How Do I Get To The Dmv To Register A Car If I Can't Drive It

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Later buying a car, it may seem like your work is done. Just one of the virtually of import tasks to tackle afterward is vehicle registration.

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

If you allow your registration to lapse or don't annals your car, y'all could face penalty fees and vehicle impoundment, and then you lot don't want to drop the brawl on this.

Here we'll review what vehicle registration is and how to get your machine registered. We'll also provide an overview of the paperwork yous might need, and review how to get an thought 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 country, you must register a vehicle you own or operate with your country's DMV or transportation bureau. Hither are a few mutual scenarios where you typically need to annals a car.

When you buy a new car: If you buy through a dealership, they'll usually handle the title and registration for you. But if you buy from a private seller, y'all volition likely need to take care of the registration yourself.
If you lot move to a new country: Unless yous're a full-fourth dimension student or active military, you lot volition need to register your car afterwards you lot move.
Annual or biennial registration renewal: Depending on the state you live in, you'll demand to renew your vehicle'south registration every few years — check your state's law to confirm how often.

The showtime fourth dimension you register your car, you'll receive a license plate for your vehicle and a registration bill of fare. Some states also give yous a registration sticker that needs to be attached to your vehicle'due south license plate or window.

When you renew your registration, y'all'll receive a new sticker — if your land problems them —and registration carte du jour. Depending on your land'due south laws, you may be required to proceed the registration card with you lot when operating your vehicle.

Stay current to avoid penalties

Vehicle registration needs to be renewed yearly or every few years, depending on the land yous alive in. And you may need to pay a fee each fourth dimension you renew the registration.

If your registration isn't current and you lot get pulled over, you lot could become a ticket and take to pay a penalty. Your state'south DMV or transportation bureau might also charge penalties for expired registration. Not keeping your registration could pb to problems downward the line, and may even cause your car insurance rates to increase.

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

How to register your vehicle

To acquire how to register your automobile in your country, contact your state's DMV or transportation bureau, or visit their website. Registration can commonly be handled in person, by mail or online. For first-time registration, some states might require you lot to handle the procedure in person.

Documents for vehicle registration

When registering your automobile for the first fourth dimension, you'll need to provide some paperwork. These documents might include …

Your driver's license or not-commuter identification carte du jour
Proof of insurance, if yous live in a country where car insurance is legally required
Proof of sales tax payment
Car championship, if you ain or are financing the vehicle. If the vehicle is leased, you lot may demand to provide a copy of the signed lease understanding.
Proof that your car has passed a vehicle safe inspection, if your land requires it
Proof that your motorcar has passed a smog test, depending on the age of your vehicle, in some states
Vehicle registration application class

For registration renewals by mail, you lot may need to verify your personal and vehicle data on the renewal form and submit the registration fee past mail forth with your paperwork. You might besides need to pay whatsoever property taxes at that fourth dimension and pass an emissions inspection or smog test by a specified borderline — which may exist outlined on the registration class.

With an online renewal, y'all might need some or all of the following information on mitt:

Automobile's vehicle identification number
License plate number
Driver's license number
Motorcar insurance details
Current vehicle registration card

Brand sure to check your land's DMV or transportation bureau website to become a full list of what you'll demand to renew your registration.

What does vehicle registration cost?

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

These DMV fees differ from land to country, and the way they're calculated varies.

Some states accuse a flat registration fee for all vehicles, while others calculate fees based on a number of factors: The machine's current value, historic period, weight or fuel efficiency; the full number of cars registered in your name; or even the vehicle'due south horsepower.

The differences in the corporeality charged across various states tin can be significant. For instance, Kentucky drivers could pay around $21 for vehicle registration. But in Montana, you can pay more than 10 times that – $217 – to register a car that'southward nether iv years old.

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

Adjacent steps

Getting your car registered for the first time or renewing your registration may seem like a hassle, but completing this on time could save y'all some serious cash.

Before you head to your state DMV or transportation agency website, make certain you accept all the necessary paperwork along with funds for the registration fee and whatever belongings taxes. This will aid make the procedure as efficient as possible.

If you oasis't bought your automobile nonetheless, remember to gear up aside a petty extra money in your budget to cover registration costs.

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