5 th Edition. Massachusetts CAR REGISTRATION. Easy Guide. Licensed by: Car-Registration.org

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1 5 th Edition Massachusetts CAR REGISTRATION Easy Guide Licensed by:

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5 Vehicle Registration Looking to register a vehicle in the wonderful state of Massachusetts? Well, you ve come to the right place. With this guide, you will obtain all the necessary information regarding how to apply for your vehicle registration, as well as what exactly you will need to do before you apply to ensure that you meet all the requirements. In order to do this, you will need to take steps and follow procedures that we have organized for you with all the necessary research and information regarding registering your vehicle in the state of Massachusetts. Whether you re looking to register a specific type of vehicle, renew your soon to be expired registration, replace a lost, stolen, or damaged registration, or updating your current vehicle registration, we will provide you with all this information and more, fast, easy, and stress free! Our purpose is to help you know exactly how to prepare properly by providing you with all the tools and information you may need from beginning to end in this process. So, don t worry and just allow us to make your life slightly less complicated. 5

6 Registration Insurance Requirements You are required to obtain proper Massachusetts insurance before registering your vehicle. This is a necessary requirement in order to help reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road which can often result in high costs if you are involved in a vehicle accident. You can show your car registration if you are requested by an officer or someone else to present proof of your insurance. The car registration takes the place as proof of insurance, so there is no need to present your insurance card if you do not have it at hand. If you are looking forward to applying for your vehicle registration, it will be required that you obtain liability insurance for your automobile before you can register and legally drive your car without any penalties. The reason to have liability insurance is to protect you against car accidents and more consequences. If you are involved in a car accident, it is vital that any and all damages or injuries you caused to someone else can be covered without causing you financial trouble to pay. Your auto insurance policy must contain a list of all the licensed drivers who are living in your household and that are related to you. You need to mention any person who rarely drives your car as well. There are four minimum car insurance coverages you need to have in Massachusetts: 1. Bodily Injury to Others Injury per person: $20,000 Injury per accident: $40, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Injury per person involved in an accident: $8, Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Auto Injury per person: $20,000 Injury per accident: 40, Damage to Someone Else s Property Per accident: $5,000. 6

7 Your liability insurance must be acquired in Massachusetts and it must be at least the four auto coverages listed above. If your car is insured in other state, you need to cancel that insurance and get another one in Massachusetts. Any out of state insurance plans will not be acknowledged. The insurance plan has to remain valid even when your car is not in use, meaning it must also be issued in your name as well as remain in your name while you keep ownership of the automobile. Likewise, your insurance ID card and vehicle registration need to be under the same name. If you do not keep your insurance coverage, your vehicle registration along with your driver license will be suspended. 7

8 Registering Your Vehicle In Massachusetts Whether you are registering a new, used, out of state, military, or special type of vehicle, you should take a look at the specific instructions to register your car so you can make sure the process is as easy and quick as possible. Take a look at the outlined steps below to better understand what exactly you must do in order to register your vehicle in Massachusetts and begin driving legally as soon as possible! REGISTER A NEW VEHICLE Normally, if you purchased a brand new car at a dealership, you do not have to worry about registering it since they take care of all the process; nevertheless, in case your dealership didn t or if you bought it using a different method, you will have to register it yourself. Important dates or timeframes Once get your new vehicle, you have seven days to register it. Just follow the below steps: Complete this Registration and Title form and present the form with the certificate origin, for new cars; former owner s certificate, or the previous registration with its bill of sale. Provide proof of insurance along with the above RMV-1 form application stamped. The vehicle must have successfully passed the inspection. The vehicle must have the smog certification. Pay the required fees Visit the closest RMV agency. Tip If you are presenting the Certificate of Origin or the former owner s title, make sure the odometer reading, date sold, and purchase price are completed and signed on the back. 8

9 REGISTER A USED VEHICLE If you purchased your car from an individual or private party, you will have to register it within seven days of the acquisition. If your car is used but has never been registered in MA, you will need to: Documents Get a MA auto insurance. Present a Registration and Title form completed and signed by the insurance agency along with the certificate of origin, for new cars; former owner s certificate, or the previous registration with its bill of sale. Present the odometer disclosure report. Pay the required fees Visit your local DMV office If the car is a gift or a family transfer, you will also need to: Complete The Affidavit in Support for Exemption from Sales or Use Tax for a Motor Vehicle Purchased Outside of Massachusetts form Present the previous owner certificate including the odometer reading, yours and the previous owner signatures, transfer date, and the word GIFT written on the purchase price. If you do not have that, present the bill of sale in case the car is exempt from titling fees. Pay the fees which are $75 for titling (if applicable) and $25 to transfer the fee. REGISTER AN OUT-OF-STATE VEHICLE If you bought a new vehicle in a different state or a used vehicle that was previously registered in another state or country, you will need: Your Massachusetts auto insurance. A complete RMV-1 Application form. Complete The Affidavit in Support for Exemption from Sales or Use Tax for a Motor Vehicle Purchased Outside of Massachusetts form The out-of-state title or proof or ownership. A smog certification if applicable. 9

10 Visit the closest RMV office with the required documents and the fees. Tip If your car was purchased before November, 26, 1990 or the model is 1980, it will be exempt from titling. REGISTRATION FOR MILITARY MEMBERS Registering a car in Massachusetts will be a little different if you are a military member. If your car was already registered and before you went to serve in the military, you can keep your registration as it is until you return. It is also required that you keep Massachusetts insurance on your car. In case you are not a Massachusetts resident and your vehicle is not registered in the state, you are allowed to drive for 30 days with your out-of-state registration. If you are planning to stay more than 30 days, you are required to proceed with the normal registration in MA with the RMV. 10

11 Renewing Your Vehicle Registration Is it time to renew your vehicle registration? Much like with many things in life, such as your driver license and even food products, your vehicle registration will be at risk of expiring and that will mean your vehicle is deemed invalid to drive legally. This can be solved by simply making sure to renew your vehicle s registration before the expiration date is allowed to pass by unattended. If your address is properly registered with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, you will receive an RMV-2 form which is used to renew your registration. This renewal notice arrives to your mail approximately six to eight weeks before your car registration s expiration date. In case you do not receive your renewal notice, you are still required to renew your car registration. The following options are available to process your renewal: BY MAIL You can only renew by mail if your renewal notice states so. If you received a renewal notice by mail, you may go ahead and send your fees and documents to the address listed on it. Make sure you keep your letter in a safe place, since all instructions will be clearly written there. BY PHONE To renew by phone make you sure: You have a valid debit or credit card to pay the fees. You do not need an insurance stamp. The car is not owned by a company or organization. If you meet the criteria mentioned above, please call the following numbers to proceed with your renewal: ONLINE For area codes: 339, 617, 781, 857 and out of Massachusetts numbers, call For other Massachusetts area codes: For hearing impaired located in Massachusetts, call Online is the easiest way to get your vehicle registration renewed. You won t even have to leave the comfort of your own house. Just click here to access the website and 11

12 start your renewal. You will be asked to first agree to the Privacy Protection Act that states that you will only use the system to access your own registration information file and will not attempt to access personal information of others. After you agree and click on continue, you will be asked to place your registration or plate number, address, and fill a security word verification box. Then, the website will guide you through each of the steps you need to complete the form. If all your information is correct and matches MA RMV records, you will be allowed to move on with your renewal by clicking Continue. Then, you can select the service that you would like to request; in this case, Renew Registration. Follow the prompts to complete your registration renewal. Remember that to process your renewal online, you can only use a credit or debit card to pay. IN PERSON You can renew your registration in person by going to a local Massachusetts RMV agency. You will have to provide: An RMV-2 form or an Application form Take an acceptable payment method such as money order, check or credit/ debit cards. Your driver s license as proof of identity. Proof of Massachusetts car insurance. Your registration will be renewed immediately and you will get new decals for your vehicle along with a new registration certificate. If your renewal card is marked as Ins. Stamp Required, you will need to have an insurance agent stamp and sign the RMV-2 form which is the one you get by mail. Fees Here you will see the most common renewal fees: For passenger vehicles, the fee is: $90 for reserve plates $75 for vanity plates. $60 for regular plates If none of the vehicle plates apply for you, click here and get a complete list of fees. 12

13 Replacing Your Vehicle Registration Driving without your vehicle registration papers can lead to severe penalties and fines. If your registration documents get lost, stolen or damaged, you may certainly request a duplicate in person or by phone. IN PERSON You can definitely go to the closest Massachusetts RMV agency and request for a duplicate. The fee is $25 which you can pay by money order, check or credit/ debit cards. You will receive a provisionary registration until the permanent one arrives. BY PHONE To replace your registration using this method, you can call or as well the toll free number You will have to pay $25 with a debit or credit card. Same as if you apply in person, you will receive a temporary vehicle registration document until you receive the permanent one. Tip In case someone stole both your plates and registration number or you lost them, you cannot use this method and you would have to request a new set of plates. 13

14 Updating Your Vehicle Registration Now your life may be coming to a turning point, which can mean events as big as changing your name to a more subtle change such as moving neighborhoods. Either way, this information is essential to your identification, which includes your car registration. So, how can you update your vehicle registration should you ever need to? Well, you only need to inform the Massachusetts RMV of these changes. To better understand the process, follow the steps that best fit your situation below. CHANGING YOUR NAME Changing your name is not only the result of a big change in your life, but it will also greatly affect your documents and general information in regards to your identity. If you have officially changed your name, then you will surely be required to update it on all of your identification documents and cards, including your car registration. Doing this is very simple; there are four options you can choose from to change your car registration name: Online You may follow the same steps as requesting a duplicate vehicle registration, the fee is also $25. You need to provide your driver s license number as well. By Mail You need to write a letter and include: License plate number. Make, model, VIN number, and year. Send your letter and payment to: Attn: Mail In Registration Registry of Motor Vehicles P.O. Box Boston, MA In Person You can go to the closest Massachusetts RMV agency and request a form to change the name on your registration. The fee is $25 which you can pay by money order, check or credit/debit cards. 14

15 By Phone To renew by phone make you sure you have: A valid debit or credit card to pay the $25 fee. Your license plate number Vehicle information at hand such as VIN, model, make and year. If you meet the criteria mentioned above, please call the following numbers to proceed with your renewal: For area codes: 339,617,781,857 and out of Massachusetts numbers, call For other Massachusetts area codes: For hearing impaired located in Massachusetts, call CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS In the case that you may have recently moved to a new address, it is essential that you update the address on your car registration as well. All you must do is stick to the process and once you have completed every step properly, your car registration will be updated. There are four options you can choose from to change your car registration address: Online You may follow the same steps as requesting a duplicate vehicle registration, the fee to update the address on your registration is $25. By Phone To change your address by phone, make sure you have: A valid debit or credit card to pay the $25 fee. Your license plate number. Vehicle information at hand such as VIN, model, make and year. If you meet the criteria mentioned above, please call the following numbers to proceed with your renewal: For area codes: 339,617,781,857 and out of Massachusetts numbers, call For other Massachusetts area codes: For hearing impaired located in Massachusetts, call

16 In Person You can certainly go to the closest Massachusetts RMV agency and complete a change of address form. The fee is $25 which you can pay by money order, check or credit/ debit cards. By Mail You would need to write a letter and include the following vehicle information: License plate number. Make, model, VIN number, and year. Send your letter and payment to: Attn: Mail In Registration Registry of Motor Vehicles P.O. Box Boston, MA

17 License Plates When you register your vehicle, the RMV assigns a license plate number to you. Whenever you renew your registration, your license plates are also renewed. The RMV will give you a decal that you must attach to the license plate. The decal has the expiration date of your registration and must be up to date at all times. Besides the regular Massachusetts license plates, there are also specialty plates which are made around a specific theme or cause, such as professional associations, sports, universities and environmental themes. They may be purchased at an additional cost which helps fund the particular cause. Obtain your regular and specialty license plates at any of the MA RMV offices across the state. REPLACING YOUR LICENSE PLATES Your license plate is what identifies your vehicle to the authorities and is used to keep track of your driving behavior. This is why it must always be in good conditions and completely legible. If your license plate gets lost, stolen or defaced, you may request a new one at a MA RMV office or by phone. In Person You can unquestionably go to the closest Massachusetts RMV agency and request for a duplicate. The fee is $10 which you can pay by money order, check or credit/ debit cards. You will receive a provisionary license plate until the permanent one arrives. By Phone To replace your license plate by phone, you can call or the toll free number You have to pay $10 with a debit or credit card. Same as if you apply in person, you will receive a temporary vehicle registration document until you receive the permanent one. GETTING CUSTOM PLATES Vanity plates are used for different vehicles types like commercial, motorcycle, livery, private passenger, antiques and camper vehicles. These original plate designs must be previously approved; therefore, you can check if the type you want to have on your vehicle is obtainable. Click here to check the availability. When you access the website and accept the privacy agreements, you will be able to get creative and make your own 17

18 plate design. If the vanity plate you desire is available, you can go to the closest MA RMV agency, present this form and pay the regular fee plus a $50 special fee. Once your payment is received and processed, you will receive a notification specifying where you would have to pick up your plates. When you go to the RMV branch, take with you an RMV-3 form stamped by your insurance company, your old plates and cash to pay the fees. The vanity plate will remain at the MA RMV branch for 90 days. SURRENDERING MASSACHUSETTS LICENSE PLATES If you are going to live out of Massachusetts, you are required to surrender your license plates and also cancel your registration. Surrendering plates also applies when you sell your car and you do not transfer the plates to another car. You have two options to surrender your license plates. In Person You can go to the closest Massachusetts RMV agency and surrender your plates personally. By Mail Send your license plates to: Attn: Express Registry of Motor Vehicles P.O. Box Boston, MA Once you send your plates by mail or surrender them at the MA RMV office, you will get a cancellation receipt which you can use to submit a refund request to your tax assessor collector (if applicable). 18

19 Vehicle Safety Tips The most important thing before you begin driving any vehicle is that both you and the vehicle are well prepared for any trip you make. This means checking and making any changes to your vehicle or your behavior to make sure that you are able to drive safely at all times. EMERGENCY KIT One of the essentials to safe driving is having a basic emergency kit available in your vehicle at all times. This kit should include basic items such as water, extra batteries, rope, First Aid kit, matches, a whistle, etc. During winter months it is also important to carry items such as blankets, non-perishable foods, extra gloves and socks, and a shovel. WINTER DRIVING One of the most dangerous times to drive is during the winter, especially if you live in an area that snows. Therefore, it is best to consider these tips to drive safely during the winter. Don t Rush! Roads are often covered in snow and ice after it snows, so instead of driving fast and risking an accident in your rush to get to your destination try leaving a few minutes earlier than usual. This will allow you to drive slower and help to avoid rushing other drivers by not tailgating them if they are going slower. Don t Panic If You Skid or Slip In the case that your vehicle does ski or slip while driving make sure you do not panic and slam down on your brakes. Instead all you need to do is apply slow and even pressure on your brakes until you stop. This will prevent you from spinning further out of control. Check Your Vehicle Before you even leave your house make sure your vehicle s controls, brakes, tank, tires, antifreeze, exhaust, etc. are all working properly. It is also important that you remove all ice and snow from your car before you begin driving; this prevents the snow from blocking your view while you drive. 19

20 DRINKING AND DRIVING Every year thousands are killed as a result of drinking and driving. This is something that is very easily prevented; it only requires that you plan ahead of time by taking these steps. Even before you begin drinking you should arrange for someone else to be the designated driver. In the case that they also become intoxicated, it is important that you arrange to take a taxi. Never allow someone drunk to drive, instead take away their keys and call for alternative transportation. If you see someone who you suspect is drunk, and they exhibit signs of intoxication while driving such as making wide turns, weaving, swerving, braking erratically, turning abruptly, etc. call 911 and contact authorities immediately. Also make sure to avoid them on the road to ensure your own safety. USING YOUR PHONE Driving while using your cellphone is one of the most dangerous things you can do because during those few seconds your attention is diverted to your phone, a major accident could occur. So, make sure you don t text, use of the Internet on your phone, or receive calls while you drive to prevent accidents as best as possible. THINGS TO AVOID Driving isn t always a relaxing experience. There are certain actions that can be both an annoyance and dangerous to you while on the road driving. These things are often avoidable if you make sure to take the necessary steps towards preventing them, as well as stopping them after you discover them to be occurring. Car Accidents The best way to avoid car accidents is to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive and will not cause you any problems. To do this you only need to regularly check that your brakes are functioning properly, your tires are inflated and not worn out, and that the steering and suspensions are checked by a mechanic and will not fail while you drive, especially at high speeds. Wasting Gas As the price of gas goes up you may begin to start looking for ways to save on those expensive trips to the pump. Well, saving on gas is something that is possible if you take a few steps towards ensuring that you waste less gas. 20

21 Some of the ways you can start saving gas are: not using air conditioning, not leaving your engine running, or speeding above 60 mph. These things are preventable and not necessary for you to drive, therefore you can quickly reduce the amount of gas you waste. Another way to save on gas is to make sure that your vehicle is functioning properly, you can do this by checking that your tires are properly inflated, your engine is well tuned, and check that your octane level is the correct amount to your vehicle s needs. Aggressive Driving Aggressive driving and drivers are both things that should be avoided to prevent any on-road aggression or accidents. Aggressive driving is categorized as exhibiting behaviors such as aggressive tailgating, verbal or physically harassing another driver, preventing another driver from merging or passing. However, if you are an aggressive driver, you are putting others at risk every time you do any of the above behaviors. If you encounter a frustrating situation on the road, instead of becoming aggressive, take a moment to breathe and relax before moving on. 21

22 Office Hours and Locations There are 36 RMV branches available to take care of your car registration needs. Click here to learn more about RMV office locations, schedules, and waiting times. In a hurry? Now you can process most of your RMV requests online through their official website. You can apply for car registration renewals and duplicates, you can also schedule your appointments to update your name, address or even to request a brand new license plates. If you have any questions, you can call the RMV Phone Center at: (from the 339/617/781/857 MA area codes or from outside of MA) (from all other MA area codes) (for the hearing-impaired) DON T WASTE TIME AND MONEY DRIVING TO THE LICENSING OFFICE. 22

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