Transfer existing license plates from one vehicle to another owned by the same registrant. Common when buying a replacement car.
Last updated · Source: DC Department of Motor Vehicles · Methodology
License Plate Transfer in District of Columbia costs $21.00 according to the official DC Department of Motor Vehicles fee schedule. The fee is the same statewide and is paid at the time of application.
No — license plate transfer requires an in-person visit to a District of Columbia DMV office. Walk-ins are accepted at most offices.
No, an appointment is not strictly required for license plate transfer in District of Columbia, but booking one is strongly recommended to avoid wait times that often exceed an hour at busy offices.
For license plate transfer in District of Columbia you will typically need: Current plates, new vehicle title/registration. Originals are required — photocopies are not accepted by DC Department of Motor Vehicles.
License Plate Transfer in District of Columbia is typically processed the same day at the DC Department of Motor Vehicles office.
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Fees and requirements shown here are based on publicly available information from the official DC Department of Motor Vehicles website as of 2025. The state DMV is the authoritative source. DMVPeek is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with any state government agency.