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You're wondering if, "do you have to register your car in the state you live in" or you're trying to figure out registering car out of state, don't. It's illegal.
Only college students, active-duty military, and residents of more than one state can legally register a car in a different state than they live in and only 10 states do allow non-residents to register a car.. (Read More: Can I Keep My Out Of State Driver's License?)
Keep reading to learn when you can register a vehicle in another state, how to register a car in different state and which are the easiest states to register a car.
Enter your ZIP code above into our free comparison tool to see how much car insurance costs in your area.
Things to Consider
- Registering a vehicle in a different state than you live in is illegal
- Drivers should register and insure their vehicle in the same state
- Only 10 states allow non-residents to register a vehicle
Rules For Registering a Car in a Different State
Expensive registration fees and insurance rate increases can lead drivers to consider registering their vehicles in another state, but every state has different vehicle registration requirements.
Can I keep my car registered in another state? Unlikely. All states have requirements for drivers to register their vehicles.
Do I need to be a resident to register my car? It's impossible to register your vehicle as a non-resident in most states. So drivers looking to avoid high registration fees have no choice but to pay them.
What states can you register a car without living there? Very few states allow non-residents to register a vehicle there. If you consider this option, there's no guarantee you can avoid high registration fees when registering your vehicle in any of these states.
How can I register my car in another state? You must meet certain requirements to be exempt from registering your car and should also know how to buy car insurance. Learn more about the exceptions below.
Exceptions to the Rule
Can a vehicle be registered in two states? Although states don't typically allow non-resident car registration, a few exceptions exist that allow drivers to obtain temporary registration or remain registered in another state.
When can you register a car in a different state? Scroll through this list of how to register a car in a different state than you live:
- Two homes in different states: If I live in two states where do I register my car? Can I have a car registered in one state and live in another? Drivers living in two states can register their vehicle in the state they drive the most or in both. So if you spend equal time in California and Texas, you can register a car in California and one in Texas.
- College Students Studying out of State: When can you register a car in a state you don't live in? Students who attend college out of state can remain registered in their home state using their parents’ home address. So if you're wondering, "can I register my car to my parents address", the answer is yes.
- Active-Duty Military Stationed out of State: Can you keep a car registered in another state? Active-duty service members on a temporary assignment in another state can keep their car registered in their home state.
Is it legal to register a car in another state? No. Although dual residency car registration are common exceptions, review your state laws to ensure you're compliant and aren't illegally operating a vehicle due to improper registration.
For example, sometimes register car in state you don't live in if you're only working there temporarily. Otherwise, you'll have to register your vehicle in the state you reside in full-time.
States That Allow Non-Resident Vehicle Registration
If you are a non-resident, can you have your car registered in another state? Not all states restrict non-residents from registering their vehicles there, so it all depends on where you live permanently.
What state can you register a car without being a resident? You can register a vehicle in a state you don't live in if you're in one of the following 10 states:
- California
- Delaware
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New York
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Pennsylvania
South Dakota is also the easiest state to register a car since it only requires a copy of the vehicle's title and the driver's license and Social Security Number. To know about South Dakota's SR-22 insurance read our article titled "Best South Dakota SR-22 Insurance."
Can I register a vehicle in another state? You can find out when and how to register a vehicle in a different state by visiting the local DMV website.
| State | Rates |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $103 |
| Alabama | $105 |
| Arkansas | $116 |
| Arizona | $112 |
| California | $140 |
| Colorado | $115 |
| Connecticut | $123 |
| Washington, D.C. | $129 |
| Delaware | $156 |
| Florida | $142 |
| Georgia | $132 |
| Hawaii | $83 |
| Iowa | $86 |
| Idaho | $77 |
| Illinois | $92 |
| Indiana | $92 |
| Kansas | $111 |
| Kentucky | $145 |
| Louisiana | $173 |
| Massachusetts | $101 |
| Maryland | $129 |
| Maine | $80 |
| Michigan | $238 |
| Minnesota | $124 |
| Missouri | $102 |
| Mississippi | $105 |
| Montana | $107 |
| North Carolina | $86 |
| North Dakota | $124 |
| Nebraska | $104 |
| New Hampshire | $86 |
| New Jersey | $138 |
| New Mexico | $105 |
| Nevada | $114 |
| New York | $138 |
| Ohio | $82 |
| Oklahoma | $118 |
| Oregon | $102 |
| Pennsylvania | $112 |
| Rhode Island | $143 |
| South Carolina | $117 |
| South Dakota | $109 |
| Tennessee | $102 |
| Texas | $133 |
| Utah | $96 |
| Virginia | $81 |
| Vermont | $93 |
| Washington | $80 |
| Wisconsin | $94 |
| West Virginia | $116 |
| Wyoming | $104 |
Most states with permanent vehicle registration give new and temporary residents 30-90 days to get a local driver's license and register their car.
Is it illegal to register a car out of state? Yes, so confirm each state’s registration requirements with the DMV before attempting to find out how to register a car from another state.
Rules For Insuring a Car in a Different State
Can you have car insurance in a different state than your registration? Or Can you register a car in one state and insure it in another? Since location is a factor, you can't insure your car in a different state. The listed address on your registration and insurance policy need to match to assess risk.
Insurance companies weigh various pieces of personal information to determine risk levels and set rates, but there are exceptions to obtaining car insurance in a different state. They are similar to the exceptions for non-resident vehicle registration.
Can I register my car in a different state than my insurance? Residents of two states, college students away at school, and active-duty service members on assignment can have their vehicles insured and registered in a different state if the address listed on the insurance and car registration in another state match.
The Bottom Line on Registering a Car Out-of-State
Can you register a car in a state you don't live in? Not likely. It's illegal to register a vehicle in a state that doesn't match your driver's license. You'll also face consequences with your insurance company if the vehicle registration doesn't match the address on the policy.
You might ask, "Can I register a vehicle in a different state than my license?" It depends on your circumstances, some exceptions allow you to register a car in another state, including college students living out of state and military personnel on duty.
If you're wondering, "Can I register a car in another state if I don't live there?" Some state laws may allow you to register a car out-of-state even if you don't fit into the exemptions above.
"What state can I register a car without being a resident?" South Dakota is one of the easiest to register, but others, like North Dakota and California, require drivers to work in the state or drive a majority of the year on local state highways. (Read More: Best and Cheapest Car Insurance in South Dakota)
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Complying with the law is important when registering and insuring your vehicle. You never want to find yourself illegally operating a motor vehicle and get penalty for driving without car insurance, so it’s wise to register and insure your vehicle in the state where you reside.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register a car in a state where I have a second home?
Yes, if you own two homes, you can register a vehicle in the state where it’s primarily driven.
Can you register a vehicle in a different state?
It’s illegal to register a car in a different state unless you qualify under certain exceptions like military service or dual residency. (Read More: Best Military Car Insurance)
Can you have a car registered in one state and insured in another?
No, your vehicle’s registration and insurance must typically match the same state to comply with legal and insurance requirements.
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Can you register your car in another state?
You can only register your car in another state under specific circumstances, such as military service, college attendance, or dual residency.
We get common questions like this "can you register a car in multiple states" it's possible, but only if you meet specific conditions like having two homes, being in the military, or attending college out of state.
Can I register my parents car in another state?
No, unless your parents live in that state, you cannot legally register their car there without meeting residency requirements. For more information, read our article titled "Can I be on my parents' car insurance if the car is in my name?"
I have two homes, where do I register my car?
You can register your car in the state where it is primarily used or, in some cases, register vehicles in both states. If you have a home in Florida and want to get savings read our article titled "Best Florida Car & Homeowners Insurance Bundles."
Can I have a car registered in a different state than my license?
Typically, your registration and driver’s license must be from the same state, but exceptions may apply for dual residents or military personnel.
Do I need to register my car in a new state?
If you move to a new state, you must register your car there within the state’s designated timeframe, usually 30-90 days.
How long can you keep a car registered in a different state?
Most states limit how long you can keep a car registered elsewhere without establishing residency, typically up to 6 months.
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