Registration requirements per State or Country

[Dead91silvia]

I have always wondered what every state is like. Even some of the country's have me a little curios.

I have only had a car registered in Washington state, but I would like to know what you guys need to tag your cars every year. This applys to all cars really. This might be a good tread for someone moving to a new state. For a while I was thinking of J or OK, but nether will happen at this time.

Washington (WA)
-All cars 25 years and newer have to have an Emissions (smog) test. OBD I cars get a sniffer up the tall pipe. OBDII cars get hooked to a scanner via OBDII port. NOTE: This is only required in some county's.
-Must have FRONT and REAR License plates with currant tabs on rear plate.
-Smog tests will skip every other year in some cases.
-No State inspections required unless car was totaled (by insurance and sold) or purchased with a bill of sale from Auto Wrecker or other party.
-There is more, but these are the basics, dont need all the technical stuff really.

I'll update thread as info comes in, just post in this tread and ask if you have a question. I'll try and do it alphabetical order.

[Bookem]

Living in the fascist state of Minnesota I'm quite surprised there isn't a statewide emissions testing, We just pay for tabs each year, depending on how new/old a vehicle is anywhere from $35-$105 a year.
North Dakota has pretty much the same setup for tabs each year. If I remeber correctly Texas you needed smog test every year, I kept Minnesota plates when I lived there though so I'm don't remember for sure.
I do remember when I lived in Washington I kept getting temporary registrations for a full year on my truck since it was not legal (small block in an S-10), then the next year I was in the clear since it wasn't and even year. All those states required front and rear plates but rarely enforced.

[Huffer]

Good luck trying to keep up with the various requirements of each state, there's a reason threads like these lose steam pretty quick. Here's a rundown on Ohio from me:

Ohio:
Some counties have a EPA (E-Check) requirement for cars over 5 years old, some don't. ECheck is free but if you fail it then you get 3 total shots to pass otherwise the car cannot be driven. You can get an exemption if you have paid a mechanic $300+ to fix the emissions problem.

Renewals on vehicle tags are 1 year, and can be set for whenever you want, but most usually do it on their birthday week.
Plates are to be shown front and rear, but some counties are less strict on this. I've run without a front plate for 4 years.

http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/

[Dead91silvia]

Good luck trying to keep up with the various requirements of each state, there's a reason threads like these lose steam pretty quick. Here's a rundown on Ohio from me:

Ohio:
Some counties have a EPA (E-Check) requirement for cars over 5 years old, some don't. ECheck is free but if you fail it then you get 3 total shots to pass otherwise the car cannot be driven. You can get an exemption if you have paid a mechanic $300+ to fix the emissions problem.

Renewals on vehicle tags are 1 year, and can be set for whenever you want, but most usually do it on their birthday week.
Plates are to be shown front and rear, but some counties are less strict on this. I've run without a front plate for 4 years.

http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/

I know, this will be a pain to do and do well, but I am really curios.

now I know with most of your inspections, there are things that will make a car fail. I think I sent a guy tail light sockets so he could pass. What else makes a car fail? We dont have that. You could have one working light on your car and you can still get your tabs.

[Huffer]

In Ohio, unless you're trying to get a salvage titled car on the road, you don't need any kind of inspection. A trooper can pull you over for non-working lights, but they don't test specifically for that. Only emissions. It's messed up.

[Okin DaVanh]

Things change like the weather around here, so I can say that at the moment, these 3 are the same for:
Massachusetts (MA)

-Must have FRONT and REAR License plates with current tabs on rear plate.
-Smog tests will skip every other year in some cases.
-No State inspections required unless car was totaled (by insurance and sold) (*For my state- Re-inspection required by State via Ma. State Police, in order to acquire appropriate title.

And then I'll add:
- Vehicle owner has within 7 days from registration, to have it emissions inspected.
- OBD II cars, get annual inspection. (96 and lower- Safety Inspection (more to add here).
-Must have valid insurance/inspection sticker and registration to be on the roadway. All three. No one, without the other. If your Insurance is not valid, your registration tags will NOT be renewed until you get proof.

I'll add more when I get a chance, but here's our states Registry of Motor Vehicles Website for fees, licensing etc...
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv/

[98legwag]

MD:

Must have front and rear tags.
Tags/registration must be renewed every 2 years.
Emissions every other year. OBDII cars are plugged in, OBDI cars get the sniffer.
State safety inspection when buy a used car.
Must have insurance to register a car or get tags.
Cars 20+ years or older can get historic tags. With historic tags there is no safety inspection or emissions test.

This just what I know of.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Wisconsin (WI)
-No smog test, no OBDII port test. No inspection at all, really. It may be different in bigger cities like Milwaukee, but Stevens Point & the Fox Valley don't require them.
-Must have FRONT and REAR License plates with currant tabs on rear plate.


That's it really. All you do is pay your 75 bucks yearly (90 for custom plates) and you receive the sticker in the mail.

[02_Legacy]

Michigan
- No emissions test or inspection at all.
- only rear License plates with currant tabs.
- I believe the price of renewal is based on the cars MSRP when it was new (not 100% sure on this though)

[98outbackpdx]

Oregon
Renewal is every 2 years except when you buy a brand new car you get 4 year tags 1 time.
Insurance required for when you get registration
front and rear plates with tags on both front and back required.
DEQ (SMOG) on renewal for Portland metro area and Medford areas only.
No safety check unless the vehicle has been totaled and fixed.

[TGX4776]

West Virginia

Once a year renewal is $30 or if you want to do it once every two years its $60.

No smog or OBD2

Yearly inspections are necessary but most places around me check for working lights and tire tread and that's all. The place i go doesn't even check my car, just writes me up.

it's $12 for the inspection and sticker

[prodriver1]

I live in Minnesota and love it due to the NO TESTS :smt023 , I dont have catalitic converter or ABS and my CEL is on all the time:), :smt023 and no one will know:)

[tjdzor]

Here in AK there are no inspections or such, plates go with vehicle, and registration date stays with them. Registrations every 2 years, ran about $150 when i did my Legacy.

In MT there are no inspections or such, new plates when vehicle changes hands or when they issue a new style or whatnot. Reg date retarts when title is transferred. Annual reg but vehicles 11 years old or older can be Lifetime registered for about 3x an annual reg.

[1839cc]

NC requires annual registration renewal for $28 (I think it's double for custom or special plates).

All vehicles must display rear plate only with current year sticker.

The vehicle must be inspected within 90 days prior to renewal. This will be safety inspection for pre-OBDII cars for $13.50 or so, and safety + emissions for OBDII for about $35. Not all counties require emissions testing.

If county/city vehicle tax is not paid, registration renewal will be blocked.