How to a Register a Car

In the U.S., car owners are required to register their car after buying it, before they can put it on the road. In some states, owners must register their car every year, although most states only require a one-time registration. Registration is one way that states earn more money from vehicle owners, and it helps the state keep track of how many cars are on the road and who is driving them. If you have recently purchased a car and want to drive it legally, here's how to register a car:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Contact Your State's Department of Motor Vehicles
   
   Every state has a motor vehicle agency that handles car registrations. In most states, this is referred to as the DMV, although it's also known as the Motor Vehicle Association (MVA) or State Department of Transportation (Texas DoT or PennDOT). There are multiple offices for your state's DMV; check your phone book or look online to find the one closest to you. Call ahead, because some offices require that you make an appointment before coming in – although most DMV offices don't allow appointments at all.

2. Collect the Necessary Documents
   
   When you register a car, you need to bring a few things along with you, the most important being the owner of the car itself. Most states, if not all, now require that the actual owner of the vehicle is the one who has to register it. This means you can't register your spouse's or child's car for them, and you can't register your own car if it's in your spouse's or parent's name. It has to be the person who's name is on the title.
   
   Besides that, you also need to bring in your valid, current driver's license, your Social Security card, and you may have to show proof of residency in the form of two separate pieces of mail – think 2 different bills in your name. That should be all that's required, but call ahead to make sure you don't need to show anything else to register your car.

3. Fill Out the Form and Pay the Fee
   
   Once you arrive, you will have to fill out a registration form; you can get this from the clerk when you first arrive. You may also be able to print out the form and complete it beforehand; check your state's DMV website to see if the form are available online. You will need to provide the made, model, and year of the car, along with the VIN, what type of vehicle it is (most likely passenger) and any other details the DMV requests. If you're not sure what you're VIN is, you can find it on your car title, or etched into the windshield in the bottom corner near the driver's side.
   
   After that, you'll need to wait in line to hand over the forms and pay the fee. If you live in a populated area, you know how treacherous the wait can be, so carve an hour or so out of your day to wait, and bring something to occupy you in the meantime. When your name is called, bring all of your documents up and have your driver's license ready to hand over. You'll also need to hand over cash or a money order to pay for the registration. Most DMV offices don't take checks, and only a few have started accepting debit and credit cards in the last 5 years, so come with cash or call ahead to see if there are any other payment methods accepted at your office.

4. Renewing Your Registrations
   
   Some states require you to renew your registration every year – and that includes paying the fee, as well. The good news is, many states have implemented an system for car owners to renew their registration right online. While you need to go in person to register a car the first time, every year after you can renew it using your credit card right from the website. Check your state's DMV website, or ask about renewing your registration online when you head to the office to register a car.

[kittycooks]

on 7/2/2009 Well written with lots of information.