what is car registration

Vehicle registration is a process that officially certifies that a vehicle can be driven on public roads and connects a vehicle to both a state and an owner. In the United States, car owners must register their vehicles with their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or transportation department when buying a vehicle, moving to another state, or renewing their registration before it expires. The registration process involves providing some personal information and details on the car and paying a registration fee. The costs of registration vary state by state and generally range from $30 to $50. The registration certificate and license plates help identify vehicle owners, show proof of registration, grant driving and parking privileges, and provide data when tracking a criminal or assessing taxes. The registration expires after a year or two depending on the state, and it is the owners responsibility to keep it current. Penalties for not registering a vehicle range in the hundreds of dollars. To register a car, one typically needs to show title or lien information, a bill of sale, and proof of insurance. Car registration and title are necessary documents, but they serve different purposes. A car’s registration proves that the car is cleared to legally drive, while a car title establishes the legal owner of a vehicle.