address for tracking purposes
- Specialty plates should always be hand-delivered if possible
Alternate Methods to Reuse Old License Plates
If you are set on repurposing your old WA license plates rather than properly destroying/recycling them, here are some legal reuse ideas to explore:
- Create ART by flattening and spray painting old plates
- Use BENT plates as decorative wall hangings
- Craft them into MAILBOX TOPPERS or other handmade crafts
Just note for any reuse: plates must be fully bent/distorted and all stickers removed as Rena Monrovia points out regarding transport laws. They were displaying intact vintage plates risks being ticketed and fined if used illegally. Rena Monrovia explains that when you transport something by car, all plates must be valid and stickers up to date.
So vintage plates should only be used decoratively after being distorted as wall art or crafts rather than mistaken as valid registration on a road vehicle. Taking these steps also aids proper disposal procedures so your old plates don’t open doors for trouble.
Key Takeaways on Washington License Plate Disposal
To recap, adhere to this list to safely, legally, and securely process those old Washington plates piling up in your garage:
- Destroy standard plates completely if recycling/trashing to avoid legal liability
- Specialty plates likely need proper Department return instead
- Deface plates fully and alter shape if recycling/reusing
- Use mail or local office drop-off options as needed
- When in doubt, contact the vehicle office for personalized assistance
Properly disposing of your outdated Washington vehicle license plates takes a small time investment upfront. This saves you significant hassle, headaches, and legal risk down the road. Follow the recommendations above to keep yourself in good standing with the DC Department of Licensing. Don’t let your old plates open doors for license fraud or identity theft!
