Car Registration Requirements: Rules and Importance

Questions, Answered:

• What information do I need to register a car?

• What does vehicle registration cost?

• Can I register a car in more than one state?

What are the four words you never want to hear when you’re behind the wheel? “License and registration, please.” That’s the go-to introduction from a highway patrol officer who’s about to write you an expensive ticket. And if you don’t have both the license and the vehicle registration, that ticket gets even more expensive.

Overview

Every state in the U.S. requires you to register your car and keep that registration current. Registration provides funding for your state’s DMV. But more importantly, registration gives the state an accurate record of who owns that car. If states didn’t require all car owners to register their vehicles, police would have trouble tracking down drivers who’ve left the scene of an accident or crime. As well, they wouldn’t be able to collect on things like red light violations caught on camera or even parking tickets. When an officer asks you for your registration, he or she is requesting proof that your state has recorded that vehicle and that you have paid the associated fees.

The penalties you face for not registering your car or for failing to keep your registration current can be steep. The exact consequences vary by state, but you can expect fees that rise over time. In Missouri, for example, you have to register your car within 30 days of purchase. On the 31st day, you owe a penalty of $25. Wait long enough and the penalty rises to $200.¹ If an officer stops you and you don’t have proof of current registration, that officer will cite you for driving an unregistered motor vehicle.²

How and when to register your vehicle

Most commonly, you need to register your car with your home state’s DMV right after you buy it. Depending on where you live, you may have a grace period of 30 days, after which the DMV will start charging fees. You can’t try to fudge on the date of the purchase to save on fees, either. To register the car, you have to present the title. That title generally will indicate the date you purchased the car. The DMV will use that date to determine if you owe any extra fees. If you do, you must pay the tab immediately to finish the registration process.  

You will also need to register any cars you own if you’ve recently moved to a new state.  The grace period in that scenario begins on the day you become a resident.

Necessary vehicle registration documents

If you purchased your vehicle from a dealer, the dealer normally packages up the documentation you need for registration. Unfortunately, you won’t get that service from a private party seller. And that means you’ll have to get organized on your own. Here are the documents you may have to supply to the DMV to register your car:

• Vehicle title or copy of signed lease agreement:

   The vehicle title, also known as the pink slip, is the document that shows who owns the car. If you’ve leased the car, you don’t have the title because you’re not the owner. In that case, the DMV will accept a copy of the lease agreement instead.

• Your driver’s license.

• Registration application:

   Your DMV will provide the registration application.

• Proof you are current on state taxes:

   If you live in a state that charges personal property taxes, the DMV will ask for your current property tax statement. You may also need to show proof that you’ve paid sales tax on the car unless your DMV collects the sales tax when you register.  

• Proof the car has passed an emissions test or smog check.

   This will depend on the age of the vehicle and the laws in your state. California, for example, requires smog checks on all vehicles model year 1976 or newer.³

• Proof the car has passed a safety inspection

  If required in your state.

• Your insurance card.

   The DMV needs to verify that you have secured insurance for the vehicle.

• VIN and odometer inspection.

   This requirement may apply if you’ve just moved into the state.⁴

Cost of vehicle registration

Every state has its own registration fee structure. Your DMV might charge a registration fee, license plate fee, and title fee. Your DMV may also collect big-ticket items like sales tax or property tax on the vehicle when you register. If you don’t owe any taxes, your registration costs could be less than $100. Otherwise, your tab could be several thousand dollars. Arkansas, for example, charges up to $30 for the actual registration, but then you’ll also pay a $1 license fee plus state sales tax at 7.5% of the car’s value. There’s also a personal property tax of 0.65% of the car’s value, but the state collects this amount later. On a $30,000 car, you would owe more than $2,200 at the time of registration.⁵

Compare.com provides a nice overview of car ownership fees by state.

Vehicle registration FAQs

As life would have it, you may be in a situation where you don’t want to register your car in your home state or you don’t have access to some of the required documents. This FAQ section covers those less common vehicle registration scenarios.