Can a car be titled in two states?
There are a variety of reasons to register a car in a different state other than the state of permanent residence. The most common reasons would be being a snowbird, attending college, visiting for work purposes, and simply because the rates are lower in the other state. But the most common question that everybody faces while going to another state is can you register or insure your car in two different states?
Can a car be titled in two states?
No, registering a car gives it a unique number, and it is not legal that a car has two of those numbers. Where a car must be registered depends on where the vehicle is primarily used. And from state to state. Registration deadlines and requirements for registration also differ from state to state.
Keeping the laws in mind and staying within a budget limit, I simply can say, of course, you can insure or register your car in two different states. That's not all. There are plenty of options in different states that will allow anyone to drive a car around with the number plate of a different state. But, that comes with some rules and regulations too. Without further ado, let's get some expert opinion on this!
Legal & Illegal
When talking about vehicle registration, there's a fine line between what's legal and what's not. There are many people who insure or register their car in a different state just because the rates are lower there. That saves some bucks of course but creates a huge problem for the law. You see, doing that is a complete fraud to the constitution.
All the states in the US and Canada have certain rules and regulations when it comes to vehicle licensing and insuring. There are certain limits to which you can extend your registration. But, none of the states allow anyone to license the vehicles at another state just because the rates are lower. If you permanently reside in a state, your car and everything should be insured to that address. You can't just give away your secondary address or vacation home address as your registration address.
From what I've seen, the insurance cost is high in crime-ridden cities. But, the cost is much lower in rural states. But you can't just register your car elsewhere just because the rates there are lower. So, what can you do if you're not going to permanently stay at a secondary home in another state? What should snowbirds who just visit a state for a couple of months do?
Well, to get a clear concept on the registration process, first you must know the laws in different states. Let's get a quick look at it!
Registration Laws
Actually, every state excluding New Hampshire requires a valid insurance policy before anyone can register their car. After a car is bought in that state, the person who bought it must provide valid proof of insurance for the car, a valid driver's license, and the designated car title to the state DMV. That way, the state knows everything about your car and the local law can keep track of the ongoing affairs associated with your car. Here's a small overview of the laws around different states inside the US!
State | Registration Deadline | Requirements for Registration | Vehicle Inspection |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Alaska | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required |
Arizona | 210 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Arkansas | 180 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
California | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Colorado | 90 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required for individual |
Connecticut | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required for individual |
Delaware | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Florida | 10 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Georgia | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required for each residency |
Hawaii | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required |
Idaho | 90 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Illinois | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Indiana | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required per residency |
Iowa | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Kansas | 90 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required per residency |
Kentucky | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Louisiana | 10 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Maine | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Maryland | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Massachusetts | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Michigan | 90 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Minnesota | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Mississippi | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Missouri | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Montana | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Nebraska | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required for each individual |
Nevada | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required per residence |
New Hampshire | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required per residence |
New Jersey | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required |
New Mexico | 180 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
New York | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
North Carolina | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
North Dakota | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Ohio | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Oklahoma | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Oregon | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Pennsylvania | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Rhode Island | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
South Carolina | 45 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Tennessee | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Texas | Not required if already registered in another state. Can make nearly 5 occasional trips consisting not more than 5 days each | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Utah | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Vermont | 60 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
Virginia | 180 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required per residency |
Washington | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required |
Washington, D.C. | 30 days after entering the state. Can extend for up to 180 days with some additional fee | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required except college students and military personnel |
West Virginia | 30 days after entering the state | Car's title and valid previous registration | Required |
Wisconsin | Not required if already registered in another state | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Wyoming | Not required if already registered in another state. Visitors can stay no longer than 120 days without state registration | Not required unless seeking permanent residency | Inspection required if permanent residency is fixed for registration |
Disclaimer: Laws and rules can change. Always check with the correct authorities what applies to you.
Licensing your car in two different states is not possible, buying two different cars for two states is an option. If you're just visiting another state for a couple of weeks or months, know the certain rules from this chart and plan accordingly.
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