Motorcycle Registration in Massachusetts

Before you can ride a motorcycle in Massachusetts, you must register it with the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).

Below you'll find the information you need to register your motorcycle after becoming a new resident AND following a purchase.

Looking for instructions on how to renew your motorcycle registration? Head over to our MA registration renewal guide for more!

New Residents of Massachusetts

After establishing Massachusetts residency, you'll have 30 days to register your motorcycle.

BEFORE going in to transfer your registration, you'll need to do both of the following:

• Buy Massachusetts motorcycle insurance.
• Have your insurance agent sign your Application for Registration and Title (Form TTLREG100).

You can finish applying for your MA motorcycle registration by heading to your local RMV office with:

• A completed and signed Application for Registration and Title (Form TTLREG100).
  • If there is a lien on the motorcycle, include the lienholder's information on the application.
• One of the following sales tax documents:
  • If you owned your motorcycle for:
    • More than 6 months prior to your move: A completed Affidavit in Support for Exemption from Sales or Use Tax for Motor Vehicles Purchased Outside of Massachusetts (Form MVU-29) to qualify for sales tax exemption.
    • 6 months or less before moving: A bill of sale to determine the amount of MA sales tax you need to pay.
• Proof of MA motorcycle insurance.
• Proof of ownership, such as the:
  • Out-of-state title.
  • Registration IF a lienholder holds the title.
• A Power of Attorney from your leasing company, if applicable.
• Payment for the $20 registration fee PLUS any other applicable fees.

After registering your motorcycle, you have 7 days to have it inspected at a certified inspection station. For more information on inspections, jump to our MA Vehicle Inspections guide.

Registering Your MA Motorcycle

The process to register your motorcycle with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles varies depending on whether you're:

• Applying for a new registration.
• Transferring an existing registration to a new motorcycle.

If you're applying for a new motorcycle registration, the process varies further by whether you bought it from either a:

• Dealer; OR
• Private seller.

Below you'll find the steps required for each situation.

New Application—Dealer Purchases

To begin the registration process, you'll need to:

• Ask the dealer to complete an Application for Registration and Title (Form TTLREG100).
  • If there is a lien, include the lienholder information on this form.
• Purchase Massachusetts motorcycle insurance.
  • The insurance agent will need to sign and stamp your registration application.

Once these steps have been completed, complete your registration application by providing the following items at your local RMV:

• The completed and signed Application for Registration and Title (Form TTLREG100).
• Proof of MA motorcycle insurance.
• A bill of sale.
• The appropriate proof of ownership:
  • New motorcycles: Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin.
  • Used motorcycles: Previous certificate of title WITH a completed Dealer Re-Assignment form.
    • If the bike's age exempts it from needing a title, provide its previous registration instead.
• Payment for sales tax due (6.25% of the purchase price).
• The $20 registration fee AND any other applicable fees.

After you have registered your motorcycle, you'll have 7 days to have a safety inspection completed at a certified inspection station. Our Vehicle Inspections guide has more.

New Application—Private Sales

After buying a motorcycle from a private seller, there are a couple things to do BEFORE registering with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

You'll need to:

• Acquire MA motorcycle insurance.
• Have insurance agent sign the Application for Registration and Title (Form TTLREG100).

Then, you can apply for registration by submitting the following at your local RMV office:

• A completed and signed Application for Registration and Title (Form TTLREG100).
• A proof of ownership, such as:
  • The motorcycle's properly assigned and signed title, to include the odometer reading and sales price.
    • If you can't include the sales price on the title, submit a bill of sale in addition to the title.
  • The Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin.
  • A bill of sale AND the motorcycle's previous registration, IF the bike is exempt from titling because of its age.
• An odometer disclosure statement, if there isn't space on the title.
• Proof of motorcycle insurance.
• Payment for the:
  • $20 registration fee.
  • 6.25% sales tax.
  • Other applicable fees.

Within 7 days of the registration date, you'll need to have your motorcycle inspected at a MA certified inspection station. For more, check out our page on inspections in Massachusetts.

Transferring Motorcycle Registration

In Massachusetts, you may transfer your existing motorcycle registration to a newly-purchased motorcycle as long as:

• You're at least 18 years old.
• The registration on your existing motorcycle is still active.
• The owners listed on the current registration will not change.
• Both motorcycles cost the same amount to register.

You'll need to complete your transfer within 7 days of selling or disposing of your old motorcycle by:

• Attaching the old plates to your new motorcycle.
• Following the steps above for registering after a private sale.
• Paying the following:
  • $20 registration fee.
  • $25 transfer fee.
  • Any other applicable fees or taxes (see below).

For more information about transferring your motorcycle registration, check out the MA RMV's website.

Motorcycle Registration Fees & Taxes

You may be required to pay the following fees and taxes when your register your motorcycle with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles:

• Regular motorcycle registration: $20.
• Specialty motorcycle registration:
  • Reserved plates: $40.
  • Antique plates: $40.
  • Vanity plates: $70.
• Motorcycle inspection: $15.
• Registration transfer fee: $25.
• MA sales tax: 6.25% of the sales price.