Following our easy steps of how to register a car in Pennsylvania makes the process simple. You will need to collect documentation like your driver's license, visit the DMV, and have your car inspected.

If you’re moving to Pennsylvania or buying a new car, you’ll need to register your car with the state. With just a little preparation on your part, like buying the best and cheapest car insurance in Pennsylvania, registering your car in Pennsylvania can be a quick process.

Read on to find out how to register a car in Pennsylvania, including why you are required to register your car and what you need in order to register it.

Need to find car insurance in PA so you can register your vehicle? Shop for affordable insurance today by entering your ZIP code in our free tool.

What You Should Know

• Step #1: Collect Documents for Registration – Proof of Insurance, etc.
• Step #2: Go to Local DMV – Bring Documents and Fee Payment
• Step #3: Have Car Inspected – PA Requires a Safety Inspection

3 Steps to Follow When Registering a Car in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania state law requires that anyone who has moved to the state apply for a Pennsylvania title to register their car within 20 days of establishing residency in Pennsylvania. You will need to have valid insurance to register your car.

Read More: 3 Car Insurance Tips When Moving Out of State

Luckily, getting your vehicle registered in Pennsylvania is straightforward, whether you are looking into how to register a car in PA from out-of-state or how to register a new car in PA. Simply follow the steps outlined below when registering a car in PA.

Step #1: Collect Documents for Registration

You’ll need to bring several documents with you when you go to register your vehicle in Pennsylvania. If you are moving to Pennsylvania, you should make note of the registration documents that you will need, and set those aside in a safe place.

Here is what you will need to have with you when you go to register your vehicle in Pennsylvania:

• Valid Title: The valid title in your name from your previous state for each vehicle you will be registering
• VIN Number or Tracing of the VIN Number: Either a VIN verification completed by an inspection mechanic, the notary at a dealership, or an issuing agent; or, a tracing of the vehicle identification number
• Payment for Fees: Any appropriate fees and sales taxes
• Form MV-IL (leased vehicle): If the vehicle you are registering is a leased vehicle, the leasing company will need to complete and provide you with a Form MV-1L.
• Proof of Insurance: Bring proof of valid Pennsylvania car insurance for each vehicle you will be registering (Learn More: What is the penalty for driving without insurance?).

A lot can happen during a move and it’s a good practice to carry any important documents like your proof of insurance with you rather than packing them with your household items.

Moving can be stressful enough without the added worry of having a time clock ticking on your unpacking in order to meet Pennsylvania’s required deadline to register your vehicle.

Step #2: Go to Local DMV

Once you have the proper registration documents together, the next step is to visit your local DMV in Pennsylvania. A DMV employee will look over your documents and proof of insurance to insure that everything is correct and register your vehicle.

Read More: 3 Ways to Obtain Proof of Insurance

Once everything is verified, you will need to pay the PA registration fee. The amount will vary based on what type of vehicle you have, such as a commerical truck versus a personal car, so make sure to check fees online beforehand.

Step #3: Have Car Inspected

After you register your vehicle in Pennsylvania, you will be required to have a safety inspection performed on your car within 10 days.

Having a safe vehicle that is in good shape will help ensure you pass, as well as lower your auto insurance rates (Learn More: Car Make and Model: How does it affect your car insurance rates?).

There is a fee assessed to complete a vehicle inspection. The fee is only for the inspection; the cost of any repairs required that were discovered during the inspection would be separate.

Why Cars Need to be Registered in Pennsylvania

In short, you are required to register your car in Pennsylvania. When you move to a new state with the intention to establish residency there, your legal documents, including your driver’s license and vehicle registration, must reflect your new address.

New residents have up to 60 days to get a new state driver’s license (Learn More: Can I keep my out-of-state driver's license?).

Having this information recorded is important to Pennsylvania for a few reasons:

• Taxes: Having a state record of who the legal owner of the car is allows Pennsylvania to assess any vehicle taxes to the correct person.
• Safety: Registering your vehicle and annual renewals create a Pennsylvania state record of the condition of your vehicle, ensuring that it is safe to operate on Pennsylvania’s roads.
• Law Enforcement: During the registration process, you will provide Pennsylvania with the vehicle identification number (VIN) associated with your car (or truck, etc.). Recording the VIN is an important part of combating criminal activity such as vehicle theft.

Registering your vehicle in Pennsylvania also establishes a record of your permanent residence linked to your vehicle. Once your car is registered, it is easy to renew car registration in PA by visiting the PA DMV online. You can also use the DMV PA registration lookup to see when your car registration is due.

Pennsylvania Car Insurance Requirements

Do you need insurance to register a car in PA? Pennsylvania law requires all vehicle owners to carry liability auto insurance coverage on any currently registered automobile (Read More: What is liability car insurance?).

The minimum car insurance requirements for insurance in Pennsylvania are:

• Liability Bodily Injury: $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident
• Liability Property Damage: $5,000 per accident
• Medical Benefits: $5,000 per accident

While that is the minimum required by Pennsylvania, you may need more coverage if you are financing or leasing your car.

Take a look at the average cost of minimum and full coverage auto insurance at popular Pennsylvania companies below.

Insurance Company	Minimum Coverage	Full Coverage
	$61	$160
	$22	$58
	$30	$80
	$44	$115
	$39	$105
	$33	$86
	$37	$99

Once you have purchased auto insurance, there are several forms of acceptable proof of valid insurance, including:

• A valid insurance identification card;
• The declaration page of an insurance policy;
• A copy of a valid insurance binder; or,
• A copy of an application for insurance through the Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan.

You must have proof of insurance for each vehicle registered with the Pennsylvania DMV.

In Pennsylvania, auto insurance companies are required to notify the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation when a policy is canceled by the insured party, but they are not required to notify the state if you’ve changed car insurance companies. You are responsible for that notification.

For more information on Pennsylvania car insurance requirements and cost, you can visit Clearsurance’s Pennsylvania car insurance page. On that page, you can also see a ranking of the companies that consumers say are the best in Pennsylvania.

Ensuring the Process of Registering a Car in Pennsylvania Goes Smoothly

The best way to make the process as stress-free as possible is to know how to register a car in PA. Doing your research before and making sure you have the necessary documents will make the DMV visit painless.

You will need to have proof of insurance, your vehicle title, and more when you visit the DMV. Once the DMV approves your registration, you will have 10 days to have a quick safety inspection performed on your vehicle.

Scrambling to find PA car insurance from one of the best car insurance companies before going to the DMV for vehicle registeration? Shop for PA insurance today with our free quote tool.

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