The refund request form from the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) is printed as DMV-RS-01 and titled Refund Request Application. Customers use it to ask for money back on a DMV payment, such as a duplicate payment, excise tax, a late inspection fee, transfer tags or unused registration. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The original PDF is published by DC DMV, and the refund is requested through the DMV's own channels.
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What is DMV-RS-01?
The Refund Request Form (printed on the PDF as Refund Request Application, DMV-RS-01) is the Government of the District of Columbia, Department of Motor Vehicles form used to ask DC DMV to refund a payment made for a vehicle transaction.
The form has a customer block (name, address, telephone number, driver license or ID card number, email address), a vehicle block (VIN, tag number, tag surrender date, tag expiration date) and a list of reasons: Duplicate Payment, Excise Tax, Late Inspection Fee, Transfer Tags, Unused Registration, Personalized Tag Rejected and Other. You then enter the date of payment, the total payment and the refund requested. Customers who paid by credit card also give the card type, the last 4 digits and the expiration date.
The lower part, FOR DMV OFFICIAL USE ONLY, is completed by DMV staff. It lists refund transaction codes for excise tax, inspection and registration refunds, the approved refund amount and the signature lines of DMV personnel. Final approval is subject to review by the DMV Manager or Supervisor.
The form carries a Quick-Tips page with the filing limit, processing time, exclusions, mailing options and a list of supporting documents by reason. The form is a request only: it does not guarantee a refund, and some payments are not refundable at all.
Who needs to file DMV-RS-01?
DC DMV customers who paid a DMV charge and believe they are owed money back use this form. The reasons printed on it are:
- a duplicate payment;
- excise tax charged;
- a late inspection fee;
- transfer tags;
- unused registration, for which you surrender the tag;
- a personalized tag that was rejected;
- another reason, written on the Other line.
The Quick-Tips page also lists attachments for overpayments, odometer/excise tax cases and a vehicle weight error on a registration.
Do not expect a refund for these items: unused Residential Parking Permit (RPP), Reciprocity, Inspection Stickers, or unused vehicle registration of less than six months. For unused registration, refunds are given in six-month increments, which means at least six months must remain before the registration expires.
The form has no section for a representative or a third party to sign for the customer, and it does not say who else may file it. Contact DC DMV by calling 311 in DC or (202) 737-4404 outside the (202) area code if you are unsure.
When to file DMV-RS-01
Refunds must be requested within six months of the payment date or the tag surrender date, as the heading of the form states. Count from the date on your payment receipt or, for unused registration, from the day you surrendered the tag.
For unused registration, the Quick-Tips page adds that refunds are allocated in six-month increments, with at least six months remaining on the expiration date of the registration, and not to exceed 18 months on a two-year registration, rounding down.
After you submit the request, the form asks you to allow 6-8 weeks for processing. To check the status, call 311 in DC or (202) 737-4404 outside the (202) area code.
Documents you need
- For a credit card payment, duplicate payment or overpayment: the payment receipt and other proofs of payment, such as a copy of the credit card statement or a bank transaction print out.
- For a check or money order duplicate payment or overpayment: the payment receipt and a copy of the front and back of the cancelled check or money order.
- For excise tax charged: the payment receipt.
- For a late inspection fee: the inspection payment and the certificate receipt.
- For an odometer/excise tax refund: the inspection certificate or the title.
- For a registration refund because of a vehicle weight error: the inspection certificate or the title.
- For unused registration: the surrendered tag receipt.
- For transfer tags: the payment receipt and a copy of the newly issued registration.
How to fill out DMV-RS-01
Enter the date of request
Write today's date in the DATE OF REQUEST field at the top. Check that it falls within six months of your payment or tag surrender date.
Enter your name
In CUSTOMER INFORMATION, fill in your last name, first name and middle name.
Enter your address
Fill in your street address, city, state and ZIP code.
Add contact and ID details
Enter your telephone number, your driver license or ID card number and your email address.
Enter vehicle and tag details
Fill in the VIN, tag number, tag surrender date and tag expiration date that apply to your request.
Select the reason for the refund
Check the reason or reasons: Duplicate Payment, Excise Tax, Late Inspection Fee, Transfer Tags, Unused Registration, Personalized Tag Rejected or Other. If you check Other, write the reason on the line.
Enter payment and refund amounts
Fill in the Date of Payment, the Total Payment and the Refund Requested amount in dollars.
Complete the credit card section
Only if you paid by credit card, check Visa, MasterCard, Amex or Discover and enter the last 4 digits and the expiration date of the card. Otherwise leave it blank.
Leave the DMV use block blank
Do not write in FOR DMV OFFICIAL USE ONLY. DMV staff complete the transaction codes, approved amount and signatures.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every entry against your receipts, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Gather the attachments for your reason and send the package through one of the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit DMV-RS-01
You can send the Refund Request Form to DC DMV by mail, by fax or in person at any DMV service center.
- By mail: DC DMV, P.O. Box 90120, Washington, DC 20090.
- By fax: 202-673-9908.
- In person: visit any DMV service center.
Attach the supporting documents that match your reason for the refund (see the list of documents on this page). The form says to complete the entire application and to make sure all requirements are met for your reason. The form is distributed as a white copy for the DMV and a canary copy for the customer, so keep your own copy.
For refund status information, call 311 in DC or (202) 737-4404 outside the (202) area code. More information is available at www.dmv.dc.gov. The form states no fee for the request itself. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Requesting a refund more than six months after the payment date or the tag surrender date.
- Asking for a refund of an unused Residential Parking Permit (RPP), Reciprocity, Inspection Stickers or unused vehicle registration of less than six months; the form says these are not refunded.
- Sending the form without the supporting documents listed for your reason, such as the surrendered tag receipt for unused registration.
- Attaching only the front of a cancelled check or money order for a duplicate payment or overpayment; the form asks for the front and back.
- Filling in the FOR DMV OFFICIAL USE ONLY block, which is for DMV staff, including the approved refund amount and signatures.
- Completing the credit card section when you did not pay by credit card; it applies to payments received via credit card only.
- Expecting an unused registration refund for every remaining month; refunds come in six-month increments, round down and do not exceed 18 months on a two-year registration.
- Leaving parts of the application blank; the Quick-Tips page says to complete the entire form.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DC DMV refund request form used for?
It is DMV-RS-01, the Refund Request Application of the DC Department of Motor Vehicles. You use it to ask for a refund of a DMV payment, for reasons such as a duplicate payment, excise tax, a late inspection fee, transfer tags, unused registration or a rejected personalized tag.
How long do I have to request a refund from DC DMV?
Six months from the payment date or the tag surrender date. The heading of the form states that refunds must be requested within that period, so send the form with your supporting documents before it ends.
Where do I send the DC DMV refund request?
Mail it to DC DMV, P.O. Box 90120, Washington, DC 20090, fax it to 202-673-9908, or visit any DMV service center. Attach the documents that match your refund reason, because the DMV reviews the request with them.
How long does a DC DMV refund take?
The form asks you to allow 6-8 weeks for processing. Final approval is subject to the review of the DMV Manager or Supervisor. To check the status, call 311 in DC or (202) 737-4404 outside the (202) area code.
What do I attach to the refund request form?
It depends on the reason. Duplicate or overpaid payments need the payment receipt and proof of payment, such as a card statement or the front and back of a cancelled check. Unused registration needs the surrendered tag receipt, and transfer tags need the receipt and the new registration.
Can I get a refund for unused registration?
Sometimes. Refunds for unused registration are given in six-month increments, with at least six months remaining before the registration expires, up to 18 months on a two-year registration, rounding down. Unused vehicle registration of less than six months is not refunded.
What payments are not refundable at DC DMV?
The form says refunds are not issued for unused Residential Parking Permit (RPP), Reciprocity, Inspection Stickers, or unused vehicle registration of less than six months.
Can I fill out the DC DMV refund request form online?
Yes, you can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not connected to DC DMV, and it does not submit the request; you mail it, fax it or take it to a service center.
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