What Law Says You Have To Register Your Personal Vehicles

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Subsequently buying a car, it may seem like your work is done. But i of the most important tasks to tackle after is vehicle registration.

Vehicle registration connects a car to its owner. Each state requires y'all, by law, to become your car registered with your state'south Section of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or transportation agency.

If you permit your registration to lapse or don't register your car, you could face penalty fees and vehicle impoundment, then you lot don't want to drop the ball on this.

Hither we'll review what vehicle registration is and how to get your car registered. We'll also provide an overview of the paperwork you might demand, and review how to get an idea of the cost to register a vehicle.

How vehicle registration works
How to register your vehicle
What does vehicle registration cost?

How vehicle registration works

Depending on the state, you must annals a vehicle you ain or operate with your country'south DMV or transportation agency. Here are a few common scenarios where you typically demand to register a car.

When you buy a new machine: If yous buy through a dealership, they'll usually handle the title and registration for you. But if y'all purchase from a individual seller, you lot volition probable need to take intendance of the registration yourself.
If yous move to a new state: Unless you're a full-time pupil or active armed services, you will need to register your car afterward you movement.
Annual or biennial registration renewal: Depending on the state you lot live in, you'll demand to renew your vehicle's registration every few years — cheque your state'due south constabulary to confirm how often.

The get-go time y'all register your car, you'll receive a license plate for your vehicle and a registration card. Some states also give you a registration sticker that needs to be attached to your vehicle's license plate or window.

When y'all renew your registration, you'll receive a new sticker — if your state issues them —and registration card. Depending on your land's laws, you may be required to keep the registration carte with you when operating your vehicle.

Stay electric current to avert penalties

Vehicle registration needs to be renewed yearly or every few years, depending on the state y'all alive in. And y'all may demand to pay a fee each time yous renew the registration.

If your registration isn't current and you get pulled over, y'all could get a ticket and have to pay a penalty. Your state's DMV or transportation agency might besides charge penalties for expired registration. Not keeping your registration could lead to problems downward the line, and may even cause your car insurance rates to increase.

On acme of fees, your car could be impounded. If this happens, the vehicle tin be held until all fines and registration fees are paid. You may also have to pay towing and impound fees.

How to register your vehicle

To learn how to register your car in your state, contact your land's DMV or transportation bureau, or visit their website. Registration can usually exist handled in person, by mail service or online. For showtime-time registration, some states might require you to handle the process in person.

Documents for vehicle registration

When registering your car for the start fourth dimension, yous'll need to provide some paperwork. These documents might include …

Your driver'southward license or non-commuter identification card
Proof of insurance, if you live in a country where car insurance is legally required
Proof of sales tax payment
Auto championship, if yous own or are financing the vehicle. If the vehicle is leased, you may need to provide a copy of the signed lease agreement.
Proof that your car has passed a vehicle safety inspection, if your state requires it
Proof that your car has passed a smog test, depending on the age of your vehicle, in some states
Vehicle registration application form

For registration renewals past post, you may need to verify your personal and vehicle data on the renewal form and submit the registration fee by post forth with your paperwork. You might also demand to pay any holding taxes at that time and pass an emissions inspection or smog test by a specified deadline — which may be outlined on the registration grade.

With an online renewal, you lot might need some or all of the following information on paw:

Car'due south vehicle identification number
License plate number
Driver'due south license number
Automobile insurance details
Current vehicle registration card

Make sure to check your country's DMV or transportation bureau website to go a total list of what you'll need to renew your registration.

What does vehicle registration cost?

Registration fees and other charges paid to your state DMV or transportation agency can be used to fund those organizations and so they can proceed to provide vital services. The income might too help fund city and canton services — or the land highway patrol and country highways, besides.

These DMV fees differ from state to state, and the mode they're calculated varies.

Some states charge a flat registration fee for all vehicles, while others summate fees based on a number of factors: The car'southward current value, age, weight or fuel efficiency; the total number of cars registered in your name; or even the vehicle'south horsepower.

The differences in the corporeality charged across diverse states can be significant. For instance, Kentucky drivers could pay around $21 for vehicle registration. But in Montana, you can pay more 10 times that – $217 – to annals a machine that'southward under four years old.

You can determine registration fees in your neck of the forest by visiting your land's DMV or transportation agency website. The American Car Clan (AAA) maintains a chart that provides information on how registration costs are calculated in each country.

Next steps

Getting your car registered for the showtime fourth dimension or renewing your registration may seem like a hassle, but completing this on time could salvage you some serious cash.

Before you caput to your state DMV or transportation bureau website, make sure yous have all the necessary paperwork along with funds for the registration fee and any property taxes. This will assistance make the procedure equally efficient as possible.

If you haven't bought your car yet, remember to set aside a trivial extra money in your budget to cover registration costs.

About the author: Warren Clarke is a author whose work has been published by Edmunds.com and the New York Daily News. He enjoys providing readers with information that tin make their lives happier and more than expansive. Warren holds a Bac… Read more.