How To Register Your Vehicle

When you buy a vehicle, whether it's brand new or used, you have to register it with your state.

What is vehicle registration?

A vehicle registration shows who owns that vehicle. When you buy a car, you must register it so that it's in your name. You'll also need to register your vehicle when you move to a new state.

What documents do I need for vehicle registration?

The documents you need vary depending on what state you're registering in. Typically, you'll need the following:

• A completed vehicle registration form
• Your driver's license
• Proof of insurance
• The title to your vehicle, or the signed lease agreement
• Sales tax payment receipt
• Proof that your vehicle passed a safety inspection
• Proof your vehicle passed a smog test

Be sure to check your state's specific requirements for what documents you'll need. You can find a link to each state's website at the end of this article!

Where should I put my vehicle registration?

If you're stopped by law enforcement, they may ask to see your vehicle's registration. Many people store their original vehicle registration in their glove compartment so that it's easily-accessible, however, this isn't recommended by safety experts. If someone were to break into your vehicle, you wouldn't want them to have access to documents with your full name and home address.

Instead, consider keeping a copy of your vehicle's registration with your driver's license. That way, it's always with you when you're driving, but you're not leaving it in the car when it's parked. You can store your original registration in a safe place at home.

If your state requires you to carry your original registration in your vehicle, it's a good idea not to leave it in the car when you're not driving.

How to Find Vehicle Registration Information in Your State

Click on your state below to learn more about how your state handles vehicle registration.

• Alabama Vehicle Registration
• Alaska Vehicle Registration
• Arizona Vehicle Registration
• Arkansas Vehicle Registration
• California Vehicle Registration
• Colorado Vehicle Registration
• Connecticut Vehicle Registration
• Delaware Vehicle Registration
• Florida Vehicle Registration
• Georgia Vehicle Registration
• Hawaii Vehicle Registration
• Idaho Vehicle Registration
• Illinois Vehicle Registration
• Indiana Vehicle Registration
• Iowa Vehicle Registration
• Kansas Vehicle Registration
• Kentucky Vehicle Registration
• Louisiana Vehicle Registration
• Maine Vehicle Registration
• Maryland Vehicle Registration
• Massachusetts Vehicle Registration
• Michigan Vehicle Registration
• Minnesota Vehicle Registration
• Mississippi Vehicle Registration
• Missouri Vehicle Registration
• Montana Vehicle Registration
• Nebraska Vehicle Registration
• Nevada Vehicle Registration
• New Hampshire Vehicle Registration
• New Jersey Vehicle Registration
• New Mexico Vehicle Registration
• New York Vehicle Registration
• North Carolina Vehicle Registration
• North Dakota Vehicle Registration
• Ohio Vehicle Registration
• Oklahoma Vehicle Registration
• Oregon Vehicle Registration
• Pennsylvania Vehicle Registration
• Rhode Island Vehicle Registration
• South Carolina Vehicle Registration
• South Dakota Vehicle Registration
• Tennessee Vehicle Registration
• Texas Vehicle Registration
• Utah Vehicle Registration
• Vermont Vehicle Registration
• Virginia Vehicle Registration
• Washington Vehicle Registration
• West Virginia Vehicle Registration
• Wisconsin Vehicle Registration
• Wyoming Vehicle Registration

Take an Online Course to Learn More

We offer courses in a variety of topics including Defensive Driving and Driver Education. In addition to teaching you how to be a safe driver, our courses can help you dismiss a ticket, get your driver license, or even get an insurance discount. We also have courses specifically tailored to mature drivers (i.e., drivers age 55 and older) for insurance discounts.