Driving without Registration

To drive legally in the United States, you must not only have a valid driver’s license, but also register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in your area. While most drivers dread the yearly registration fees and taxes, driving without registration can be far more costly in the long run.

From a legal perspective, it is important to register your vehicle in order to prevent punishment. However, the registration process is also essential for many personal benefits. Vehicle registration fees are used to fund county roads and ensure state highways are properly maintained. In addition, when you register your vehicle, the state issues you a unique license plate number that can be used to identify your vehicle if your vehicle is ever stolen.

So what happens if you decide not to register your vehicle? First and foremost, you will have no way to prove you paid all the fees and taxes that are required to purchase a vehicle and drive it legally. As a result, you may receive a citation if you are stopped by a police officer while driving without registration.  You may also have difficulties obtaining auto insurance if you do not have proof your vehicle is registered.

It is important to know that your vehicle registration is not permanent, and must be renewed annually. If your vehicle is not registered by the specified deadline, you may receive a citation for allowing your registration to expire.

You should always have proof of registration when you are operating a vehicle. In fact, most state laws require drivers to carry or display registration documents in their vehicles at all times. Although driving without proof of registration is a less serious offense than driving without registration, you can still be cited for the violation.

The penalties for failing to register your vehicle vary from state to state, but can include fines of several hundred dollars or more, as well as tax penalties and late fees—even if you are not caught driving without registration. If you do receive a ticket, you will be responsible for these penalties, as well as a citation fee. Your license will also be suspended until your vehicle is properly registered. In some cases, your auto insurance rates may increase or your policy may be cancelled altogether. 

Although registering your vehicle on time each year is the only way to avoid the penalties of driving without registration, obtaining legal representation can help minimize them if you are already facing charges. Contact an experienced traffic attorney in your area today to discuss your case.

States and Cities:
AK	Alaska, Anchorage	LA	Louisiana, New Orleans	OH	Ohio, Cincinnati
AL	Alabama, Montgomery	MA	Massachusetts, Boston	OK	Oklahoma, Tulsa
AR	Arkansas, Little Rock	MD	Maryland, Baltimore	OR	Oregon, Portland
AZ	Arizona, Phoenix	ME	Maine, Portland	PA	Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
CA	California, Los Angeles	MI	Michigan, Detroit	RI	Rhode Island, Providence
CO	Colorado, Denver	MN	Minnesota, Duluth	SC	South Carolina, Charleston
CT	Connecticut, Hartford	MO	Missouri, Branson	SD	South Dakota, Sioux Falls
DE	Delaware, Wilmington	MS	Mississippi, Jackson	TN	Tennessee, Nashville
FL	Florida, Orlando	MT	Montana, Bozeman	TX	Texas, Houston
GA	Georgia, Atlanta	NC	North Carolina, Charoltte	UT	Utah, Salt Lake City
HI	Hawaii, Honolulu	ND	North Dakota, Fargo	VT	Vermont, Burlington
IA	Iowa, Des Moines	NE	Nebraska, Omaha	VA	Virginia, Richmond
ID	Idaho, Boise	NH	New Hampshire, Portsmouth	WA	Washington, Seattle
IL	Illinois, Chicago	NJ	New Jersey, Newark	WI	Wisconsin, Milwaukee
IN	Indiana, Indianapolis	NM	New Mexico, Albuquerque	WV	West Virginia, Charleston
KS	Kansas, Kansas City	NV	Nevada, Las Vegas	WY	Wyoming, Cheyenne
KY	Kentucky, Lexington	NY	New York, New York	DC	Washington DC