You can’t drive very far without seeing vehicles that have peeling license plates. Some have deteriorated so much that they are nearly unreadable. You should be aware that it is illegal to drive with peeling or damaged license plates. Vehicle and Traffic Law sections 402, 402-A and 402-B are the applicable sections.

Peeling plates are not normally caused by actions of the driver or owner, but rather by poorly manufactured plates that were issued by the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Regardless, you are responsible for knowing the condition of your plates, along with the condition of your vehicles operating systems — including headlights and turn signal lights, etc.

If you have peeling license plates, there are two solutions and an option for damaged plates:

1. Replace Plates and Get New Plate Number — If you want the next available standard plate number, it is free of charge. The process is simple: send an email to dmv.sm.peelingplates

¯ your name exactly as it appears on the registration

¯ address (if your address is not current, update your address with a local DMV office before you send your email)

¯ city, state, and ZIP code

¯ daytime telephone number

¯ peeling plate number

¯ attach a photograph of the peeling plates in your email

The DMV will send your new registration/windshield sticker with the new plates.

2. Replace Plates and Keep Plate Number — To replace your plates and keep your plate number, complete the Application for Replacement Plates found online at: dmv.ny.gov/forms/pp7.pdf. Mail the completed application, a photograph of the peeling plates, and a $20 check or money order (made payable to ‘Commissioner of Motor Vehicles’) to the Custom Plates Unit. Allow four to six weeks for your new plates to arrive in the mail. DMV will mail your registration/windshield sticker separately from the plates.

3. Replace Damaged Plates — If your plate shows damage from use or a collision, or is fading or cracking but is not delaminated, you must order new license plates. The DMV will issue you a new registration and new “Excelsior” replacement plates. You must pay $25 for the new plates and a fee of $3.75 for a new registration, plus an additional $20 if you want your new plates to have your old plate number.

Do not return your old plates to DMV. Instead, destroy them to protect against fraudulent use. If you do not destroy the plates and someone else uses them, you could be held responsible for any traffic tickets written against the plates and for any fines resulting from the tickets. When you dispose of the old plates, mark each plate with a permanent mark or cut each plate into pieces.

Your old plates are considered scrap metal. You can recycle them at your local scrap metal yard or follow the recycling guidelines for the area where you live. Do not put both plates in the recycle bin at the same time. Put only one plate in the recycle bin for one collection and put the second plate in the bin for a later collection. For more information, visit Recycle Right New York at recyclerightny.recyclist.co/guide/license-plates.