How To Check Which Cars Are Registered In My Name

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All US states crave that you have a valid vehicle registration if yous want to legally drive. Typically, you're likewise required to carry the registration menu in your vehicle. If yous tin can't find your registration card, however, you can unremarkably bank check the registration condition online or past calling your state's section of motor vehicles. If your registration is nonetheless valid, replace your registration documents and then you accept the registration card to put in your vehicle. If your registration has expired or is near to its expiration engagement, on the other hand, you'll want to renew it before you bulldoze your motorcar over again.^[i]

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Check your registration card. When yous initially registered your vehicle, you would take gotten stickers to put on your license plates besides equally a bill of fare to continue in the vehicle (typically in the glove box). If you still have your registration card in your vehicle, it will tell you when your registration needs to be renewed.^[2]
- If your registration has been suspended, however, your registration card won't have this data. For case, some states will suspend your registration if you have an excessive number of unpaid parking tickets or other violations.^[3]
Tip: Most states require you to proceed your registration carte in your vehicle. If y'all've lost this card, contact your state's department of motor vehicles to find out how you can replace it.
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Review whatsoever renewal notice you get in the mail. About a month earlier your registration is set to expire, yous'll be sent a renewal notice letting you know your car's registration status and how to renew the registration. This notice will also include the appointment afterward which your registration will no longer exist valid.^[4]
- If you have unpaid parking tickets or toll violations, y'all may non be eligible to renew your registration until those are paid. Your renewal discover will provide instructions on how to take care of whatever outstanding items then you lot tin keep your registration electric current.
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Visit the website for your state department of motor vehicles. Search for "motor vehicle registration" and the proper noun of your land to find the correct website. Make certain you're on a government website. This information should be included somewhere either at the very top or very bottom of the abode folio.^[5]
- The extension for official authorities websites in most states is ".gov." Yet, some use different extensions.
- If you see a lot of ads on the page, you're definitely not on an official government website. Do not enter whatsoever personal information on whatsoever of these sites.
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Phone call the section if y'all don't have net access. If you aren't able to check your registration condition online, you can also discover out this information past calling your state'due south section of motor vehicles. Typically, there volition be a cost-free customer service number you can employ.^[six]
- The correct toll-free number will usually exist bachelor on the department's website. Most of these numbers are automated lines that are open 24/vii. If the line has hours of functioning, these will likewise be listed on the department's website.

1
Assemble your vehicle and driver's license data. If you've lost your registration bill of fare and need to replace it, y'all'll need information sufficient to identify your specific vehicle and prove that you are its lawful owner and operator. Documents or information you may need includes:^[vii]
- Your valid land driver's license
- Your vehicle's VIN
- Your license plate number
- Auto insurance information
2
Find out the fees for replacement documents. Nigh states charge a fee for replacement registration documents, although information technology'south usually less than what you paid for the initial registration. The amount of the fee unremarkably appears on the section's website, or y'all can call the department and notice out.^[viii]
- Expect the fees for a replacement registration carte du jour to be under $30. If your registration expires in less than half dozen months, the fee may be reduced.
3
Request replacement documents online. Search for the website for your land'south section of motor vehicles and find out if you tin society replacement documents online. Look for a registration page or tab, and so look for a link to replace documents. If your state allows you to society replacement documents online, you'll run into instructions on how to do that.^[ix]
- When ordering online, you'll typically need a major credit or debit carte du jour to pay whatever replacement fees.
4
Call the state department of motor vehicles if you can't social club online. If you don't have reliable internet access, or if your state doesn't allow you to request replacement registration documents online, you may be able to call the cost-free customer service number to order them. If you lot can't order replacements over the phone, an operator will tell you what you demand to do to become your registration card replaced.^[10]
- If y'all're able to order replacement documents over the phone, you'll typically need to provide a major credit or debit menu number to pay the fees.
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Visit a local department part if y'all want to make your request in person. Non all states let y'all to order replacement documents online or over the phone. However, even if they practice, you may feel more than comfortable ordering your replacement documents in person. If yous're not familiar with the location, yous can typically find an accost for the nearest department of motor vehicles office on the department's website.^[11]
- By ordering in person, you typically have more payment options. This tin can be helpful if you don't accept a major credit or debit carte.
- Another advantage of ordering a replacement in person is that you'll normally get your replacement correct away, rather than having to wait for it to come in the mail.
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Place your replacement registration card in your vehicle. If you lot social club your replacement card online or over the telephone, you'll typically get the replacement in the mail. You may have to wait a week or so for it to arrive. As before long as yous get it, put it in the glovebox of your vehicle.^[12]
- If you order a replacement online, some states may provide a digital copy that you can impress and place in your vehicle right abroad.
- Typically, if y'all become to a department office in person to social club replacement documents, yous'll get your replacement right away.
Tip: Make a photocopy of your registration menu and then that you don't have to pay to supplant it if you lose information technology once again. While some states may require you to have the original card in your vehicle, most will accept a legible photocopy as proof of registration.

1
Wait to receive a renewal notice in the mail service. Nearly states will ship you lot a renewal notice for your vehicle registration about a month before the engagement your registration expires. The notice includes information almost the renewal procedure and what documents and information y'all'll need.^[thirteen]
- Your renewal notice also tells you how much coin yous owe in taxes and registration fees and what methods of payment are accepted.
- Keep your renewal notice for your records until later on y'all've renewed your registration and have your new registration card and license plate stickers. Then you can throw it away.
Tip: If you don't receive a renewal notice, yous may want to double-check that your state's department of motor vehicles has the right address for you. Typically, you can observe out how much you owe in taxes and fees by visiting the section's website or calling its cost-free number.
2
Gather the information you'll need to renew your registration. In some states, all y'all need to renew your registration is a copy of your renewal discover. In other states, you lot may have to provide proof of insurance or submit your driver's license number.^[14]
- Any necessary documents will be listed on your renewal notice. If yous didn't become a renewal observe, you can probably find the same information on the website for your state's section of motor vehicles or past calling the department'southward cost-free number.
3
Complete whatsoever required vehicle inspections. Many states require vehicles to exist inspected each year before the registration tin can be renewed. The inspection confirms that your vehicle is safe to operate. If your vehicle doesn't pass inspection, the inspector volition tell you what yous need to fix so that it volition.^[15]
- If you alive in an urban area, you may besides exist required to become an emissions inspection earlier y'all can renew your registration. Older vehicles, including classic and antiquarian vehicles, are typically exempt from emissions inspections.
4
Renew your registration online if possible. Most states allow you to renew your registration online, provided you exercise then earlier your registration has expired. If your expiration date is coming upwards inside a week or 2, nevertheless, it makes sense to go renew your registration in person. Your card and stickers may non arrive in the mail before your former registration is expired.^[16]
- Your renewal notice may include a PIN or other code for y'all to enter when renewing your registration online. If you've lost your renewal notice, however, you may nevertheless be able to look up your information and renew online.
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Visit your local department of motor vehicles office if you lot can't renew online. You tin can e'er renew your registration at the nearest role of your state's section of motor vehicles. Notwithstanding, proceed in mind that lines may exist long, especially towards the stop of the calendar month when a lot of people's registrations are due to elapse.^[17]
- Typically, if yous renew your registration in person, you'll get your registration carte du jour and stickers immediately. This can be an reward if you waited until the concluding minute and your old registration is expiring within the next mean solar day or two.
- It'southward a good idea to phone call ahead and find out when the office is to the lowest degree busy or if you tin schedule an appointment, especially if yous live in a more densely populated surface area.
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Pay your registration taxes and fees. When you renew your vehicle registration each twelvemonth, most states charge a registration fee as well as various taxes for road use and law enforcement. The total you owe will be listed on your renewal discover, or you lot can find out on the section'due south website or by calling the toll-free number.^[18]
- Larger, heavier vehicles typically pay more than road-utilise tax than lighter vehicles.
- Some states may offering discounts if y'all have a fuel-efficient or electrical vehicle.
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Wait to receive your new registration card and plate stickers. If you renew your registration online or over the phone, yous'll unremarkably get your new registration card and plate stickers in the mail. It may take 5 to 10 business days for y'all to really receive them.^[19]
- When you become your new registration carte du jour, destroy your old registration bill of fare and put the new one in your vehicle'south glove box. Place the stickers on your license plate immediately.