When Do I Have To Register My Car In Utah If I'm From Another State

Y'all usually need to annals your car where you live. But there are exceptions. Discover out when it's OK to register in another state.

Generally, your vehicle must exist registered in the state where you live. That'due south determined by any one of the post-obit:

Your master residence or where you live most of the time
The address on your commuter's license
Your mailing accost for bills and correspondence
Where you are registered to vote
The address listed on your federal and state taxation returns

But there are some situations in which you can register your vehicle in another country. Keep reading to larn more than.

When to Annals Your Motorcar in Another Country
When Information technology Is Illegal to Register a Car in Another State
How Do I Register a Vehicle in Another State?
Can I Register a Car in 1 State and Insure It in Another State?
Can I Go on My Car Insurance When Moving From I State to Another?
Can I Register My Automobile Without Having Machine Insurance?
How to Annals a Automobile Purchased Out of Land
Country Laws for Car Registration for Non-Residents

When to Annals Your Motorcar in Some other State

Many U.S. residents live in different states at dissimilar times of the year. From a legal and income tax signal of view, you can only be a permanent resident of ane state.

That means you should register your car in that place. But there are some exceptions. Read on to see if you're one of these special cases and where you should annals your vehicle.

Moving Residences
If you permanently move to some other country, you lot must register your vehicle in that state. This applies even if your current car registration has not expired.

But moving to an out-of-state college campus, temporary armed services assignment, or temporary piece of work assignment does non institute a permanent motion.

You are usually immune a certain time period to annals your vehicle after you relocate to a new land (more on that below). Just once you are considered a resident of the new state, you need to transfer your vehicle registration.

Depending on the expiration date of your current vehicle registration, y'all might qualify for a prorated refund. Call to the department of motor vehicles in your quondam state to ask near their refund policy on registration fees.

Working in Another State
Owning a home in ane state and working more than 184 days in some other country makes you a resident of both. In this situation, you can register your motorcar in either country.

Split up Living Arrangements
If yous own 2 homes in different states, register your car in the state where y'all live the greatest number of days in the year.

One mutual solution is keeping a car at each domicile that you own. In this case, y'all can register the cars in the applicable state.

Consider this example:
Yous own a home in Connecticut and a condo in Florida. You live six months in Connecticut and half dozen months in Florida. You are registered to vote in Connecticut, so this home is your primary residence.

You take two cars. One auto was purchased in Connecticut and remains in that land. The other motorcar was purchased in Florida and remains there. So, register the Connecticut car in the Granite Land and the Florida auto in the Sunshine Land.

Military
If you're a fellow member of the military and are stationed in another country, most states allow you to retain your home state vehicle registration.

College Students
College students can register their machine in their home state. Near U.S. states permit out-of-state students to retain the vehicle registration of their habitation country while living on campus.

When It Is Illegal to Register a Automobile in Another State

It is illegal to live in one land and register your car in another state unless you accept good reason. In general, the car needs to be registered where it is garaged, which usually means where the owner lives.

Here are some reasons you cannot annals a car in some other state:

Registration is cheaper in the state where yous work.
Using a friend's or family member's accost lets you contrivance expensive vehicle registration fees, license plate fees, title fees, auto insurance costs, or metropolis and land taxes in your home state.
You tin can avoid long lines by registering your vehicle in the state you used to alive.
Yous never changed the accost on your driver's license later a move.

The department of motor vehicles in the state where y'all live can provide assistance when you're not sure if it is legal to live in i land and register your car in another.

How Practise I Register a Vehicle in Another Country?

Before registering your auto in some other state, you have to get a new driver's license and change or update your auto insurance. You need this information to complete your vehicle registration and obtain your new license plates.

Follow these steps to annals a vehicle in a new land:

Brand an appointment at your closest DMV within the state's registration grace period.
Research the state'southward policies on vehicle inspection and schedule an inspection if necessary.
Gather and complete any required forms, documentation, and vehicle registration fees. Check the land'south website to sympathise the requirements.
Receive either a temporary registration or your license plates. With a temporary registration, your new license plates volition be mailed to y'all.
Check the department of motor vehicles in your previous state to see if you lot must return your old license plates. Some states charge yous a fee if y'all practice not return your plates.
Cheque to come across if you lot demand to transport your previous state a change of address form.

If y'all are paying a machine loan, be certain to inform your financing company about your change of accost. You may also have to provide a re-create of your new vehicle registration.

Can I Register a Auto in 1 Country and Insure It in Another Country?

Auto insurance companies require that your car is registered and insured in the same state. But you may be able to annals a auto in 1 country and insure it in another under certain circumstances.

Go along reading to learn more than about your options.

Split Living Situations
You can insure two vehicles nether the same policy if one of them is stored or has temporary or seasonal insurance on it. This happens when you ain 2 cars and continue one registered in your home country and the other registered in the state where you live seasonally.

College-aged Children
Parents of a immature adult who is moving to a new state can remain on the parents' auto insurance policy. More often than not, this happens when the kid is attending an out-of-state school. Insurance companies like to see that:

Your child is currently on your insurance.
The motorcar is registered in both your names.
The parent is listed as the chief driver and the kid is listed as a secondary driver.

Military Assignments
A member of the military temporarily stationed in another land for more than 6 months can unremarkably keep the vehicle registered in their home country merely insured in the state of their current station.

Working or Garaging in Another Country
If y'all reside in one country, only either primarily work in another state or garage your vehicle in another state, y'all may exist able to insure the vehicle in the land where it stays. But machine insurers may address this situation differently—exist sure to double-check with yours.

Paying Insurance for an Out-of-State Family Fellow member
This happens if the car is registered in that family member's name and the policy is issued in the state where they live, but you are still listed on the machine insurance policy as the billing address.

Purchasing a Car for a Family Member Who Lives in Another Land
The car is registered in the family unit member'due south land only insured in your country. Some states allow this if proof of insurance coverage is reported to the family member'south state as required. To avert cancellation of your insurance policy, be sure your auto insurance company is aware of the arrangement and has approved it.

Y'all cannot register your vehicle in one state and insure it in some other if none of the above situations apply.

Having a car registered in one land and insured in a different state without a valid reason is considered fraud. Information technology tin can lead to:

Voiding your insurance coverage
Policy cancellation
Causing a claim to be denied by your insurance visitor

Check with your auto insurance company if your circumstances call for registering your vehicle in your home state and insuring it in some other land.

The agency that handles vehicle registrations differs from state to state. It might exist called the section of motor vehicles, the registry of motor vehicles, the motor vehicle agency, the segmentation of motor vehicles, or the department of transportation.

Can I Keep My Machine Insurance When Moving From One State to Another?

In many instances, your auto insurance policy moves with you to a new country. The exception is if your auto insurer doesn't do business in the state where you're moving.

Take these steps to find out if yous tin keep your car insurance when moving to a new state:

Call your current insurance company and make up one's mind if they provide insurance at your new residence.
Request a quote from your current insurance company with updated coverages, limits, and discounts for your new state.
Obtain quotes from other insurance companies and compare costs to your current insurance company.
Choose the all-time insurance policy based on coverages and costs.
Cancel your one-time policy if you change insurers. Be certain the new policy's effective appointment begins as soon as your old policy is canceled to avoid a lapse in coverage.
Print the temporary proof of insurance document your insurer electronically sends to you.

You'll need the temporary proof of insurance to annals your car. The new policy and insurance card generally arrive within a week in the mail.

Do not cancel your auto insurance coverage until you purchase a new ane or update your existing policy.

Can I Register My Automobile Without Having Automobile Insurance?

No U.South. state allows uninsured vehicles on its roadways. In club to annals a car, proof of car insurance is required.

Many states have minimum insurance coverage requirements. In states without mandated minimums, drivers take to testify proof of self-insurance or financial ability to pay if an accident occurs.

In some situations, a country may permit you to annals your car and then provide proof of insurance within a certain time frame. If fourth dimension runs out, your registration will be suspended and you lot will face penalties.

Registration suspension and penalties are also enforced if you lot cancel your automobile insurance after registering your vehicle. Most states require auto insurance companies to report canceled policies to their department of motor vehicles.

How to Register a Machine Purchased Out of State

You must register a car in your home state one time the purchase is complete regardless of where you purchase it. You besides pay your land'south sales tax when you register your vehicle.

You lot can work with the seller or dealership to get a temporary registration from your habitation state's motor vehicle department. To obtain a temporary license plate for your new car, you'll need:

A title exchange
Vehicle registration
Insurance paperwork

Call back, it is illegal to drive your newly purchased vehicle from one state to another until you get its registered owner. Constabulary enforcement officials can impound your vehicle if yous cannot show proper vehicle registration and insurance. Read on to learn how to avoid that.

Relieve fourth dimension and enquiry online earlier the purchase. Check for the rules, regulations, and required paperwork for both the state where you are buying the vehicle and your dwelling house state where y'all are registering it.

Out-of-State Buy Checklist

Bank check with your state's motor vehicle department to see what paperwork is required to transfer the title and register the car. For example, some states crave a current emission document or a prepurchase vehicle inspection.
Obtain the signed vehicle's championship and other required paperwork before taking the automobile back to your dwelling house country.
Check with the state'due south motor vehicle department to run into if at that place's a lien on the title if information technology'south a private, out-of-state auction. If there is, you lot won't be able to transfer the title or register the vehicle.
Follow the laws in the state where you purchase it to bulldoze the vehicle back to your home country. Some states require a temporary plate or transportation plate. Well-nigh states require the vehicle to be insured with its minimum liability limits.
Register the auto with your state's motor vehicle department. Yous'll need to provide the title and required vehicle registration paperwork.
Pay your state's sales tax and applicative fees to consummate your registration. The state where you lot register the vehicle collects the sales taxation, not the land where you purchase it.

State Laws for Car Registration for Non-Residents

Each U.S. land has motor vehicle laws outlining car registration guidelines for non-residents. Here'southward a brief wait at each:

Alabama
Non-residents must annals their vehicle within 30 days of entering the state or by the expiration appointment of the previous registration tag, whichever comes get-go.

Special requirements:

Vehicle must be in Alabama
Championship, previous state registration, or certification from previous state
Vehicle inspection, unless owner is a college student or in the military

Alaska
Non-residents must register their vehicle inside 10 days of accepting employment in the state. Alaska has no other special requirements.

Arizona
Non-residents must register their vehicle after 7 months of living in the state. This applies to students declaring residency to obtain state tuition rates, besides.

Special requirements:

Vehicle must be registered for the electric current year in whichever state the person resides

Arkansas
Non-residents must register their vehicle after 6 months of residing in the state.

Special requirements:

Non-residents with temporary worker or visitor permit must register vehicle within ten days of entering the state
Permit expires after 90 days

California
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 20 days subsequently accepting employment or establishing residency in the state.

Special requirements:

Vehicle must exist registered if the vehicle is based in the state or used more than in California than whatever other land

Colorado
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 90 days of becoming a resident or accepting employment in the state.

Special requirements:

Supplemental unregistered vehicle surcharge of $25 per month applied after 90 days
Military personnel on duty practise non have to register their automobile if it'due south registered in another state

Connecticut
Non-residents must register their vehicle inside 60 days of becoming a resident in the state.

Special requirements:

Does not apply to military personnel stationed in state with out-of-land license plates

Delaware
No non-resident registration required every bit long as machine is registered and displays license plates of country where owner resides.

Special requirements:

Not-residents can annals their cars in Delaware if they primarily garage them in the state and can show proper documentation to the state department of transportation

District of Columbia
Non-residents must register their vehicle later 30 continuous days of being in D.C.

Special requirements:

Can extend requirement an boosted 180 days by paying a fee
Can purchase a reciprocity sticker to operate the vehicle in D.C. for 180 days
Military personnel do not need to register their out-of-country car

Florida
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 10 days after accepting employment or enrolling a child in a state public school.

Special requirements:

College students can retain their home state car registration
Military personnel stationed in Florida can retain their home land's car registration

Georgia
Not-residents must register their vehicle subsequently residing temporarily in the state more than 30 days or within thirty days of becoming a resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel stationed in Georgia tin can retain their home state's automobile registration

Hawaii
Not-residents must annals their vehicle within 30 days of operating a vehicle in the state.

Special requirements:

Must obtain an out-of-state vehicle registration permit from the land's managing director of finance
The issued document of registration for an out-of-state vehicle is valid for the unexpired portion of your abode state's car registration
Armed forces personnel on active duty in Hawaii tin retain their dwelling state'south car registration

Idaho
No registration required as a non-resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel stationed in Idaho and higher students can retain their home state'south vehicle registration

Illinois
No registration required, as long every bit non-residents have valid vehicle registration from their home state.

Special requirements:

Must obtain a valid Illinois reciprocity permit

Indiana
Non-residents must register their vehicle within sixty days of condign residents in the state.

Special requirements:

Not-residents don't have to register their car if it is registered in their home state and that country has a reciprocating exemption for Indiana residents
Military personnel on agile duty in Indiana tin can retain their home state's motorcar registration

Iowa
Non-residents must register their vehicle as soon every bit they go employed or behave business in the land.

Special requirements:

Not applicable if y'all commute to Iowa from another state or work seasonally or temporarily in Iowa and your vehicle has a valid home state vehicle registration
War machine personnel stationed in Iowa can retain their home country's vehicle registration

Kansas
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 90 days of becoming a country resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in the state tin can retain their current vehicle registration on a reciprocal footing with their home land
Full-time college students can retain their domicile state's vehicle registration

Kentucky
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 15 days unless vehicle is mainly operated in some other state.

Special requirements:

Proof of insurance is required with certificate of registration application
Total-fourth dimension college students and war machine personnel tin retain their home country's machine registration

Louisiana
Non-residents must annals their vehicle inside xxx days of existence employed in the state.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on agile duty in the country and their spouses can retain their out-of-state vehicle registration if the license plates are from their home state, both the registration and license plates are in the active duty member's proper name, and there is proof of insurance or financial responsibleness

Maine
Not-residents must register their vehicle within thirty days of becoming a state resident. Maine has no other special requirements.

Maryland
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 60 days of becoming a resident.

Special requirements:

Non-residents who ain a domicile in Maryland for at to the lowest degree thirty days just less than 1 yr must obtain a non-resident's permit from the land motor vehicle administration within 10 days after the 30-day period
Military personnel on active duty in Maryland do not need to annals their vehicles if they are registered in their state of residence

Massachusetts
Non-residents must register their vehicle in any of these situations:

Vehicle is operated in state for more than 30 days in any one year
When you purchase a home in the state
When you become employed in state
You ain a business organisation in state

Special requirements:

Non-resident college students must file an approved Massachusetts registry of motor vehicles form in triplicate with the local police department that provides: name and address of the vehicle's owner; names and addresses of all insureds; legal residence of the not-resident; address while attending the Massachusetts college
Military personnel on active duty in Massachusetts can retain the vehicle registration of their habitation state

Michigan
Non-residents must register their vehicle if operating the vehicle in the state for 90 days or more.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in Michigan must register their vehicle in the state inside 90 days

Minnesota
Non-residents must annals with a 31-24-hour interval temporary vehicle permit when buying a vehicle in the state.

Special requirements:

Non-residents registering their cars in Minnesota must provide the vehicle title or registration card from their previous state of residence
The odometer reading must be included on the championship and registration application if the vehicle is 9 years erstwhile or newer
Military machine personnel on active duty in Minnesota tin retain their home country's vehicle registration if: the vehicle is properly registered in the possessor'southward proper noun and displays the license plate of the other country; the owner is a resident of the other land; the vehicle is used for personal transportation

Mississippi
Not-residents must annals their vehicle later on lx days of operating their automobile in the state.

Special requirements:

Mississippi car registration is not required for out-of-country students, military personnel, or tourists

Missouri
Non-residents ownership a car in Missouri must get a temporary permit from the state section of revenue within 30 days from the purchase appointment in order to operate it.

Special requirements:

Required let awarding must include a description of the vehicle, the manufacturer, and other identifying numbers
Proof of ownership and machine insurance are required to receive the permit
Military personnel on agile duty in Missouri may retain their abode state's vehicle registration

Montana
Non-residents must register their vehicle when purchasing a vehicle or temporarily employed in the country.

Special requirements:

Non-residents temporarily employed in the state pay a fee in lieu of taxes to the applicative county
Once the fee is paid, a decal is provided to display on the vehicle's windshield
Decals expire at the stop of the yr, with reregistration required by February 15 of each year

Nebraska
Non-residents must register their vehicle after xxx days of operating vehicle in the state.

Special requirements:

Exemption applies if not-resident's dwelling land grants reciprocal immunity from such requirements to Nebraska residents

Nevada
Non-residents must register their vehicle within thirty days of establishing residence in the state or before out-of-country registration expires, whichever comes first.

Special requirements:

Tourists, seasonal residents, out-of-land students, and border state employees just demand to register their vehicles if they accept been driving in the state for more than than 30 days
Military personnel on active duty in Nevada may retain their home state'south vehicle registration

New Hampshire
Non-residents must annals their vehicle inside 60 days of establishing residency in the state.

Special requirements:

Non-residents who garage a vehicle exclusively in the state must receive blessing from the town or metropolis clerk before registering the vehicle

New Jersey
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 60 days subsequently establishing residency in the state. New Jersey has no other special requirements.

New Mexico
Not-residents must register their vehicle after existence employed in the state for 30 days or more than inside a sixty-day period unless commuting to New Mexico from their state of residence.

Special requirements:

Non-residents who operate their vehicles in New United mexican states for more than 180 days must annals them in the state
Non-residents who ain a business in New Mexico and regularly utilize their vehicle in that business must obtain a New Mexico vehicle registration

New York
Non-residents must register their vehicle within 30 days of becoming a resident.

Special requirements:

When driving in New York, non-residents must prominently display their out-of-state car registration numbers

North Carolina
Non-residents must register their vehicle according to the aforementioned requirements as those extended to state residents.

Special requirements:

War machine personnel on active duty in Due north Carolina may retain their dwelling house state's auto registration

Northward Dakota
Non-residents must register their vehicle in Due north Dakota once becoming residents or being employed or stationed in the state.

Special requirements:

Must display current registration and license plates from your home land

Ohio
Not-residents must register their vehicle within 30 days of obtaining employment in the land or condign an Ohio resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in the state can retain their home land's car registration

Oklahoma
Non-residents must annals their vehicle within 30 days of becoming employed in the state.

Special requirements:

Total-time, out-of-country higher students practise non need to obtain an Oklahoma vehicle registration
Not-residents with a mobile dwelling or other vehicle must register it if it remains in Oklahoma for more than than 60 days
Military machine personnel on active duty in the country may maintain their home state's machine registration

Oregon
Non-residents must annals their vehicle after being employed or living in the state for 6 months.

Special requirements:

Residents of an bordering land with a valid vehicle registration tin can operate a vehicle in Oregon without registering it
Armed forces personnel on active duty in Oregon practise not need to annals a vehicle registered in their dwelling house state

Pennsylvania
Not-residents must register their vehicle when using an out-of-state vehicle for conducting business in Pennsylvania or performing transportation services for rent.

Special requirements:

Not-resident vehicles must prominently display the registration of their home land
Military machine personnel on active duty in Pennsylvania can retain their out-of-state car registration

Rhode Island
Non-residents must register their vehicle ninety days after becoming a resident of the state.

Special requirements:

Military machine personnel on active duty in Rhode Island tin can retain their home state's vehicle registration

South Carolina
Non-residents must register their vehicle after operating a vehicle in the state for over 45 days or becoming a resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on active duty in the state can retain their out-of-state motorcar registration

South Dakota
Non-residents must annals their vehicle after staying in the country for more than 90 days.

Special requirements:

Non-residents must be in compliance with their dwelling house state's vehicle registration procedures
Vehicle registration must be prominently displayed on the out-of-state vehicle'due south license plate
Military personnel on active duty in South Dakota can retain their home land'due south car registration

Tennessee
Non-residents must register their vehicle if operating a vehicle in the state for more than 30 consecutive days.

Special requirements:

Not-resident owners of mobile homes or house trailers must register them subsequently lx consecutive days in Tennessee
War machine personnel on agile duty in the state may retain their dwelling house state's car registration

Texas
Non-residents must register their vehicle after making more than 5 occasional trips in a calendar month that exceed 5 days.

Special requirements:

Residents of bordering states or countries who piece of work or shop in Texas do non demand to annals their vehicles in the country
Out-of-land, full-time students are exempt from registering their out-of-state vehicles in Texas
Active military machine personnel are exempt from registering their out-of-land vehicles in Texas equally long as their domicile state registration is current
Non-resident vehicles must have valid license plates

Utah
Not-residents must register their vehicle within 60 days of being in the state or after becoming a Utah resident.

Special requirements:

Military personnel on agile duty in the state can retain their home state's machine registration

Vermont
Non-residents must register their vehicle subsequently becoming a resident of the state.

Special requirements:

Armed forces personnel on active duty in Vermont can retain their home state'south vehicle registration

Virginia
Non-residents must annals their vehicle after 6 months of being in the state.

Special requirements:

Not-residents operating their vehicle in the state 4 times in whatsoever i month must register the vehicle in Virginia
Armed forces personnel on active duty in Virginia can retain their home country'southward vehicle registration

Washington
Not-residents must register their vehicle subsequently becoming a Washington resident or if their abode country does non grant similar non-resident vehicle registration privileges to Washington residents.

Special requirements:

Military machine personnel on agile duty in Washington have the option of retaining their dwelling state registration or obtaining a Washington license and registration

Westward Virginia
Non-residents must register their vehicle after operating the vehicle in the country for more than than 30 days.

Special requirements:

Vehicle cannot be operated for commercial purposes
Home country vehicle registration must be current
Out-of-land college students are exempt from registering their vehicles if they have a valid home state license and registration
Armed services personnel stationed in West Virginia practise not have to register their vehicle if it is properly registered in their home country
Not-residents conducting business in the land and owning or operating a company vehicle must accept it registered

Wisconsin
Non-residents must register their vehicle after moving to Wisconsin or renting/leasing their vehicle to a Wisconsin resident.

Special requirements:

Registration is required if the non-resident'southward domicile land does not provide similar non-resident vehicle registration privileges to Wisconsin residents
Vehicle's license plate must indicate valid home state registration
Military machine personnel on active duty in Wisconsin tin can retain their home state's vehicle registration

Wyoming
Non-residents must annals their vehicle if employed in the state and not commuting from another state, vacationing in the state for more than 120 days, or establishing residency in Wyoming.

Special requirements:

Non-resident vehicles must display valid registration numbers or plates
Non-resident vehicles cannot be operated for proceeds or profit in Wyoming
Out-of-state college students do not have to register their vehicles in Wyoming
Non-residents transporting seasonally employed agricultural workers practise non have to annals their vehicles in the country
Military personnel on agile duty in Wyoming can retain their home state's car registration

Bottom Line

There are several situations where a machine tin can legally be registered in another state. Just doing so is against the police in some cases.

To avoid legal and financial consequences, do some inquiry before registering a vehicle in a country other than the one where you alive. Most states have motor vehicle registration laws online and provide the forms to perform motor vehicle registration transactions.

Too, go along in mind that your vehicle'southward registration impacts your insurance coverage. Check with your auto insurance company for clarification when your car is registered and insured in different states.

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