Can A Vehicle Be Registered In 2 States

You unremarkably need to annals your car where you live. Simply in that location are exceptions. Find out when it'south OK to register in another country.

Mostly, your vehicle must be registered in the state where yous live. That'due south determined by any i of the following:

Your main residence or where you live nearly of the time
The accost on your commuter'southward license
Your mailing address for bills and correspondence
Where you are registered to vote
The address listed on your federal and state tax returns

But there are some situations in which y'all can register your vehicle in another state. Keep reading to larn more.

When to Register Your Car in Another State
When It Is Illegal to Annals a Auto in Another Land
How Do I Register a Vehicle in Another State?
Tin I Annals a Motorcar in One State and Insure It in Some other State?
Tin I Keep My Automobile Insurance When Moving From One State to Another?
Can I Register My Car Without Having Car Insurance?
How to Register a Car Purchased Out of Country
State Laws for Car Registration for Non-Residents

When to Annals Your Car in Another Country

Many U.S. residents live in different states at different times of the year. From a legal and income tax betoken of view, yous can only be a permanent resident of ane state.

That means y'all should register your car in that place. Just at that place are some exceptions. Read on to run into if you're one of these special cases and where you should annals your vehicle.

Moving Residences
If you permanently move to another state, you lot must register your vehicle in that state. This applies fifty-fifty if your electric current car registration has not expired.

But moving to an out-of-state college campus, temporary war machine assignment, or temporary work assignment does not constitute a permanent move.

You are usually allowed a certain time period to register your vehicle after you lot relocate to a new country (more than on that below). But once you are considered a resident of the new state, you need to transfer your vehicle registration.

Depending on the expiration date of your electric current vehicle registration, you might qualify for a prorated refund. Telephone call to the department of motor vehicles in your old land to inquire about their refund policy on registration fees.

Working in Another State
Owning a dwelling house in one state and working more than 184 days in another country makes you a resident of both. In this situation, you can register your car in either state.

Split up Living Arrangements
If yous own 2 homes in different states, annals your automobile in the country where you live the greatest number of days in the year.

Ane common solution is keeping a automobile at each domicile that you own. In this case, you can register the cars in the applicative country.

Consider this example:
You own a home in Connecticut and a condo in Florida. You live six months in Connecticut and six months in Florida. You are registered to vote in Connecticut, so this dwelling is your primary residence.

You have two cars. One machine was purchased in Connecticut and remains in that land. The other machine was purchased in Florida and remains at that place. And then, annals the Connecticut motorcar in the Granite State and the Florida car in the Sunshine State.

Military
If you're a fellow member of the military and are stationed in another state, most states allow you lot to retain your home land vehicle registration.

College Students
College students tin annals their auto in their home state. Most U.Southward. states let out-of-country students to retain the vehicle registration of their home state while living on campus.

When It Is Illegal to Register a Car in Some other State

It is illegal to live in i state and annals your car in some other state unless you take expert reason. In general, the car needs to be registered where information technology is garaged, which normally ways where the owner lives.

Here are some reasons you cannot annals a car in another land:

Registration is cheaper in the state where you work.
Using a friend's or family unit member's address lets you dodge expensive vehicle registration fees, license plate fees, title fees, auto insurance costs, or city and state taxes in your abode state.
You lot tin avoid long lines by registering your vehicle in the state you used to live.
You never changed the address on your commuter's license after a move.

The department of motor vehicles in the state where you live tin can provide assistance when you're not sure if it is legal to live in one land and register your car in another.

How Do I Annals a Vehicle in Another State?

Before registering your automobile in another state, you take to become a new driver'south license and change or update your machine insurance. You need this information to complete your vehicle registration and obtain your new license plates.

Follow these steps to register a vehicle in a new state:

Make an engagement at your closest DMV within the state's registration grace period.
Inquiry the land's policies on vehicle inspection and schedule an inspection if necessary.
Gather and consummate any required forms, documentation, and vehicle registration fees. Bank check the country's website to sympathise the requirements.
Receive either a temporary registration or your license plates. With a temporary registration, your new license plates volition be mailed to you lot.
Check the department of motor vehicles in your previous country to see if you must return your old license plates. Some states charge you a fee if you do not return your plates.
Check to see if y'all need to send your previous land a change of address class.

If y'all are paying a car loan, be sure to inform your financing visitor about your modify of address. You may too take to provide a re-create of your new vehicle registration.

Can I Register a Car in One State and Insure It in Another State?

Motorcar insurance companies require that your car is registered and insured in the same land. But you may be able to annals a automobile in one state and insure it in some other under certain circumstances.

Keep reading to acquire more nigh your options.

Split Living Situations
You can insure two vehicles under the same policy if one of them is stored or has temporary or seasonal insurance on it. This happens when you lot own two cars and keep one registered in your home state and the other registered in the state where y'all live seasonally.

College-aged Children
Parents of a immature adult who is moving to a new state can remain on the parents' machine insurance policy. Generally, this happens when the child is attending an out-of-land school. Insurance companies like to encounter that:

Your kid is currently on your insurance.
The auto is registered in both your names.
The parent is listed as the primary driver and the child is listed as a secondary commuter.

Military Assignments
A fellow member of the war machine temporarily stationed in another state for more than half dozen months can usually go along the vehicle registered in their dwelling state but insured in the land of their electric current station.

Working or Garaging in Another Country
If you reside in one state, just either primarily work in some other state or garage your vehicle in another state, you may be able to insure the vehicle in the state where information technology stays. But auto insurers may address this situation differently—exist sure to double-bank check with yours.

Paying Insurance for an Out-of-Country Family Member
This happens if the auto is registered in that family member's proper name and the policy is issued in the state where they live, but you lot are still listed on the auto insurance policy every bit the billing accost.

Purchasing a Machine for a Family Member Who Lives in Another Land
The car is registered in the family member's country just insured in your state. Some states allow this if proof of insurance coverage is reported to the family fellow member's land as required. To avoid counterfoil of your insurance policy, be sure your auto insurance company is aware of the organization and has approved it.

Y'all cannot register your vehicle in 1 state and insure it in another if none of the in a higher place situations apply.

Having a car registered in one state and insured in a different state without a valid reason is considered fraud. It tin atomic number 82 to:

Voiding your insurance coverage
Policy counterfoil
Causing a claim to be denied by your insurance company

Check with your car insurance visitor if your circumstances telephone call for registering your vehicle in your home state and insuring it in another land.

The agency that handles vehicle registrations differs from state to state. It might be called the department of motor vehicles, the registry of motor vehicles, the motor vehicle bureau, the division of motor vehicles, or the department of transportation.

Can I Go along My Auto Insurance When Moving From One State to Some other?

In many instances, your auto insurance policy moves with you lot to a new state. The exception is if your auto insurer doesn't do business in the state where you're moving.

Take these steps to find out if y'all can continue your automobile insurance when moving to a new state:

Telephone call your current insurance company and determine if they provide insurance at your new residence.
Request a quote from your current insurance visitor with updated coverages, limits, and discounts for your new country.
Obtain quotes from other insurance companies and compare costs to your electric current insurance company.
Cull the all-time insurance policy based on coverages and costs.
Cancel your old policy if you change insurers. Be sure the new policy's effective engagement begins as shortly every bit your old policy is canceled to avert a lapse in coverage.
Impress the temporary proof of insurance certificate your insurer electronically sends to you.

Y'all'll need the temporary proof of insurance to annals your machine. The new policy and insurance card by and large arrive within a week in the mail service.

Do not abolish your auto insurance coverage until you purchase a new one or update your existing policy.

Can I Annals My Car Without Having Motorcar Insurance?

No U.South. state allows uninsured vehicles on its roadways. In club to register a car, proof of machine insurance is required.

Many states have minimum insurance coverage requirements. In states without mandated minimums, drivers have to show proof of cocky-insurance or financial ability to pay if an accident occurs.

In some situations, a land may allow you to register your car and so provide proof of insurance within a certain fourth dimension frame. If time runs out, your registration will be suspended and you will face penalties.

Registration suspension and penalties are also enforced if you cancel your auto insurance afterwards registering your vehicle. Nearly states crave auto insurance companies to study canceled policies to their department of motor vehicles.

How to Register a Motorcar Purchased Out of State

You must register a car in your abode state one time the purchase is consummate regardless of where you purchase it. You also pay your country'due south sales tax when you register your vehicle.

You can work with the seller or dealership to get a temporary registration from your abode state's motor vehicle section. To obtain a temporary license plate for your new machine, you'll demand:

A championship exchange
Vehicle registration
Insurance paperwork

Call up, it is illegal to drive your newly purchased vehicle from one state to another until yous go its registered owner. Law enforcement officials can impound your vehicle if yous cannot evidence proper vehicle registration and insurance. Read on to learn how to avoid that.

Salve time and enquiry online before the buy. Check for the rules, regulations, and required paperwork for both the state where you are buying the vehicle and your habitation land where you are registering information technology.

Out-of-State Purchase Checklist

Check with your land's motor vehicle department to come across what paperwork is required to transfer the title and annals the machine. For example, some states crave a current emission certificate or a prepurchase vehicle inspection.
Obtain the signed vehicle's title and other required paperwork before taking the auto back to your domicile state.
Check with the state's motor vehicle department to see if there'southward a lien on the title if it'due south a private, out-of-country sale. If at that place is, you won't be able to transfer the championship or register the vehicle.
Follow the laws in the state where you purchase it to drive the vehicle back to your home state. Some states require a temporary plate or transportation plate. About states require the vehicle to exist insured with its minimum liability limits.
Register the car with your state's motor vehicle section. You'll demand to provide the title and required vehicle registration paperwork.
Pay your land's sales taxation and applicative fees to complete your registration. The land where you register the vehicle collects the sales taxation, non the state where you purchase it.

State Laws for Car Registration for Non-Residents

Each U.S. state has motor vehicle laws outlining auto registration guidelines for non-residents. Here's a brief look at each:

Alabama
Non-residents must annals their vehicle inside 30 days of entering the state or past the expiration date of the previous registration tag, whichever comes showtime.

Special requirements:

Vehicle must exist in Alabama
Championship, previous state registration, or certification from previous state
Vehicle inspection, unless owner is a college student or in the armed forces

Alaska
Non-residents must annals their vehicle within x days of accepting employment in the country. Alaska has no other special requirements.

Arizona
Non-residents must register their vehicle afterward 7 months of living in the land. This applies to students declaring residency to obtain state tuition rates, too.

Special requirements:

Vehicle must exist registered for the current year in whichever state the person resides

Arkansas
Not-residents must annals their vehicle afterwards 6 months of residing in the state.

Special requirements:

Non-residents with temporary worker or visitor permit must register vehicle within 10 days of entering the state
Allow expires later on 90 days

California
Non-residents must annals their vehicle inside 20 days after accepting employment or establishing residency in the state.

Special requirements:

Vehicle must exist registered if the vehicle is based in the state or used more in California than any other state

Colorado
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 90 days of condign a resident or accepting employment in the country.

Special requirements:

Supplemental unregistered vehicle surcharge of $25 per month applied after xc days
Military personnel on duty practice not take to register their car if information technology's registered in another country

Connecticut
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 60 days of becoming a resident in the state.

Special requirements:

Does not apply to military personnel stationed in country with out-of-country license plates

Delaware
No non-resident registration required as long as automobile is registered and displays license plates of state where owner resides.

Special requirements:

Non-residents tin can annals their cars in Delaware if they primarily garage them in the state and can show proper documentation to the land department of transportation

Commune of Columbia
Non-residents must register their vehicle after 30 continuous days of being in D.C.

Special requirements:

Can extend requirement an boosted 180 days by paying a fee
Tin can buy a reciprocity sticker to operate the vehicle in D.C. for 180 days
Military machine personnel do not need to register their out-of-state car

Florida
Not-residents must register their vehicle within 10 days after accepting employment or enrolling a child in a country public schoolhouse.

Special requirements:

College students tin can retain their abode state motorcar registration
Military machine personnel stationed in Florida tin retain their home country'due south auto registration

Georgia
Non-residents must register their vehicle afterward residing temporarily in the country more than xxx days or within 30 days of becoming a resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel stationed in Georgia can retain their home country's car registration

Hawaii
Not-residents must register their vehicle inside 30 days of operating a vehicle in the state.

Special requirements:

Must obtain an out-of-state vehicle registration permit from the state'southward director of finance
The issued certificate of registration for an out-of-state vehicle is valid for the unexpired portion of your home land's car registration
Military personnel on active duty in Hawaii can retain their home state'due south car registration

Idaho
No registration required equally a non-resident.

Special requirements:

Military machine personnel stationed in Idaho and college students tin can retain their home land'due south vehicle registration

Illinois
No registration required, as long as non-residents have valid vehicle registration from their dwelling house country.

Special requirements:

Must obtain a valid Illinois reciprocity permit

Indiana
Non-residents must register their vehicle within lx days of becoming residents in the state.

Special requirements:

Non-residents don't accept to register their car if information technology is registered in their home country and that state has a reciprocating exemption for Indiana residents
Military personnel on active duty in Indiana can retain their dwelling state'due south car registration

Iowa
Not-residents must annals their vehicle as before long as they become employed or acquit business in the state.

Special requirements:

Not applicable if you lot commute to Iowa from some other state or work seasonally or temporarily in Iowa and your vehicle has a valid home country vehicle registration
Military machine personnel stationed in Iowa tin retain their home country's vehicle registration

Kansas
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 90 days of becoming a country resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in the state can retain their current vehicle registration on a reciprocal footing with their dwelling state
Full-time college students can retain their dwelling house land's vehicle registration

Kentucky
Non-residents must annals their vehicle within xv days unless vehicle is mainly operated in some other state.

Special requirements:

Proof of insurance is required with certificate of registration application
Full-time college students and armed services personnel tin retain their home state'southward machine registration

Louisiana
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 30 days of existence employed in the state.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in the country and their spouses can retain their out-of-land vehicle registration if the license plates are from their home state, both the registration and license plates are in the active duty member'south name, and at that place is proof of insurance or fiscal responsibility

Maine
Non-residents must register their vehicle inside 30 days of condign a state resident. Maine has no other special requirements.

Maryland
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 60 days of becoming a resident.

Special requirements:

Non-residents who own a habitation in Maryland for at to the lowest degree 30 days but less than i year must obtain a not-resident'south permit from the state motor vehicle assistants within 10 days after the xxx-day menstruum
Armed forces personnel on active duty in Maryland do not need to register their vehicles if they are registered in their state of residence

Massachusetts
Not-residents must annals their vehicle in any of these situations:

Vehicle is operated in country for more than than 30 days in any one year
When you buy a domicile in the land
When you become employed in state
You ain a business in land

Special requirements:

Non-resident college students must file an approved Massachusetts registry of motor vehicles course in triplicate with the local police department that provides: name and accost of the vehicle'due south owner; names and addresses of all insureds; legal residence of the non-resident; address while attending the Massachusetts college
Military personnel on active duty in Massachusetts can retain the vehicle registration of their dwelling house land

Michigan
Not-residents must annals their vehicle if operating the vehicle in the country for xc days or more.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in Michigan must register their vehicle in the state within 90 days

Minnesota
Not-residents must register with a 31-day temporary vehicle let when buying a vehicle in the state.

Special requirements:

Non-residents registering their cars in Minnesota must provide the vehicle title or registration card from their previous state of residence
The odometer reading must exist included on the title and registration awarding if the vehicle is 9 years one-time or newer
Military personnel on active duty in Minnesota can retain their domicile state'southward vehicle registration if: the vehicle is properly registered in the possessor's proper noun and displays the license plate of the other country; the owner is a resident of the other state; the vehicle is used for personal transportation

Mississippi
Not-residents must annals their vehicle later on 60 days of operating their automobile in the state.

Special requirements:

Mississippi car registration is non required for out-of-state students, military personnel, or tourists

Missouri
Not-residents buying a motorcar in Missouri must go a temporary permit from the state department of acquirement within 30 days from the purchase appointment in lodge to operate it.

Special requirements:

Required permit application must include a description of the vehicle, the manufacturer, and other identifying numbers
Proof of ownership and car insurance are required to receive the allow
Military personnel on active duty in Missouri may retain their domicile state'south vehicle registration

Montana
Non-residents must register their vehicle when purchasing a vehicle or temporarily employed in the state.

Special requirements:

Non-residents temporarily employed in the state pay a fee in lieu of taxes to the applicable canton
Once the fee is paid, a decal is provided to brandish on the vehicle'south windshield
Decals elapse at the end of the twelvemonth, with reregistration required past February xv of each yr

Nebraska
Not-residents must register their vehicle after xxx days of operating vehicle in the country.

Special requirements:

Exemption applies if not-resident's abode state grants reciprocal immunity from such requirements to Nebraska residents

Nevada
Not-residents must register their vehicle within 30 days of establishing residence in the state or before out-of-country registration expires, whichever comes first.

Special requirements:

Tourists, seasonal residents, out-of-state students, and border country employees simply need to register their vehicles if they have been driving in the state for more than thirty days
Armed forces personnel on active duty in Nevada may retain their habitation state'southward vehicle registration

New Hampshire
Not-residents must register their vehicle within 60 days of establishing residency in the land.

Special requirements:

Non-residents who garage a vehicle exclusively in the land must receive blessing from the town or city clerk before registering the vehicle

New Jersey
Not-residents must register their vehicle within threescore days after establishing residency in the land. New Jersey has no other special requirements.

New Mexico
Non-residents must annals their vehicle after being employed in the state for 30 days or more inside a lx-day period unless commuting to New Mexico from their state of residence.

Special requirements:

Non-residents who operate their vehicles in New Mexico for more than than 180 days must register them in the state
Non-residents who own a business concern in New Mexico and regularly employ their vehicle in that business must obtain a New United mexican states vehicle registration

New York
Non-residents must register their vehicle inside 30 days of becoming a resident.

Special requirements:

When driving in New York, not-residents must prominently display their out-of-country car registration numbers

North Carolina
Not-residents must register their vehicle according to the aforementioned requirements as those extended to country residents.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in Northward Carolina may retain their abode land's car registration

Due north Dakota
Non-residents must register their vehicle in North Dakota one time condign residents or being employed or stationed in the land.

Special requirements:

Must display current registration and license plates from your home state

Ohio
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 30 days of obtaining employment in the state or becoming an Ohio resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in the state can retain their home state's car registration

Oklahoma
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 30 days of becoming employed in the country.

Special requirements:

Full-time, out-of-state college students do non need to obtain an Oklahoma vehicle registration
Non-residents with a mobile dwelling or other vehicle must annals it if it remains in Oklahoma for more than 60 days
Military machine personnel on active duty in the state may maintain their habitation state'south car registration

Oregon
Non-residents must register their vehicle after being employed or living in the country for 6 months.

Special requirements:

Residents of an bordering state with a valid vehicle registration tin can operate a vehicle in Oregon without registering information technology
Military machine personnel on active duty in Oregon do not need to register a vehicle registered in their home state

Pennsylvania
Not-residents must register their vehicle when using an out-of-state vehicle for conducting business in Pennsylvania or performing transportation services for hire.

Special requirements:

Non-resident vehicles must prominently display the registration of their home state
Armed services personnel on active duty in Pennsylvania can retain their out-of-state car registration

Rhode Island
Not-residents must annals their vehicle 90 days after becoming a resident of the state.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on agile duty in Rhode Island tin can retain their home state's vehicle registration

South Carolina
Not-residents must register their vehicle after operating a vehicle in the state for over 45 days or becoming a resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in the state tin retain their out-of-state machine registration

South Dakota
Non-residents must register their vehicle afterward staying in the country for more than 90 days.

Special requirements:

Non-residents must be in compliance with their home land's vehicle registration procedures
Vehicle registration must be prominently displayed on the out-of-land vehicle'due south license plate
Military machine personnel on active duty in South Dakota can retain their dwelling state's car registration

Tennessee
Non-residents must register their vehicle if operating a vehicle in the state for more than 30 consecutive days.

Special requirements:

Not-resident owners of mobile homes or business firm trailers must annals them after threescore sequent days in Tennessee
Armed services personnel on active duty in the country may retain their domicile state's car registration

Texas
Non-residents must register their vehicle after making more than than five occasional trips in a calendar month that exceed 5 days.

Special requirements:

Residents of bordering states or countries who work or store in Texas practise not need to register their vehicles in the land
Out-of-state, full-time students are exempt from registering their out-of-state vehicles in Texas
Active military personnel are exempt from registering their out-of-state vehicles in Texas as long equally their dwelling house country registration is current
Non-resident vehicles must have valid license plates

Utah
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 60 days of being in the state or after condign a Utah resident.

Special requirements:

War machine personnel on active duty in the state can retain their abode land'southward car registration

Vermont
Not-residents must annals their vehicle later condign a resident of the state.

Special requirements:

War machine personnel on agile duty in Vermont can retain their dwelling state'south vehicle registration

Virginia
Non-residents must register their vehicle afterwards 6 months of being in the state.

Special requirements:

Non-residents operating their vehicle in the state 4 times in any ane month must register the vehicle in Virginia
War machine personnel on active duty in Virginia tin can retain their home state's vehicle registration

Washington
Non-residents must register their vehicle after becoming a Washington resident or if their domicile land does not grant similar non-resident vehicle registration privileges to Washington residents.

Special requirements:

Military machine personnel on active duty in Washington take the choice of retaining their domicile state registration or obtaining a Washington license and registration

West Virginia
Non-residents must register their vehicle after operating the vehicle in the state for more than 30 days.

Special requirements:

Vehicle cannot be operated for commercial purposes
Home country vehicle registration must be electric current
Out-of-state college students are exempt from registering their vehicles if they have a valid abode land license and registration
Military machine personnel stationed in West Virginia do not have to register their vehicle if it is properly registered in their home state
Non-residents conducting business in the country and owning or operating a company vehicle must take it registered

Wisconsin
Non-residents must register their vehicle afterwards moving to Wisconsin or renting/leasing their vehicle to a Wisconsin resident.

Special requirements:

Registration is required if the non-resident's home land does not provide similar not-resident vehicle registration privileges to Wisconsin residents
Vehicle's license plate must indicate valid home state registration
Military personnel on active duty in Wisconsin can retain their home state's vehicle registration

Wyoming
Non-residents must register their vehicle if employed in the state and not commuting from another state, vacationing in the state for more 120 days, or establishing residency in Wyoming.

Special requirements:

Non-resident vehicles must display valid registration numbers or plates
Not-resident vehicles cannot be operated for gain or profit in Wyoming
Out-of-state higher students do not have to annals their vehicles in Wyoming
Non-residents transporting seasonally employed agricultural workers do non have to annals their vehicles in the country
Armed forces personnel on active duty in Wyoming can retain their home country'southward car registration

Lesser Line

At that place are several situations where a car tin legally be registered in another land. Just doing then is against the law in some cases.

To avoid legal and fiscal consequences, do some research earlier registering a vehicle in a state other than the one where you alive. Most states have motor vehicle registration laws online and provide the forms to perform motor vehicle registration transactions.

Also, keep in mind that your vehicle's registration impacts your insurance coverage. Check with your auto insurance company for clarification when your machine is registered and insured in different states.

Note: This website is made possible through fiscal relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to apply our links, just you help support CreditDonkey if you lot do.