10 States That Allow You to Register a Car in Another State
Clearsurance.com recently released a guide to registering and insuring a vehicle in another state from where the policyholder lives.
In most cases, it’s illegal to register a car in a different state, but there are 10 states where it is permitted. Those states are as follows:
- California
- Delaware
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusets
- New York
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Pennsylvania
Even if it’s possible to register a car in a different state, drivers can not get insurance from a state different from where they live.
Address and Insurance
Drivers must get insurance in the state where they live. Insurance providers use several factors to calculate premiums. Some of those factors are as follows:
- Address
- Age
- Credit Score
- Driving History
- Vehicle Make and Age
Each of these factors, along with others, helps create a risk profile. Where the vehicle owner lives matters because risks and requirements vary depending on neighborhood and region.
State laws determine how much insurance and what type of insurance drivers need. Each state has minimum liability insurance requirements that affect insurance rates. Local traffic and crime rates make a difference in how much a driver pays for premiums.
Melanie Musson, a nationally recognized insurance expert with Clearsurance.com, explains the repercussions of illegally registering a car: “Because some areas are so much more expensive to register and insure a vehicle, drivers may be tempted to register in a different state. That’s insurance fraud and can lead to claims being denied.”
Insurance fraud is a serious problem and costs the public billions of dollars a year, so insurance providers are serious about prosecuting cases of fraud.
Address and Registration
Often, insurance companies will require that an insured vehicle be registered in the state where the driver lives. So, even if a vehicle owner could register a car in a different state, they may not be able to get insurance for it.
According to Clearsurance.com, it’s easier to register vehicles in some states than others when living in a different state. South Dakota is the easiest state to register in. Other states require that most of the driving be done in the state for the car to be registered there.
For example, a driver may live in Moorhead, Minnesota, but work in Fargo, North Dakota, have their children in sports in Fargo, and do most of their driving in North Dakota. In this situation, they may be able to make a case for registering their car there instead of in Minnesota.
Registration in a Different State
There are some scenarios where a driver may want to have their car registered and insured in a state other than where they live. They may split their time between two states. In that situation, they can typically register their car in either of the states. They may be required to spend at least one day more than half of each year living in the state before registering a car there.
College students may be able to have their car registered nd insured in their home state even if they spend more than half the year at college in a different state.
Bottom Line When Registering
For the vast majority of people, the rule is that they must register their car where it is insured, where they live.
Sometimes it’s permitted to register a car in a different state, but it doesn’t make sense except in special circumstances.
There’s no need to do things wrong and face legal and insurance consequences. Drivers can easily call their insurance provider, explain their situation, and find out how and where they should register their vehicle. Those with special conditions can ensure they register their vehicle in a way that works best and is right for them.
Read Clearsurance.com’s entire report here: Can I register my car in a different state than where I live?