Top General Requirements

Registration Renewal

If you need to keep your car current but you are not applying for a new Massachusetts registration, see our section on registration renewals.

First-Time Registration

First timers must go in person to the nearest full-service Registry of Motor Vehicle Branch (RMV) branch if you have recently:

• Purchased a used vehicle

• Moved to Massachusetts

• Changed ownership on a vehicle

Residents applying for first-time registration will find plenty of useful info on this page. But you should note that a recent change in ownership also requires a title transfer. Registration and titling can be done simultaneously. For more info, see our page on title transfers.

If you recently moved to Massachusetts, you’ll also need to apply for a state driver’s license.

NOTE:The RMV does not issue temporary registration plates because there is no grace period for unregistered vehicle or trailers.

Transferring Registration

If you simply need to transfer your registration―because you already own a vehicle or trailer and you either bought a new vehicle or trailer from a dealer or you bought a used vehicle or trailer from a private party―you have seven days from the date you get rid of your previous vehicle to register the newly acquired one. For more info on making the transfer, see the state site.

Annual and Biennial Registration

Depending on the type of plates, renewal must take place annually or biennially. Scroll down on the state’s registration fees page to see which applies to you. Annual renewal is marked with an A, biennial with a B.

Top Get Insurance

To register the car you’ll to need to obtain an active insurance policy from a state-licensed auto insurance agent. Have the agent complete and stamp your Application for Registration and Title (RMV-1), and include this paperwork with the documents you’ll submit to the RMV. For more info on state requirements or to price auto insurance policies, visit our Insurance Center.

Top Prepare the Paperwork

If you purchased a used or new car from a dealership the paperwork was probably done for you. Check to be sure the dealer has titled and registered the vehicle properly. If you’d like more info on the titling process, go to our Title Transfers page.

If your paperwork wasn’t taken care of for you, or if you need to register an out-of-state vehicle, or if you recently moved to the state, read the following in preparation for your visit to the nearest full-service RMV office to register your car.

For those who haven’t settled on a car yet, consider investing in a vehicle history report to find out more about the background of your potential purchase.

Out-of-State Vehicles

To convert the registration for an out-of-state vehicle, do the following:

1. Complete an Affidavit in Support for Exemption from Sales or Use Tax for a Motor Vehicle Purchased Outside of Massachusetts (MVU-29) You’ll need to pick one up at any full-service RMV branch office.
2. Have your MA licensed insurance agent complete, stamp and sign your Application for Registration and Title {RMV-1) after you obtain an active insurance policy. For those with a lien against the vehicle, you must surrender your out-of-state registration rather than your title. Therefore, include the lienholder info and your out-of-state title number on the RMV-1.
3. Finish completing the registration application and then sign it.
4. Gather your out-of-state title (if you don’t have a lienholder).
5. Gather your current out-of-state registration if your car is exempt from titling because of its age or if you have a lienholder.

Cars Purchased from a Massachusetts Dealer

1. Have the dealer give you a completed Application for Registration and Title (RMV-1). You’ll be taking care of registration and titling simultaneously.
2. Have a state-licensed insurance agent stamp and sign the above application after you purchase an active auto insurance policy.
3. Sign the completed application.
4. If the car is new, gather the Certificate of Origin. If it’s model year is 1980 or newer obtain the previous owner’s title. If the car has never been titled, obtain the bill of sale and proof of previous registration.
5. To use the previous owner’s title or the Certificate of Origin to register the car and perform a title transfer, make sure the sales date, odometer reading and purchase price are documented on the back. Sign the back and also get the signature of either the dealer or the previous owner(s).

Cars Purchased from a Non-Dealer

1. Once you purchase an active auto insurance policy from a state-licensed insurance agent, have the agent complete and stamp your Application for Registration and Title (RMV-1). If there is a lien against the car be sure you include the lienholder information on the application.
2. Essentially you are taking care of the title and registration at once, so be sure you have the seller enter the mileage on the application when he signs and hand prints his name and date.
3. Sign, date, and hand print the application once you are sure everything has been filled out correctly. Also be prepared to submit the previous owner’s Certificate of Title or the previous registration and bill of sale if your car was built in 1980 or earlier. The bill of sale will need to display the purchase price.

Top Calculate the Fees

Registration fees can by plate type so it’s best to look through the state’s comprehensive fee chart listing various types of RMV plates and fees.

First-Time Fees

If you are registering the vehicle in your name and/or in the state for the first time, chances are you are also in need of transferring the title. To do this at the same time you apply for or transfer the registration, expect to pay a $75 title fee and the applicable sales tax if you purchased the vehicle. See our page on title transfers for more information.

Top Go to the DMV

Take all of your paperwork and the total fees to the nearest full-service RMV branch office. Upon completing the process, you’ll receive a registration certificate while at the office.

License Plates

You will also receive new Massachusetts plates you must display on your vehicle. For info on obtaining vanity or specialty plates (disabled drivers, antique cars, etc.) see our section on License Plates & Placards. To further customize your look by displaying for example your devotion to the Red Sox or an environmental group, shop for cool license plate frames online.

Mandatory Vehicle Inspections

Seven days from the date you register your car, you must obtain a vehicle inspection sticker. For more details on this inspection see our page on emissions. To locate the nearest inspection and emissions repair station, consult the state site.

Top Affix Your Sticker

With your plates, you’ll receive a year-of-expiration decal for the rear plate. Follow the instructions that come with the sticker for affixing it.

Top Get a Tax Deduction

Figuring out tax deductions can be tricky. So if you have questions, call on a tax attorney for expert advice.

Top Safely Get on Your Way

Now that you are well on your way to getting you car registered, consider making the vehicle a safe a ride as possible.

You can start by making sure your car is dependable, and a mechanic you can trust and an after-market auto warranty should help you accomplish that. Also check out a roadside assistance program that suits your budget. Typically, these are a great investment because they offer the convenience of getting you back on the road quickly if your car breaks down or if you get a flat.

There are also a number of inexpensive extras you can buy online to increase your chances of a safer driving experience. These include hands-free headsets and the latest in child safety seats. You might also look into buying a car emergency kit for those unexpected situations.

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