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Getting Your Car
Registered
Why is it important to have your car registered? One reason is so that
your car is legal to drive on the streets. All of the states in America
require that your automobile to be registered with them. Caught without
registration or expired registration on your vehicle will get you a
penalty such as a fine or even worse. It can be confusing if it is your
first time but this article will walk you through getting your car
registered.
Registration is defined as a document that is evident of a person having
paid the registration tax and fees on their motor vehicle. In most states
this consists of a metal license plate, a validation decal and a
registration certificate. Though laws vary from state to state these are
basics on getting your vehicle registered.
In all states a motor vehicle is required by law to by registered within a
certain amount of days of becoming an owner of a vehicle or of becoming a
resident of that state. The amount of time can differ depending on the
state but it can be as little as 10 days to as many as 30 days.
In most states registering your vehicle is as easy as filling out an
application, if it is your first time, or paying an annual renewal fee. If
it is your first time registering a car you will need to fill out a simple
application and bring in a few legal documents. The documents might vary
from state to state but usually include at least the vehicle’s title,
proof of insurance and your driver’s license. The application typically
requests you to fill in information about yourself, the vehicle and list
any lien holders of the vehicle.
Once the application is filled out and you have the proper documentation
in hand, such as proof your auto insurance, it as easy as going into the
local DMV or tax collector’s office and presenting all these materials. At
this point you should be able to register you car and either get metal
plates or paper (temporary) plates.
Metal plates may be available when you register or might have to be sent
to you in the mail. If you buy a car new from a dealership in many states
they can issue you paper plates so that you can leave the dealership and
go register the car.
Some states will require you to get new plates every few years, it seems
to be around 5 years in most states. This is necessary so that plates do
not become too dirty or corroded or lose their ability to reflect. All of
these issues can cause visibility problems for law enforcement officers.
When you have registered your car you should have a metal license plate, a
decal on which to affix to your license plate and a registration slip or
receipt to keep in your car. When registering your vehicle you will have
to pay a fee. In some states if you are registering a car for the first
time there will be an initial registration fee. It will be as much as $100
or more typically but if you think about it, it is a bargain to get to use
the state’s highway system on a daily basis. This total fee paid will vary
by state and is due for the taxes on your motor vehicle for a specific
period, 12 months in most states.
After the specified period is over you will need to renew your
registration with your state. In some states the renewal date is your
birthday to make it easier for you to remember each year. If you are
uncertain to when your registration needs to be renewed the exact date
should be listed on your registration slip.
A lot of states send out renewal notices to remind and give you an
accounting of what you owe. If you do not receive a notice it is up to you
to remember and pay on time. If you are found with expired registration
you will get a penalty of a fine or possibly more depending on your state
laws. The longer it takes you to renew your registration the larger the
delinquent fee will become.
Once you have given your documentation to the DMV or tax collector’s
office you should receive your registration and be on your way. It is as
easy as that. Remember to pay your renewal fee when it is time and it
should continue to be easy to have your car registered in the state in
which you reside.
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should
not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any
insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. This
information is provided for information purposes only.
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