Replacing a Lost Registration in Washington DC

Losing an important item like your vehicle registration or plate decal can be stressful, but don’t worry—the Washington, D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) makes it easy for you to replace your lost or damaged items.

Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through what to do!

Lost Your D.C. License Plate?

Check out our guide to replacing license plates in Washington D.C. for help with how to get your vehicle back to being street legal.

Duplicate D.C. Registration & Stickers

In Washington D.C., plate decals are included when you purchase a replacement registration card.

Renew Instead!

If your registration expires in 10 days or fewer, you are NOT required to order a duplicate registration—just renew your D.C. registration instead.

The DMV allows you to request your duplicate registration certificate and sticker:

  • Online.
    OR
  • In person at the DMV.

Online

You are eligible to request a duplicate registration online if:

When you’re ready, visit the DMV’s online portal and provide your:

  • Plate number.
  • Last 4 digits of your vehicle identification number (VIN).
  • Updated insurance information (if necessary).
  • Credit card information for the $20 duplicate registration fee.
    • For your credit card payment to be accepted, you must use an approved web browser; the DMV provides a list of these browsers.

Print your order confirmation and keep it. The DMV will mail your registration card and sticker to your address within 10 business days.

In Person

Duplicate registration cards and decals can also be requested at your local DMV office, as long as your registration expires in more than 10 days. If not, just renew your registration instead.

You may be asked to provide your:

  • Vehicle ID number (VIN).
  • Plate number.
  • Driver’s license.
  • Payment for the $20 duplicate registration fee.
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