Most people do not know that a car title and registration are two different things. Discover what they are and what are the differences between the two.
Having a car, whether it is new or used, is a big responsibility.
Maybe you are a teenager with their first car gifted by your parents. Or you relied on getting around using public transportation, and finally decided you need your own.
You too can now be a part of the 284 million drivers in America.
When you are ready to sell your car and replace it or in the event you are pulled over by a cop, you will need your license, registration, and insurance. It is recommended to keep a copy of your registration and insurance with you. Your license should be with you at all times when you are driving.
As fun as those wheels may be to get around, you should be able to pull up your vehicle’s information if needed. The same way you would give your personal information in situations that warrant it.
Every car sold will have a car title and registration, and the two are quite different from each other. Read on to learn the differences between a title and car registration.
What is a Car Title?
A car title can give you one of the happiest feelings in the same sense having a car does.
It tells the world this is your car.
Also known as the “pink slip” a car title legally binds that car to you for better or for worse until you are ready to let it go. It will be needed for a variety of situations such as when you are first purchasing your car.
Most car titles also provide each car a special 17 letter Vehicle Identification number, your VIN. While it is on paper, you can also find it on the driver’s side of the door when you open the car.
The VIN is located on the dashboard in front of the car too. You will see it by hovering over the window from the outside. Depending on where the car is made, you will find it on the passenger or driver side.
Basic title information will also state:
- Make, model, and year
- Body style
- Date the title was received
It should be as much your responsibility to ensure the information given to you on it is completely accurate. If a discrepancy is found in your title such as an incorrect name, it will need to be fixed.
State Requirements for Titles You May Not Know
If there is more than one person who uses the car, depending on your state, it is even allowed to have two names. Adding a co-owner should not immediately be done even in situations you are married.
When it is added names are joined using either an “or” “and” or slash (/). If “and” or the slash is decided by the owner you are saying that the other person has the legal right to do what they want with the car. For example, they could sell it if they choose to.
When you decide to move states, you also know a state title transfer may be necessary.
In the event your car title is lost, destroyed or no longer legible, you will need to get a replacement as soon as possible.
Losing a car title can happen to anyone. It can happen to those during an accident, a natural disaster, or even when you clean inside your car.
Every state has its own rules and regulations on how you can go about the process of getting another one.
This car title company offers help on anything related to car titles, such as needing a replacement. They have locations in every state in America, so no matter what state you live in, you can visit a location.
If you lost your car title once, you want to do everything in your power to prevent the problem from repeating itself. If you fear you’ll misplace it once more, take advantage of car title storage services.
What is a Vehicle Registration?
Your car should also have the vehicle registered under your name. Each state requires you to have it in order to legally drive on the road. It is often synonymous with the process of getting a car title.
Being registered also means that you must pay any fees and taxes due to your state sometimes yearly, sometimes every two or three years.
The license plate plastered on the back of your car can prove or disprove to the court of law if you are registered or not.
A valid registration requires you to have three things: the license plate, registration certificate, and validation decal.
Missing any one of these means your vehicle is not fully registered, and this will not be an ideal situation if you are ever pulled over by a cop. You can pay insane fees not having it while on the road. You could even wind up in jail.
Knowing Your Car
It is exciting to have a car to get around. Many could agree their fond memory of early independence is getting their first car and learning how to drive it. It’s a fun experience to figure out how to refill gas when you need it.
Some even find learning how to do basic maintenance such as an oil change or replacing a flat tire on a car fun, especially because it saves you money. No need to send it to a mechanic.
But do you want to know what’s not fun? Being in a bad situation by not having the correct car title and registration.
Being legally aware of the requirements you need to use your car is what every driver should understand.
Keep yourself knowledgeable by learning about what a car title and registration is.
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