How long can you drive without tags in Tennessee?

Department of Motor Vehicles

How to register a vehicle when you are out-of-state

Register while out-of-state

You can apply for a New York State registration and a title certificate by mail from outside of New York. You will need to mail these items to a local DMV office 1

a completedVehicle Registration/Title Application (PDF) (MV-82)
proof of ownership 2 (must be original; we don’t accept photocopies)
proof of NY State automobile liability insurance 3
proof of identity and age 4 (send us photocopies; don’t send us your original documents)
payment for sales tax (see sales tax information)

You must contact the motor vehicle agency in the other state to determine if their laws require that you register your vehicles there. The definition of «resident» is different in each state. Read the NY State definition of ‘resident.’ 5

Once we process your application, we will send you these items in one package

your registration documents
your vehicle plates
a 10-day Inspection Extension Sticker (VS-1077)

Put the 10-day Inspection Sticker on your vehicle when you enter New York State (not before). Mark the box on the sticker that indicates you entered New York, and write the date you entered.

We will send you your title certificate separately. Allow up to 90 days to receive it from us.

When you will get your documents

Allow 6 weeks for your registration documents to arrive by mail.
Allow 90 days for your title certificate to arrive.

It will take longer to receive your documents if you are outside of the United States.

Get registration documents by express mail

To get your registration documents by express mail, enclose a pre-paid, pre-addressed express mail package with your application. Make sure the package can contain vehicle plates.

You can have your registration mailed to a different address

To have your registration documents mailed to an address that is different from what will be printed on your registration document, include a separate note with your Vehicle Registration/Title Application (PDF) (MV-82), and clearly print the alternate address. Do not write the alternate address on your application. If you do, DMV will prints the alternate address on your registration document and registration record.

You cannot have your new vehicle title mailed to a different address

The DMV sends the title certificate to the mailing address on your registration application. The DMV cannot send the title certificate to another address.

Vehicles coming from another country

Read the instructions for how to register an imported vehicle.

Having another another person submit your registration application at a DMV office

Read the instructions for how to register a vehicle for someone else to learn how to do this.

1. We recommend sending any original documents by insured or priority mail. It can be difficult to replace documents that are lost in the mail.
2. For cars, trucks and motorcycles that are model year 1973 or newer, proof can be either
- a NY State Certificate of Title (the original or a certified copy, not a photocopy)
- acceptable proof of ownership from any other state (the original or a certified copy, not a photocopy)

See acceptable proofs for other vehicles (older than 1973, manufactured homes, boats, trailers, ATVs, snowmobiles, gifted vehicles, vehicles with deceased owners).

A NY State Driver License, Learner Permit, or Non-Driver ID card that is current or not expired for more than 2 years can serve as proof of both identity and age.

What Does Suspension of Registration Mean?

Purchasing your own car is both an exciting and serious matter. While you are free to hit the open road, there is a lot of responsibility that comes with being a car owner. It’s not all about newfound freedom and independence. In order to actually use your vehicle, you will need to register it with your state and have it approved. Vehicle registration allows you to legally drive the vehicle on public roads. However, your car registration can easily be taken away should you commit a traffic offense. Dealing with a suspended car registration can be frustrating and overwhelming. This guide provides insight into what a suspended vehicle registration means and how to get it cleared.

What is Vehicle Registration?

In order to legally drive, your vehicle needs a license plate. To obtain license plates, you must complete vehicle registration at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Your license plates essentially mean that your vehicle has been successfully registered with the state. This is required for any car on the road, no matter what. States use car registration as a means of determining vehicle ownership. Your vehicle registration is crucial, and you must keep a record of it on hand at all times. Police will typically ask to see your car registration when pulled over.

What Happens When Your Vehicle Registration is Suspended?

When you have been notified that your vehicle registration is suspended, it means no one can drive that vehicle. Neither you nor any other member of your household can legally hit the road in it. You are being banned from driving your car due to the vehicle registration no longer being acknowledged by the DMV. Do not be surprised if you have to turn in your registration and license plates to the state following the suspension so you are not tempted to drive the car. This is not an unusual request by states, but full requirements may vary. If you choose to ignore the suspension notice and continue driving your vehicle, you may face fines, imprisonment, suspension of your driver’s license, and other severe penalties.

Reasons Why Registration May be Suspended

Your car registration can be suspended by your state for a number of reasons. It usually follows a traffic violation like outstanding parking tickets or failing to pay registration fees. However, the two most common reasons a DMV suspends a car registration is due to:

Driving without car insurance
Driving without a valid driver’s license

If you are caught driving without the proper car insurance or a license, the DMV will typically suspend your registration immediately. But you do not have to be convicted of a traffic violation to get your vehicle registration suspended. If you let your car insurance lapse, your car insurance provider has a responsibility to notify your DMV of the gap in coverage. This can happen, for example, after you fail to keep up with your car insurance premiums.

If you fail to provide proof of insurance within 30 days following the issuance of a registration card, the DMV is generally required to suspend it. Likewise, if you do not purchase car insurance within 45 days after the DMV has been notified, your coverage lapses, and the DMV is required to suspend your car registration. To avoid this, you would have to provide proof of car insurance. If there is an issue with your driver’s license, then you would have to show proof of license to keep your vehicle registration active. While these are common reasons for vehicle registration being suspended, they are not the only ones. Failing to upkeep your vehicle, like not fixing a broken headlight or refusing to obey traffic laws, can land you in an unfortunate situation with the DMV.

Can You Drive Following a Registration Suspension?

In short, your driving eligibility can depend on a couple of things. You still have the capability to drive. However, you just can’t use your specific vehicle. So long as your license was not suspended with your registration, feel free to borrow a friend’s or family member’s valid and insured vehicle in order to get where you need to go. The suspension applies to your car itself, meaning that no matter how valid anyone’s license is, the car is out of commission in the eyes of the DMV. The only instance where you are no longer a legal driver would be if your license was suspended on top of the vehicle registration.

Trouble With New Vehicle Registration

Some people think they can be clever about a vehicle registration suspension by attempting to register the vehicle under someone else’s name. For example, you may try to register the vehicle with your sibling, so it can be revalidated by the DMV. However, pretty much any state DMV will deny this new car registration filing if they flag it as being suspicious.

The DMV will not renew a car registration if they notice the following about the new applicant:

Has the same last name as you
Resides at the same address the DMV has on file for you

Either of these indicators will raise red flags at the DMV when you go to try to transfer a vehicle to another person in order to sidestep the suspended car registration. Typically, when trying to transfer a vehicle, you are required to sign a form stating you are not trying to avoid a suspended registration.

What the penalties are for attempting to avoid a suspended registration is unclear, but it most likely does come with serious consequences. Your best bet to get your vehicle registration cleared is by providing the DMV with any car insurance information and fees they request.

How to Clear a Suspended Car Registration

The smartest, easiest way to clear your suspended registration is to find out why your vehicle registration was suspended in the first place. From there, the DMV can advise on the steps you need to take to reinstate the revoked registration. In most states, reinstating your car registration will require you to either provide proof of car insurance and/or pay a reinstatement fee. For example, if your registration was suspended due to accumulated parking tickets, you would have to pay the tickets and then provide the required fee for reinstatement. If your car registration was suspended due to a lapse in car insurance coverage, you would have to submit valid proof of car insurance. For instances where the suspended car registration was as a result of driving without a license, they will typically require proof of a valid license, among other requirements. The DMV should be able to assist you and clearly lay out the steps you need to take to regain control of your suspended car.

Regardless of your driving history, Insurance Navy is here to help. We provide drivers with coverage no matter what level of risk they have. Get a cheap car insurance quote with us today. Quotes are available online via our website and mobile app. You can also give us a call at 888-949-6289.

Tennessee Temporary Tag Requirements & How To Get One

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If you’ve bought a car in Tennessee you’ve probably already dealt with temporary tags, getting a vehicle licensed, and the whole process of switching between different types of license plates. But, if this is your first time buying a vehicle, or you’ve recently moved to Tennessee and aren’t sure how Tennessee temporary tags work, you’re in the right place.

Like most states, Tennessee has its own requirements for temporary tags in the state. Most of the time you won’t need to worry too much about temporary tags in Tennessee, dealers take care of the majority of temporary tag registrations, but there are a few situations where you might need one.

Let’s take a closer look at Tennessee temporary tags, why you might need them, and the requirements to get one.

What Are Tennessee Temporary Tags?

For all intents and purposes having Tennessee temporary tags is just like having a regular license plate on your vehicle, but they don’t last as long. Essentially temporary tags are designed so that you can drive a vehicle while it’s new and paperwork is still going through, or that has a problem preventing registration that can be resolved, but will take time.

Temporary tags let drivers have a little more flexibility and make it easier to do things like getting emissions testing and registrations finished without having to use alternate means of transportation.

Most of the time temporary tags are used for new and used vehicles that have just been purchased, but there are a few reasons you might need temporary tags outside of those situations.

In addition to dealer-issued tags, Tennessee also has temporary operating permits, called red tags, that are designed for vehicles that have a temporary issue that prevents them from being registered and licensed as normal, but which the owner is working to resolve.

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In some cases, you may also get a red tag if you have a salvage vehicle you’re in the process of getting declared a rebuilt vehicle and need to have a temporary tag so you can drive it to necessary appointments to finish the process.

Red tags used to be issued for vehicles that failed an inspection in Tennessee. However, according to a 2012 memorandum from the Tennessee State Department, temporary operation permits should not be offered to vehicles that have a failed inspection.

Instead, the vehicle’s failed inspection report serves as a temporary operating permit for 30 days from the failed inspection. That way owners don’t have to pay any additional fees while working to get the vehicle in working condition, but they also have to continue getting inspections at least every 30 days until the issue is either resolved or it’s discovered that the problem cannot be sufficiently resolved.

Requirements For A Tennessee Temporary Tag

There are slightly different requirements for temporary tags in different situations.

For instance, owners don’t actually have any requirements when it comes to temporary tags from a dealer. The dealer is responsible for making sure the vehicle is eligible for a temporary tag and that the owner meets all requirements to get that tag.

For instance, the dealer needs to make sure the new owner has a valid Tennessee driver’s license before they can drive the vehicle off the sales lot.

However, owners need to take care of inspections and will need to wait for the dealer to provide registration and title details to get a valid license plate in Tennessee.

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How Do Temporary Tags For Salvage Vehicles Work In Tennessee?

Tennessee is a little different from other states in how they handle salvage vehicles.

For one thing, you won’t be given a typical salvage Title in Tennessee.

Instead of a normal salvage Title, Tennessee issues a Salvage Certificate or a Non-Repairable Certificate, according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

Salvage Certificates don’t allow the vehicle to be operated, while non-repairable certificates are typically used in situations where the vehicle can’t be repaired, can’t be operated, but the owner wants to retain ownership for other reasons.

The main reason to get a Salvage Certificate is if you want to rebuild your vehicle for use. In that case, you’ll need to apply for a new VIN after the vehicle has been sufficiently rebuilt.

To do that you’ll also need photos of the wrecked vehicle, as well as proof of repair, including an itemized list of the cost of the parts used in the repair.

In addition to those requirements, owners who want to transition their vehicle from a Salvage Certificate to a Rebuilt Title will need to pay a $75 fee.

If, in the process of doing this, the vehicle’s owner needs to get the vehicle inspected or take it to appointments they may need to get a temporary vehicle tag. After the inspection is approved the owner will also need to take the vehicle back to the DMV with all official documents except the photographs to get it approved and the final Rebuilt Title issued.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee Temporary Tags

Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about Tennessee temporary tags, how you get them, and how long they’re good for.

How Much Do Tennessee Temporary Tags Cost?

The cost of a temporary tag is $10 and is separate from any other fees the owner may need to pay.

How Long Are Tennessee Temporary Tags Valid?

Unlike some states, Tennessee only has one type of temporary tag, and they’re all valid for the same amount of time. If you have a temporary tag, it’s valid for 30 days from the day it was issued.

Does Tennessee Have A Grace Period For Expired Vehicle Tags?

Yes, Tennessee does have a grace period for expired license plates. It’s a 90-day grace period, during which time you can still drive your vehicle including to inspection appointments and maintenance. However, temporary vehicle tags do not have a grace period, so you’ll need to get an additional temporary tag or apply for a regular license before the end of the 30-day period if you want to keep your vehicle on the road legally.

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