Imagine getting a bill for tolls in Florida when you’re sitting five states over. That’s exactly what happened to an Eastern Ohio man. He sold his car in September, removed his personalized plates, and stored them in his Boardman, Ohio, garage. Or so he thought. In October, he received a letter from Florida’s Department of Transportation about an unpaid toll. His license plate had somehow made its way onto another car…and Florida’s toll cameras.

He quickly checked his garage. The front plate was gone. Someone had swiped it. Now, it’s likely being used illegally, leaving him to deal with the mess.

The right way to handle plates after selling a car

The situation WKBN News shared highlights a common mistake. When you sell a car, you can’t just keep the plates lying around. Ohio BMV rules are clear: plates are tied to the owner, not the vehicle. If you’re selling your car but keeping the plates, remove them and transfer them to your new car—or properly cancel them with the BMV.

Here’s how:

• Transfer the plates: If you’re buying a new vehicle, take the plates to the BMV and transfer them to your new ride.
• Cancel and destroy: If you’re not planning to use the plates anymore, cancel their registration with the BMV. Then, destroy them to prevent misuse.

Had this man canceled his plate and disposed of it, this Florida toll fiasco might have been avoided.

What to do if your license plate gets stolen

Several years ago, my husband and I lived in Downtown Columbus. We parked our cars in an alley behind the house. One morning, I went out to get to work and noticed the plate was gone from my MINI Cooper S. While I had no idea who took it or when, I followed the process for reporting and handling a stolen plate.

If you discover your license plate is missing, act fast. Here’s what you should do:

• File a police report: Like the Florida toll authorities recommended, report your plate as stolen to local law enforcement. This protects you if someone uses the plate in criminal activity.
• Notify the BMV: Inform the Ohio BMV that your plate is stolen. They can mark it in their system and issue you a replacement.
• Monitor your mail: Keep an eye out for suspicious toll bills or fines, and dispute any tied to the stolen plate.

Your plates are valuable, even after you sell a car. Don’t leave them sitting around. Whether you transfer, cancel, or destroy them, make sure they can’t end up on someone else’s car – or a toll camera five states away.