What’s something we all have the same amount of and don’t like to give away irresponsibly? Time.
Whether we like it or not, we all have 365 days in a year and 24 hours in a day. And each of us has a responsibility to figure out the best way to utilize the time that we have.
Most of us spend it with family and friends, but many of us also dedicate time to work, traveling, pursuing passions, and just simply relaxing. These are all acceptable ways to spend our time—some of us probably even do it without complaining.
But one thing that most of us do complain about is spending time at the DMV. Despite some of our best efforts to avoid it, the DMV is the one place we all have to go to, and it’s frustrating.
We have to wait in long lines, stand in crowded waiting rooms, and deal with tiresome processes. And sometimes, on an unfortunate day, we have to tolerate uninformed employees.
Going to the DMV is arguably one of the worst places where we can spend our precious, limited time. But the DMV can seem like the only place to complete essential tasks like renewing our vehicle registration.
When our registration expires, we have no choice but to renew it. However, we do have a choice about how we renew it, and thankfully, that doesn’t have to involve the DMV.
What is vehicle registration?
Before we explain how to renew vehicle registration, we have to understand what this type of registration is. Whenever we purchase a motor vehicle, we must connect that vehicle to us. Otherwise, there’s no real proof that we’re the owners of it.
This concept applies across every U.S. state. Regardless of the city we live in, we have to register our motor vehicles. It’s a simple law of the land. And if we fail to follow it, we’ll face penalty fees and have our motor vehicle sent to an impoundment or tow lot.
When should you register a vehicle?
There are a couple of different scenarios in which states require vehicle registration.
The first one is straightforward. As soon as we buy a car, we have to register it. If any of us buy a motor vehicle through a dealership, we can usually rely on that dealership to register the vehicle and even provide the title.
However, if we decide to go through a private dealer, we have to handle the registration on our own. And unfortunately, this process requires a trip to the DMV.
But what if we haven’t bought a new car and have simply moved to a different state? In this situation, we still have to get vehicle registration. The only exceptions are for active military and full-time students.
If any of us fall into this category, we can skip the registration process once we move to a new state. However, for the rest of us, vehicle registration is mandatory.
How do you register a motor vehicle?
If we’re in a situation where we have to handle our registration, the DMV will require us to go through a list of steps. We can complete those steps in person, online, or by mail. However, some states might require in-person registration if it’s our first time registering the motor vehicle.
Either way, the route we choose will likely require us to provide some documents along the way. More often than not, we’ll need to give the DMV the following information:
- The vehicle registration application
- Driver’s license
- Car title
- Proof of the sales tax payment
- Proof of insurance
- Proof that the vehicle passed a safety inspection
- Proof that the vehicle passed a smog test
Of course, some of these documents might be unnecessary, depending on the state that each of us lives in. So, it’s essential to check the DMV’s website for the correct information.
How much does it cost to register a vehicle?
Like most DMV services, it does cost money to register a vehicle. But the registration fees differ across states, and the way states calculate the final cost varies as well.
For example, some state DMVs keep things simple and require a flat registration fee for every motor vehicle. However, other states prefer to look at a few factors to determine the appropriate cost. Some DMVs consider the vehicle’s age, fuel efficiency, weight, horsepower, and current value, as well as the number of motor vehicles that we already have registered underneath our name.
New York, for instance, is one of those states that consider a set of factors. Instead of charging a flat fee, the DMVs in New York determine the registration costs by assessing a motor vehicle’s weight. The DMVs in Connecticut are the same way. They charge $80, but ultimately, the final price varies according to the vehicle.
It’s important to go on a state’s DMV website to understand the costs of registering a vehicle. But once we know that information, we can typically pay the fee using a credit card, debit card, check, or money order.
How to renew vehicle registration through the DMV
After we’ve done the unavoidable and registered our vehicle through the DMV, time will pass by, and we’ll eventually have to renew our registration.
Each state’s DMV site will explain the specific steps for renewing registration in person, online, and by mail. However, generally, the steps only differ if we decide to do it online or by mail.
For example, if we opt for online renewal, we might have to provide some of the following documents:
- License plate number
- Vehicle identification number
- Driver’s license number
- Current vehicle registration card
- Car insurance
However, if we decide to do it by mail, we may have to verify our vehicle and personal information on the renewal form. Then, we’ll have to provide the renewal fee and the other necessary paperwork by mail.
Both options seem easy and straightforward. But if any of us has experience with the DMV, we know that nothing with this organization is ever straightforward. The DMV is always a headache, which is why we all hate spending time at it.
The good news, though, is that we don’t have to spend time at the DMV to renew our vehicle registration. There’s a much simpler option that we can choose.
How to quickly renew vehicle registration
If we don’t want to waste our time going through the DMV, we can quickly renew our registration online with Barry Risk Management, Inc.
With knowledgeable representatives that are eager to help, Barry Risk Management, Inc. has the capacity to speed up the renewal process and get the job done quickly and easily.
There are no long lines, confusing paperwork, or trips to the nearest Post Office. The agents at Barry Risk Management, Inc. help complete everything. And they do it all online. There’s no need to ever leave the house.
For time-saving tools to renew your vehicle registration, contact a representative with Barry Risk Management, Inc. today!
