Registering a Car for the First Time
Whenever a vehicle changes ownership, hits the road in a new state, or comes back to public roads after a long stay off the books, it has to be registered. The process touches three different transactions packed into one DMV visit: titling the vehicle in your name, paying sales tax on the purchase, and receiving plates and a registration card.
Most states give you 10 to 30 days from the date of purchase or the date you established residency before the registration is considered late. Miss that window and you'll pay a penalty (often $25 to $250) on top of the standard fees. Drive on expired plates or temporary tags during that window and you risk a citation, which is recorded on your driving record and can affect future insurance rates.
What to bring
- The signed title from the seller — or, for a brand-new car, the manufacturer's certificate of origin (MCO/MSO) provided by the dealer.
- A bill of sale showing the agreed price and date of sale (free template at our bill of sale page).
- An odometer disclosure — required by federal law for any vehicle less than 20 model years old.
- Proof of insurance meeting your state's minimum liability requirements.
- Your driver's license or state ID.
- A passing inspection (where required): a state safety inspection, an emissions test, or a VIN verification.
- Payment — for the title fee, registration fee, sales tax, plate fee, and any state-specific surcharges.
The process, step by step
- Get the title in your name. The seller signs the back of the existing title (the "assignment"); you complete the buyer fields with your full legal name, address, the date, and the odometer reading. Sign in front of a notary if your state requires it (a few do, most don't).
- Schedule any required inspection. If the car is new to you, plan the inspection before your DMV visit. Some states will accept a recent inspection certificate; others want one done within 30 days. See inspections.
- Visit the DMV with all paperwork. Many states allow appointments for new registrations — use one if available, since the visit usually involves a clerk reviewing several documents and processing a tax calculation.
- Pay sales tax. Sales tax on a vehicle is collected at registration in most states (rather than at the dealer or the time of sale) at the rate where the buyer lives, not where the seller sold. Private-party purchases in many states use the "book value" rather than the actual sale price to prevent under-reporting.
- Receive plates and a registration card. Some states issue plates immediately; others mail them and let you drive on a temporary tag for 30 days. The new registration card and an expiration sticker for one of your plates are issued the same day.
Special cases
Out-of-state purchases
If you bought a car in a state different from where you live, you'll usually pay sales tax in your home state at registration. Many dealers handle the paperwork for out-of-state buyers; private-party transactions are more complex because you may need a temporary "trip permit" to drive the car home before registering.
Inherited or gifted vehicles
Most states waive sales tax for vehicles transferred between immediate family members or through a will. The title transfer itself is otherwise the same as a sale, but you'll need a notarized affidavit of gift or a probate document instead of a bill of sale.
Newly built or kit cars
States title homemade vehicles under a "specially constructed vehicle" or "assembled vehicle" classification. The process typically involves a VIN inspection, a brakes and lights inspection, and a parts-and-receipts review to establish that no part of the vehicle was stolen.