To remove the organ donor mark from your driver’s license, you have to do two things: take your name off the donor registry, and go to your local motor vehicle office for a replacement license. Handling only one leaves the other record in place.1Health Resources & Services Administration. Organ Donation FAQ Both steps can usually be finished in an afternoon.
The reason you need both is that two separate systems store your donor status. The registry (run by your state, the national program, or both) holds your legal consent to donate. The motor vehicle agency prints a visible marker, usually the word “DONOR” or a heart symbol, on the physical card. Withdrawing from the registry does not change what’s printed on your license, and getting a new license does not automatically pull you off the registry.1Health Resources & Services Administration. Organ Donation FAQ
Remove Yourself From Your State’s Donor Registry
Every state runs its own registry, and nearly all of them let you manage your status online. Go to your state’s donor registry website, log in, and look for an option to remove or withdraw your registration.1Health Resources & Services Administration. Organ Donation FAQ You will generally need your full legal name, date of birth, current address, and either your driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number.2Donate Life America. Your Information
If the online portal isn’t working or you’d rather use paper, most registries accept a signed removal form by mail or email. The form is usually a downloadable PDF on the registry’s site. Complete it, sign and date it, send it to the listed address, and keep a copy. If you can’t find the removal option on the site, call or email the registry contact listed there.
Check the National Registry Too
Some donors signed up through the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org in addition to, or instead of, a state registry. If you used both, you have to remove yourself from each one separately. Go to RegisterMe.org, click “Access your registration,” and enter your information. If a record comes up, you’ll see options to edit or remove it. Once removed, RegisterMe.org does not retain the record.
Not sure where you originally signed up? Check both. The worst outcome is being told no record exists.
Get a Replacement License Without the Donor Mark
After the registry side is handled, visit your local motor vehicle office. Bring your current license and tell the clerk you need the donor designation removed. The office will verify your identity, process the change, and either issue a new card on the spot or give you a temporary document while the permanent one comes by mail.
Expect a replacement license fee. Amounts depend on your state, but duplicate or corrected licenses generally run from about $10 to $40. Some states charge less when you’re only updating a designation rather than replacing a lost card, so check your state’s fee schedule before you go. If your license is close to renewal, you may be able to fold the donor removal into a standard renewal and skip the separate duplicate fee. Bring a second form of ID in case the clerk asks for extra verification.
Your Legal Right to Change Your Mind
Organ donation in the United States is governed by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, a model law adopted in some form by every state.3Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Uniform Anatomical Gift Act Your registration functions as a legally binding document of gift, and the act also gives you the right to revoke it at any point during your lifetime. Removing your name from a registry and getting a license without the donor mark satisfies revocation in practice. You do not need a lawyer or a notarized document.
One point worth knowing: once your registration is gone, the donation decision defaults to your next of kin if the question comes up. Tell your family what you want, whatever your license says.
If You’re Under 18
If you’re a minor with a donor designation on a learner’s permit or state ID, a parent or legal guardian has to give permission for the removal, the same way they had to permit the original registration.1Health Resources & Services Administration. Organ Donation FAQ Expect the guardian to accompany you to the motor vehicle office or co-sign the paperwork.
If You Have a Living Will or Healthcare Directive
If your advance directive addresses end-of-life care in a way that could conflict with an active donor registration, the situation gets more complicated. Under the revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act adopted in most states, your attending physician and either you or your healthcare agent are required to resolve the conflict as quickly as possible. Removing the donor designation clears the conflict up front.
Confirm Both Changes Went Through
Verify each step on its own. Log back into your state’s registry (and RegisterMe.org if you used it) and confirm no active registration appears. When your new license arrives, check that the donor symbol or text is gone.
If the license still shows the designation or the registry still lists you after a few weeks, contact the motor vehicle agency or registry directly. A phone call usually fixes it. Hold onto any confirmation emails or receipts from the removal so you can show you submitted the request.