Form MV-141 at a glance
What it is: MV-141 is the Surrender of a Registration Plate: the registration plate is being returned to PennDOT, and the registration plate must be attached.
Who signs: If this form is completed by the registration plate owner, the owner signs in Section E. By signing, the registration plate owner certifies, under penalty of law, that the owner has verified that the number listed on the registration plate matches the registration plate number listed in Section A and that ALL information contained herein is TRUE and CORRECT, and understands that any misstatement of fact is a misdemeanor of the third degree punishable by a fine up to $2,500 and/or imprisonment up to 1 year (18 Pa.C.S. Section 4904(b)) (checked October 19, 2026).
A filled-in Form MV-141 example: an owner mails back the plate of a sold vehicle
How to fill out Form MV-141, box by box
Section A, Applicant and Vehicle Information
Complete Section A with the vehicle owner's information exactly as it is listed on the registration card.
Section B, the reason the registration plate is being returned
In Section B, check the appropriate reason the registration plate is being returned to PennDOT.
Check 1. Replacement of Registration Plate.
Check 2. Vehicle Sold.
Check 3. Voluntary Surrender.
Check 4. Personalized Registration Plate, Issued (fill in the blank after Issued).
Check 5. Moved Out-of-State.
Check 6. Insurance Stop.
Check 7. Vehicle Deal Cancelled.
Check 8. Exchange Registration Plate Issued.
Check 9. Termination or Lapse of Insurance.
Check 10. Registration Privileges Suspended.
Check 11. Illegible Registration Plate.
Check 12. Other (fill in the blank after Other).
Common mistake: The registration plate must be attached.
If a registration plate is not attached, a notarized statement explaining why must be included.
Section C, Decentralized Service or Full Agent Information
If the surrendered registration plate is being surrendered to an authorized decentralized service agent or full agent, Section C must be completed by the authorized decentralized service agent or full agent and forwarded to PennDOT along with the registration card and registration plate.
Decentralized service agents must forward through the Messenger Service Center.
A copy of this form must be retained by the authorized agent for at least three years.
A copy of this completed form must be provided to and retained by the vehicle owner and may be necessary to obtain a replacement registration plate, if needed at a later date.
Enter the Date the registration plate was surrendered to the authorized agent, then the Decentralized Service or Full Agent Name, the Street Address, and the City, State and Zip Code.
Section D, Law Enforcement/PennDOT Locations
If this form is completed at a PennDOT location or by a law enforcement officer, the representative or law enforcement officer must complete Section D of this form and the registration plate must be mailed to: Bureau of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 68597, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597.
Enter the Date the registration plate was surrendered to the location, then the Law Enforcement/PennDOT Location Name, the Street Address, and the City, State and Zip Code.
Section E, Registration Plate Owners
If this form is completed by the registration plate owner, the registration plate owner must complete Section E of this form and the registration plate must be mailed to: Bureau of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 68597, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597.
Enter the Date you are surrendering the registration plate to the Department, then the Registration Plate Owner Name, then, if there is a co-owner, the Registration Plate Co-Owner Name, then the Street Address, and the City, State and Zip Code.
Under the owner lines, enter the Printed Name of Registration Plate Owner, sign on the Owner Signature line and enter the Date; the co-owner lines are the Printed Name of Registration Plate Co-Owner, the Co-Owner Signature and the Date.
More rules for Form MV-141
The vehicle owner must retain a copy of this receipt in order to obtain a replacement registration plate from an authorized agent.
Where to get help with Form MV-141
Bureau of Motor Vehicles: visit www.pa.gov/dmv or call 717-412-5300; TTY callers, please dial 711.
Sources
[1] Form MV-141 (5-26), Surrender of a Registration Plate, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (the Official source link on this page).
