What Do I Need to Register My Car?

To drive your car on public roads, you must first register it with your state's motor vehicle agency (MVA). Most of the time, you must do this within a month of purchasing it.

In most states, you'll need proof of car insurance, the car's title, and your driver's license or other form of identification. You will also be required to pay a fee and display a license plate on your vehicle to demonstrate that it has been registered.

The requirements may differ depending on whether you are registering a car for the first time or renewing an existing registration. You can find your state's MVA's specific requirements on its website.

How Much Insurance Is Required?

Except for New Hampshire, all states require you to have liability insurance on your vehicle. You can opt out of this coverage in Virginia by paying a $500 annual fee as a "registered uninsured." It should be noted that all 50 states have minimum coverage amounts for specific auto insurance coverages.

25/50/25

Many states, including Oklahoma and Rhode Island, require that you have at least:

• $25,000 for injury to, or the death of, one person;
• $50,000 for injury to, or the death of, two or more people in a single accident; and
• $25,000 covering damage to, or destruction of, property.

This level of insurance is sometimes abbreviated as "25/50/25".

Similar requirements exist in other states. You must have 25/50/20 coverage in Wyoming. The first two amounts are the same, but only $20,000 in property coverage is required.

Some states require you to purchase coverage that protects you if an uninsured driver causes a collision involving you and your vehicle. In South Carolina, for example, you must purchase 25/50/25 coverage. This covers both your liability and the liability of the uninsured driver.

New Hampshire and Virginia

In New Hampshire, you must show that you have enough cash or other assets to pay for 25/50/25-type liability coverage out of your own pocket.

If you drive your car without liability insurance in Virginia, you must pay a $500 fine for being uninsured.

Should You Get Registered or Insured First?

In some states, you have a certain amount of time after registering your car to provide proof of insurance. You have 30 days after registering your car in California to provide proof of insurance to the state department of motor vehicles.

Your registration will be suspended if you do not comply. You must pay a $14 reinstatement fee and may not drive the vehicle until the registration is reinstated.

It is important to note that you must have insurance from day one, even if your coverage cannot be suspended until Day 30. In other words, even if you are stopped on your first day, you can still get a ticket.

What Is a Car Title?

The title to your car certifies that you are the rightful owner and is issued by your state's Motor Vehicle Administration. The title contains your name and address, the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the mileage of the car at the time you purchased it. It will also include the year, make, and model of the vehicle.

Do You Need a Car Inspection?

Depending on where you live, a car inspection for emissions, safety, or both may be required before you can register or renew your vehicle.

Such inspections have been phased out in some states. In New Jersey, for example, an annual safety inspection is no longer required, but the state does require an emissions inspection every two years after a five-year inspection-free period for a new car.

Neither type of routine inspection is required in Montana.

In some states, law enforcement officers or employees of a state public safety department have the authority to require a motorist to submit their vehicle for inspection if they have reason to believe it is unsafe.

Alaska and Colorado are two states that allow roadside inspections in lieu of regular inspections.

What Is the Registration Fee?

The registration fee varies greatly from state to state. The weight, age, and even fuel efficiency of the vehicle may all have an impact on the amount you must pay. The fee is due at the time of initial registration and each year at renewal.

What About License Plates?

Obtaining license plates for your vehicle is synonymous with registering it. Thirty-one states require two license plates, one for the front and one for the back. However, 19 states only require a rear license plate.