As a general rule, you cannot legally drive a Vehicle on public roads in the US without a registration certificate (RC). It is a punishable offense to drive a car without an RC, and you can face both monetary and legal penalties if you were stopped by a traffic officer. Therefore, the first thing that you should do after buying a new vehicle is to register it with the DMV to get a certificate of ownership. 

However, the registration process can be complicated if you do not have all the required documentation. There are different things that you should consider to make the registration process easy. Here is a complete guide to the vehicle registration process. 

Documentation Required

When you buy a car, you should provide specific details to the DMV to register it in your name. Whether you register the vehicle on your own or enlist the services of a third party, you must provide the following information right away. This should be done to keep everything organized and manageable. 

• Your full name
• Contact details, license, and proof of auto insurance
• Bill of sale agreement
• Chassis number
• Engine number
• Body type 
• Make 
• Fuel type
• Model 
• Vehicle color
• Manufacturer Details
• Title of vehicle provided by the seller

You must ensure that all the details you provide are correct, otherwise, you may experience delays in getting your RC if you provide wrong information. You must remember that all the details you provide are verified first before your registration certificate is processed. More importantly, you should know that you will pay a vehicle registration fee to obtain an RC.  

Hire an Independent Agent

The process of registering a vehicle is time-consuming, which can affect your day-to-day work schedule. However, the good news is that you can enlist the services of a reliable agent who can handle the task on your behalf. Many new car owners in California opt for this option to avoid the long lines at the DMV. So, if you want help with DMV registration, you only need to call a local agent, and they will come to your place and collect the required documentation to register your car. The advantage of enlisting the services of independent agents is that they provide same-day services, and they know how to deal with DMV workers. When dealing with the right agent, you can get peace of mind and time to carry out other tasks and go about your day as you normally would. 

Find a Car Dealership that Handles the Registration Process

If you want to make your life easy, you can buy a vehicle from a car dealership and they can handle the process for you. The advantage of dealing with car dealerships is that they have links with the DMV offices, and they can quickly complete the registration process. Dealers also know all the documentation required, and the other plus is that they would have all the paper at hand if you buy the car from them. You only need to provide additional documents like your ID, and contact details. However, you must know that this service comes with additional charges, so you should make an informed decision.   

Apply Online

With advances in technology, it is possible to register your car online. Postal service is another option, but it usually takes time before you get your registration certificate. However, you must check if the online registration service is available in your state. You can contact your local DMV office to get more details about this facility.    

Make Sure the New Owner Registers the Car

When you sell your car to another person, make sure they register it into their name before the deadline. Vehicle registration rules in different states are almost similar, and a new vehicle owner should register it within 30 days after buying. If the new buyer fails to register the car, it remains in your name, and should anything happen, you will be liable. All tickets for various traffic offenses will come to you if the person who buys your car does not change ownership. Therefore, you should make a follow up to ensure that the new vehicle owner registers it into their name. 

Amidst all the excitement of buying a new car, don’t forget to obtain a registration certificate before you start driving it around. You need to register the vehicle at the DMV to become the legal owner. This process is critical as it is designed to curb traffic offenses on the roads. Registering a new car with the DMV is simple, but it can be time-consuming since it involves many things. You need to get proper documentation of the automobile to change ownership and obtain an RC. If you have a busy work schedule, you can hire an agent to register the car for you or leave the task to the car dealership.

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