Out-of-State Car Registration: Moving to a New State

When you move, you generally title and register your car in your new state. This guide covers 12 states: Colorado gives new residents 90 days to register, while Mississippi sets a 30-day deadline and adds a $250 penalty for missing it.

Your new state’s rules can affect the steps and charges involved in registering your car. Deadlines for states outside this guide are not covered here, so check the official motor vehicle page for your new state.

1. Check the deadlineRegister your car by the deadline your new state sets.
2. Check the chargesCheck whether your move triggers a tax, inspection, or handling fee.
3. Confirm the requirementsUse your state’s official page to confirm rules not covered here.

Key Takeaways

• Register your car by the deadline your new state sets.
• Check whether your move triggers a tax, inspection, or handling fee.
• Use your state’s official page to confirm rules not covered here.

The Short Answer for Movers

When you move to a new state, plan to title and register your car there, then follow that state’s new-resident rules. The requirements covered here include registration deadlines, taxes, inspections, and handling fees.

Your previous registration does not explain what your new state requires. For details on charges across the country, see Vehicle Registration Fees by State.

New-Resident Deadlines

Among the states covered here, Colorado and Mississippi give a specific deadline for new residents to register a car. Colorado’s deadline is 90 days after you become a resident; Mississippi’s is 30 days.

If you miss Mississippi’s deadline, you owe standard late penalties plus an additional $250 penalty. Mississippi also requires you to register a bought vehicle within 30 business days of purchase.

Deadlines for other states are not covered here. Check the official motor vehicle page for the state where you now live.

Taxes New Residents May Owe

Your move can trigger a tax or transaction charge, and the amount depends on your new state’s rule. The charges below apply to the situations named in each state’s rule.

In Georgia, new residents registering a car they already own pay TAVT at 3% of fair market value. In Kentucky, buying a car or bringing one into the state triggers a 6% motor vehicle usage tax on the retail price or trade-in value.

In Maryland, the excise tax for titling is 6.5% of fair market value, with a $41.60 minimum. If your car was previously titled in another state, you receive credit for tax paid there, with a $100 minimum.

In New Mexico, the motor vehicle excise tax is 4% of the price paid. You are exempt if you bought the car for personal use at least 30 days before moving there.

In North Carolina, the highway-use tax for new residents is 3% of the car’s value, capped at $250. In South Carolina, new residents pay a one-time $250 infrastructure maintenance fee per vehicle. A typical new resident pays $305 in total for the fee, title, and registration, plus county property tax.

Inspections and Other Steps

Some states require an inspection or charge a handling fee when you bring in an out-of-state car. Check the specific rule before you complete your title or registration transaction.

In West Virginia, cars must pass a safety inspection every 24 months at a licensed station. New residents have 10 days after titling to complete the inspection.

Washington may require a Washington State Patrol VIN inspection for a vehicle coming from another state. In Louisiana, an $8 handling fee applies to transactions such as a new or out-of-state title, transfer of ownership, or mortgage recording. The fee does not apply to plain renewals.

If Your New State Is Not Shown

If your new state is not covered here, check its official motor vehicle page for the rules that apply to you. Deadlines and requirements for other states are not covered in this guide.

Search the state page for new-resident registration, title requirements, taxes, and inspections. For out of state vehicle registration or instructions on how to register a car from another state, use the page for the state where you now live to confirm the process and any charges.

New-Resident Rules by State

The table below summarizes the 12 states covered here. Use the linked state page for details on the rule that applies to your car.