Car owners in the US are required to register their automobiles with their state’s DMV or transportation agency.
When purchasing a vehicle, moving to another state, or extending your registration before it expires, you must complete this process.
Registrations are used by States to identify who owns a vehicle and to provide information for tax collection and criminal investigation. After paying a fee, you receive a registration certificate and licence plates.
You must always have your vehicle’s registration certificate along with you, while you drive. Police will ask to view it if you are stopped by them.
How do you register your vehicle?
- A bill of sale: A dealership will provide you with a bill when you purchase a new vehicle. This document is a requirement in order to register the car.
- Title: You must possess the title of your vehicle; this is a proof of your ownership of the vehicle. If the vehicle is bought via loan, you must possess a loan agreement.
- Odometer reading: When you bring your car for registration, the DMV may occasionally check the odometer. The owner may report the miles on their vehicle in various states.
- Insurance proof: Some states may require auto insurance documentation that meets minimum liability requirements. Be prepared to provide your insurance card when registering your vehicle.
Why is registration of a vehicle considered to be important?
A vehicle’s registration serves as a proof that it is insured and permitted to be operated in a certain state.
Additionally, it makes it simpler to obtain a licence plate for the vehicle you intend to drive.
A vehicle registration aids the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state in keeping track of the details about the particular vehicle, such as who owns it, the owner’s address, the plate number, the title number, and the VIN. Before selling an automobile, it is necessary to demonstrate legal ownership, which is assisted by having your vehicle’s registration.
Can you sell a car with an expired registration?
No, you cannot sell a car with an expired registration.
A registration is proof that the car belongs to you; without a registration, it is difficult to prove your ownership.
A registration certificate is of utmost importance when selling your car.
Whenever you take out a loan on a vehicle, the bank owns the vehicle, not you. If you only have the car’s title, you may be able to file for a temporary or specialty registration.
Please keep in mind that – even if your car was not registered at the time of sale, it is not legal to drive it on the road.
To ensure that you are not purchasing a vehicle with expired registration, you must make appropriate inquiries. Without giving it a test drive, it is very difficult to tell if a car is in working order. But if the tags are expired, you may at a risk of getting into trouble with the police if you are stopped because it is illegal to operate an unregistered vehicle.
A car might not be registered for malicious reasons, such as if the owner is trying to sell it because it isn’t in good condition or is in need of repair. Because of this, customers stay away from unregistered vehicles.
Can you trade in a car with expired registration?
Yes , it is possible to trade a car with expired registration by following the steps mentioned below:
Step 1:
A bill of sale between the buyer and yourself should be prepared as soon as possible. Along with your addresses, VIN number, and the year, make, and model of the vehicle, this must include both your name and the buyer’s name – must be mentioned.
Additionally, it’s critical to state the car’s asking price.
The bill of sale must specify that you are the vehicle’s legitimate owner and are qualified to sell it to the buyer.
Step 2:
Visit your local DMV to obtain the necessary documentation and any other data you may require for the sale of the specific automobile. Your vehicle’s title should be with you. Before you can really sell your car, you must apply for a copy of the title if you do not already have one. A valid driver’s licence and some type of evidence that you are the car’s owner are required for the same.
The bill of sale you received when you first purchased the vehicle contains the documentation you require to be able to sell the vehicle without registration.
Step 3:
In case you are still paying installments for a certain vehicle, you will not have the title to sell the car.
To make arrangements for transferring ownership of the vehicle to the new buyer, you will need to get in touch with the bank.
