Car Registration

Vermont requires that all state residents annually register their vehicles with the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you are temporarily employed and living in the state for more than six months, you are considered a Vermont resident for the purposes of vehicle registration, so you must register. Out-of-state students attending college in Vermont are exempt.

With registering also comes titling. All vehicles 15 years or newer must be titled with the DMV except the following:

• Mopeds

• All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)

• Motorcycles with an engine size smaller than 300 cubic centimeters

• Tractors with a loaded weight of 6,099 pounds or less

• Trailers with an empty weight of 1,500 pounds or less

All vehicles being registered for the first time must have a safety inspection within 15 days of being registered and then every year thereafter. When you present your vehicle for inspection, you will need to show proof of minimum liability insurance.

New Vehicles

When registering for the first time you must complete a Vermont Registration, Tax and Title Application. The two-page form has confusion written all over it, so to assist you the state thankfully offers a five-page instruction manual that provides line-by-line instructions. If you are still stumped after consulting the manual, you are encouraged to call the DMV office at (802) 828-2000.

After completing this form, you then must submit it along with the following:

• Properly signed Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (your dealer supplies this).

• Bill of sale for tax purposes.

• New Vehicle Information Statement if purchased in Canada.

• All necessary registration and title fees (see below).

Used Vehicles

Just like registering a new vehicle, you must complete a Vermont Registration, Tax and Title Application. To assist you in filling this out, downloading the five-page instruction manual is strongly encouraged. Or for more direct assistance, you can call the DMV office at (802) 828-2000.

Along with this form you must also submit the following:

• Original previous Certificate of Title assigned to you by the person who sold you the vehicle.

• Odometer Disclosure Statement.

• All required registration and title fees (see below).

Used Vehicles without a Title

You must submit a completed Vermont Registration, Tax and Title Application along with the following:

• All required registration and title fees (see below).

• Original or a certified copy of the last registration certificate.

• Previous bill of sale that must include the make of the vehicle and its year, its vehicle identification number (VIN), mileage, purchase price, date of sale, and signature of the seller.

Renewal

The DMV will send you a renewal application about three weeks before your registration is set to expire. You then must sign it and either drop it off or mail it to the main DMV office. Be sure, when mailing, to include the renewal fee that is stated on the application. Or for megafast processing, you can use Vermont's new DMV Express option, which allows you to pay with a credit card and renew over the Internet.

Non-Operable Vehicle Registration

You ARE NOT required to pay registration fees if you take your vehicle off the road as nonoperable.

When you decide to return it to the road, you must re-register the vehicle by completing Vermont's registration application, making sure to check the renewal box in section 1A.

Titles and Loans

You will be immediately issued a title by mail if no loan exists on your vehicle. If, however, you do have a loan on your vehicle, the DMV will mail your title to the provider of your loan.

Title and Registration Fees

• Any certificate of title: $28

• Certificate of title after a transfer: $28

• Duplicate title: $28

• Corrected certificate of title: $28

• Registration for a gas-powered vehicle: $60

• Registration for a diesel-powered vehicle: $27

• Registration for a different-fueled vehicle: $104.25

• Registration for an electric-powered vehicle: $59

Mailing Address

• Department of Motor Vehicles

• 120 State St.

• Montpelier, VT 05603-0001

Read the Vermont DMV's registration FAQs for information about moving to another state, registering your ATV, going to the DMV's mobile locations, and more.