Vehicle Registration in Canada | How to Register My New Car

Vehicle Registration in Canada

Sometimes information on how to register vehicles or get license plates is not readily accessible or available. So we decided to write an article about it. All vehicles must be registered before they are allowed to travel on the roads. It is very dangerous to drive a car that is not registered. It is against traffic rules and regulations in Canada and involves penalties.

What Is Car Registration?

Car Registration is the legal way to connect you to the car you own. By registering your vehicle with your local department of motor vehicles or transportation agency, you have legal rights over that car, and you can drive it without violating the law. As a rule, the registration is an official document that you carry in the car while driving.

What Documents Are Required for Car Registration

Before you can register your vehicle, there are some materials you’ll need to gather first, according to Your Mechanic. Make sure you have the following paperwork, in compliance with DMV standards, before moving forward with a first-time registration:

• Driver’s license or identification card
• Proof of insurance if you live in a state where it’s legally required
• Proof of sales tax payment if your state doesn’t offer sales tax exemptions for vehicle purchases
• Car title or signed lease agreement
• Proof of a passed safety inspection
• Proof of a passed smog test, depending on the age of the vehicle and the state
• Vehicle registration application form

If you’re looking to renew your registration rather than register for the first time, you’ll need a somewhat different set of materials including the following:

• Vehicle identification number, or VIN
• License plate number
• Driver’s license number
• Car insurance details
• Vehicle registration card

You should also be prepared to cover the cost of registration. For the most part, registration is relatively affordable, but the cost can vary significantly by state. Your local vehicle registration service should have the fees available for viewing so you know what’s expected beforehand.

The Registration Process

Once you have all the necessary materials as determined by your state requirements, it’s time to head to the department of motor vehicles (DMV). At the DMV, your first step is filling out a registration form. This is a form asking for a bit of personal information about you as a driver as well as information about the vehicle itself, including its VIN, make, model, etc. Once the form is filled out, you’ll have to present it to a worker along with all the other necessary aforementioned paperwork, according to Your Mechanic.

After submitting all the paperwork, you’ll have to pay the fee for registration. As mentioned before, the fee will vary quite a bit by state. Fortunately, most DMVs accept all forms of payment, so you can pay with a card, cash, or a check. Once the payment is complete, you’ll be given a registration sticker for your license plate. Apply this sticker to make it outwardly obvious that you have the proper registration.

When the registration process is complete, you’ll be set for a year or two depending on your state’s regulations. Eventually, you’ll have to renew your registration, but that process is significantly easier. Instead of going to the DMV, you can renew your registration by mail or online. In most cases, you don’t even have to remember when it’s time for your registration to be renewed as you’ll get a notice in the mail when the time comes.