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Here's a complete guide to vehicle registration

The Complete Guide to Vehicle Registration

Updated on August 23, 2022

 Lifestyle

In the United States, vehicle owners are legally required to register their car, motorcycle, or truck before driving on a U.S. road. As such, it is important to stay up to date on your state’s registration laws to avoid costly legal altercations. While registration laws vary depending on where you live, the process of registering your vehicle is fairly uniform across the country. This complete guide to vehicle registration is sure to help you along the journey towards vehicle ownership.

How to Register Your Vehicle

After purchasing a new vehicle, you have roughly one month to get it registered. You can do this at either the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Transportation, or the Motor Vehicle Bureau, depending on your state.

Once you have determined which agency applies to your state, make sure that you look at their website to identify the documents they require—this will tell you how to register your vehicle. Such necessary documents often include:

  • Proof of ownership: ex. the title certificate.
  • Identification: ex. your driver’s license.
  • Bill of sale: Must include the make and model of your car, its identification number, the date of sale, and the names of both the buyer and the seller.
  • Proof of inspection: Not every state requires that you have a vehicle inspection. However, it is good to be prepared, as some agencies demand in-depth vehicle examinations.

In addition to gathering the necessary documents, there are multiple steps that must be completed before you can get your vehicle registered. For example, you must ensure that your vehicle has a title in your name. In addition, you will need to provide proof that your vehicle has passed a state inspection and has received either an emission or smog check.

Next, you will need to fill out a registration application form. This can be found on your state agency’s website.

You should also be prepared to pay a registration fee. The registration fee will vary depending on a variety of factors, such as what state you live in and the value of your vehicle. While information regarding the exact cost of registration may not be available, you can always call your registration office to get a rough estimate.

Once you have carefully completed the application form, you are ready to register your vehicle.

How to Renew Your Registrations

Renewal requirements will vary depending on the state in which you registered your vehicle. While some states require you to renew your vehicle registration every year, others only require an initial registration.

When it is time for you to renew your vehicle registration, you will likely receive a reminder in the mail. The vehicle registration renewal process can be completed online, by mail, or at your local governing entity. You have the option to renew your registration up to 60 days prior to it its expiration date. Renewing your registration early will not affect your registration’s new expiration date.

To renew your registration, you will need to have similar information to what was required when you first registered your vehicle. This includes your renewal application, payment, proof of inspection and emissions testing, your license number, and your license plate number. The late fee for renewing your vehicle can range from $5 to $250, so it is important to renew your vehicle registration before it expires. In addition to a fee, you will not be able to renew your vehicle registration online if the expiration date has passed. Instead, you will need to go to your local motor vehicle agency.

In certain cases, you will not have the option to renew your registration and must restart the process. These circumstances include:

  • If your registration has been expired for over a year
  • If your registration has been suspended or revoked
  • If your vehicle has not been inspected within the last year

What to Do if You Lose Proof of Registration

If you have lost your evidence of registration, you should seek to replace it as soon as possible. Evidence of registration is not only required to renew your registration, but is also needed to legally drive in the United States. If you are pulled over by the police and do not have proof of registration, you could be forced to pay costly tickets or fines.

Don’t worry, you can replace your vehicle registration fairly easily at your local vehicle agency. To complete this process, you will need to provide necessary documentation, fill out an application for replacement plates, and provide payment. Typically, the replacement fee for lost registration won’t exceed $30.

To avoid the hassle and expense of having to replace your evidence of registration in the future, it is a good idea to request duplicate registration. You can submit this request online, by mail, or in person. The process is relatively quick and requires your license plate number, your vehicle identification number, and a small fee of less than $5. Keep the copy of your registration in a safe place to avoid frustration down the road.

What to Do if You Need A Loan

Vehicle ownership can be costly. Fortunately, Cash 1 Loans offers vehicle registration loans in AZ and NV on cars and trucks to help you out. Loans range from $150 to $5,000 in relation to your vehicle equity and personal income. Vehicle equity refers to the difference between the amount of money your vehicle is worth and how much you owe.

Loans are available even if you are still making payments on your vehicle and can often be obtained in just 15 minutes. To apply for a loan, simply fill out an application at one of the many Cash 1 Loans offices in Arizona or Nevada. The process can also be completed online or over the phone. Your vehicle will then need to undergo a quick inspection, and you’ll be ready to sign your loan documents. It’s that easy.

However, there are a few requirements in order to apply for a Cash 1 registration loan. These include:

  • Proof that you are at least 18 years of age
  • Proof of Income
  • A government-issued I.D.
  • Vehicle registration
  • An open bank account
  • You can’t be on active duty in the military

Requirements for New Customers.

We hope this comprehensive guide to vehicle registration helps make your ride to vehicle ownership a little smoother.

Photograph of author Joseph Priebe

Joseph Priebe

Joseph Priebe takes pride in assisting audiences with his articles to help them make sound financial decisions.

With over ten years of experience writing financial content his goal at CASH 1 has always been creating engaging and easy-to-digest information for anyone searching for immediate or long-term monetary solutions.

When Joseph is not writing about personal finance, you can find him photographing the Southwest United States with his 4x5 Graflex Crown Graphic camera. He is based in Phoenix, Arizona.