Registering an out-of-state (and never in-state) car...
June 25, 2011 3:34 PM Subscribe
How to register an out-of-state car that will likely never visit the state in question...?
We're moving from CT to WA. Our three cars all have CT registrations. Two of our cars will be shipped there, but the third will stay in CT for my son to use at college.
However, my reading of the rules in WA is that all three will need to be registered in WA, since we'll all be WA residents. My son's car won't, however, be shipped to WA and back - so how do I get it registered there?
First - does it need to be registered in WA?
Second - how to do this if needed?
Advice, thoughts? DMV websites don't seem to cover this.
We're moving from CT to WA. Our three cars all have CT registrations. Two of our cars will be shipped there, but the third will stay in CT for my son to use at college.
However, my reading of the rules in WA is that all three will need to be registered in WA, since we'll all be WA residents. My son's car won't, however, be shipped to WA and back - so how do I get it registered there?
First - does it need to be registered in WA?
Second - how to do this if needed?
Advice, thoughts? DMV websites don't seem to cover this.
Do they actually need to see the car for it to be registered? When I moved here (not WA) I just went to the DMV and filled out a form and that was it.
posted by J. Wilson at 3:46 PM on June 25, 2011
posted by J. Wilson at 3:46 PM on June 25, 2011
Response by poster: @puritycontrol: my understanding was that college students were necessarily residents of their parents' state (for things like cars, taxes, etc.) - can anyone point me to anything about this?
@J.Wilson: Thanks - I will check - I thought it would need inspection, emissions, etc.
posted by blue_wardrobe at 4:12 PM on June 25, 2011
@J.Wilson: Thanks - I will check - I thought it would need inspection, emissions, etc.
posted by blue_wardrobe at 4:12 PM on June 25, 2011
The car will, at some point, need an emissions inspection in WA. I don't know about upon initial registration (all of the cars I owned in WA were purchased new in WA), but there does come a time that you have to take it to a state-authorized inspection facility to get an emissions certificate. If it's not a new car, it probably will need it immediately (I forget the exact age requirements, but IIRC they start needing it pretty early in the life of the car). I don't really see any way to get around that.
I will say that I found the WA Department of Licensing very friendly and helpful over email when I sent them questions. I'm sure they could clear this up for you.
posted by sharding at 4:20 PM on June 25, 2011
I will say that I found the WA Department of Licensing very friendly and helpful over email when I sent them questions. I'm sure they could clear this up for you.
posted by sharding at 4:20 PM on June 25, 2011
Unless WA has some rule to the contrary, I'd do what puritycontrol suggests. First of all, I'm almost sure that only full-time students are allowed to keep out of state registered cars in CT. If he ever wanted to go part-time for a while, he'd have to re-register it anyway. Second, and perhaps more importantly, I wouldn't want to have to drive past all those speed traps on 95 in an out of state car for four years!
posted by DestinationUnknown at 4:32 PM on June 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by DestinationUnknown at 4:32 PM on June 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh - I'm wrong. The part-time student thing I was thinking of applies to CT licenses, not registrations. But in the quick search of the CT DMV site I just did, I don't see anything that says students can have out of state registrations at all. It seems to say that anyone who lives here has to have a CT registration. Maybe I'm just not seeing it. But I'd call and ask, just to make sure.
posted by DestinationUnknown at 4:45 PM on June 25, 2011
posted by DestinationUnknown at 4:45 PM on June 25, 2011
I don't think you need to worry about this at all. You don't even need to transfer the title or anything. I own cars registered in two states and DC right now, and I'm only a resident of one of those states, but the usual drivers live in the other places.
I think states worry more about out of state registrations for low fees, rather than residency of the owner when the car is driven in that state.
On the other hand, I made three cross country drives (one with only one hotel stop) when I was in college. College students need to do things like that so they can tell there grandkids stories some day that don't involve sex or drugs.
posted by Webnym at 7:14 PM on June 25, 2011
I think states worry more about out of state registrations for low fees, rather than residency of the owner when the car is driven in that state.
On the other hand, I made three cross country drives (one with only one hotel stop) when I was in college. College students need to do things like that so they can tell there grandkids stories some day that don't involve sex or drugs.
posted by Webnym at 7:14 PM on June 25, 2011
Best answer: RCW 46.16.028
(3) A resident of the state shall register under chapters 46.12 and 46.16 RCW a vehicle to be operated on the highways of the state. New Washington residents shall be allowed thirty days from the date they become residents as defined in this section to procure Washington registration for their vehicles. This thirty-day period shall not be combined with any other period of reciprocity provided for in this chapter or chapter 46.85 RCW.
(emphasis added)
Not admitted to practice in Washington state, but if you're never going to drive it there, it appears that you don't need to register it there.
posted by mygoditsbob at 5:45 AM on June 26, 2011
(3) A resident of the state shall register under chapters 46.12 and 46.16 RCW a vehicle to be operated on the highways of the state. New Washington residents shall be allowed thirty days from the date they become residents as defined in this section to procure Washington registration for their vehicles. This thirty-day period shall not be combined with any other period of reciprocity provided for in this chapter or chapter 46.85 RCW.
(emphasis added)
Not admitted to practice in Washington state, but if you're never going to drive it there, it appears that you don't need to register it there.
posted by mygoditsbob at 5:45 AM on June 26, 2011
Response by poster: @mgib: I like specificity. Thanks.
posted by blue_wardrobe at 12:01 PM on June 26, 2011
posted by blue_wardrobe at 12:01 PM on June 26, 2011
As someone who, in college, took a WA-registered car out of state to the midwest, as a stand-in for the emissions testing you can take two routes.
First, some states that require emissions testing have reciprocity agreements, and second, there is a form your son can get notarized that states the car is resident out of WA.
posted by bookdragoness at 5:57 AM on June 27, 2011
First, some states that require emissions testing have reciprocity agreements, and second, there is a form your son can get notarized that states the car is resident out of WA.
posted by bookdragoness at 5:57 AM on June 27, 2011
« Older Help me identify this piece of classical music | But I didn't get anyone pregnant when I was 5! Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by puritycontrol at 3:42 PM on June 25, 2011 [1 favorite]