Unless you’ve turned off the internet, you’ve probably heard about Vermont car titles and registration. Yes, it is true that Vermont has some of the laxest rules concerning titling and registering a vehicle in the state. As we’ve pointed out more than once, they have no qualms with anyone from any state titling or registering in Vermont; it even says so right on their website. But once you’ve decided to register your car there, how will you go about renewing your registration? If you live in SoCal, that’s a significant drive to grab a sticker.
We’ll explore the options available for tagging your vehicle with a Vermont registration and how to renew it online.
Does Vermont Issue Titles for Cars?
Sometimes. Vermont issues titles and registrations for vehicles newer than 15 years old. For all other vehicles, Vermont only issues a transferable registration that is equivalent to a title. This can be used to prove ownership or sell the vehicle just like a title.
This article sometimes uses “titling” and “registering” interchangeably, so just know that it’s sometimes one or the other in Vermont.
How to Register Your Vehicle in Vermont
There are many how-to articles on the net about how easy it is to register your car in Vermont if you’re out of state. What these generally don’t take into consideration is that rules and laws are constantly changing. That article from 2019? It might be completely wrong because the information has changed since then.
You could go off on your own and figure it out. Or you can rely on our team of specialists to get it done for you. We know that time is money in the real world. The time you spend trying to figure this out alone is wasted when you could be doing something else. And you might end up hitting dead ends anyway.
Our team gets results. Whether you are trying to get ahold of a title for an antique car or you have a late-model car and need to straighten out the title, we can help you.
Is Registering Your Motorcycle in Vermont Any Different Than a Car?
The process to register your motorcycle in Vermont isn’t all that different from that of a car.
You will need a few things to get your motorcycle registered in Vermont.
First, you need to have some proof of ownership. The main advantage to registering your motorcycle in Vermont is getting a title/registration if you don’t already have one. They are quite lenient.
To qualify, you need a:
Title or transferable registration
Salvage title
Or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin
Once you have the required paperwork, send it our way, and we will take care of the heavy lifting. You can move on to more pressing matters.
How Do You Change Your Address If You're Registering Your Car Out-Of-State in Vermont?
Vermont does require that address changes be submitted within 30 days of moving. The DMV recommends but does not require you to order documents with an updated address. Or, you can skip all the runarounds of dealing with the Vermont DMV and use our renewal service instead. You are literally one click away.
The best part? You can opt for a one-time renewal if you want, but why bother with having to remember to register? Opt-in for our auto-renew program. Click once, and renew automatically for life. This is a service that you’ll never get if you register your vehicle in Vermont on your own.
We take the effort out of the process.
Can I Register in Vermont With Only an MCO?
Yes, you can! If your proof of ownership is an MCO, you can register in Vermont.
Vermont doesn’t even require much paperwork. To register your automobile in Vermont, a signed bill of sale is all you need to secure proof of ownership. That’s it. That’s why we love Vermont, and we know you will, too.
That said, if you have any questions or suspicions about the title branding, you need to figure those out immediately before attempting any process anywhere. If there are serious title branding issues, you won’t be able to get your vehicle titled anywhere. It doesn’t matter that Vermont has proven friendly to titling and registering out-of-state vehicles; if your title brand is junk, you are not getting a clean title or transferable registration.
Here’s the deal: get yourself our VIN check. For about the price of an extra large value meal, you will get a full vehicle history with much less bloating.
Within a few minutes of purchase (mine took about ten), a full report hits your inbox, and you’ll know exactly what has gone on with your vehicle. And yes, we highly recommend purchasing a VIN check before you buy any vehicle. It is the safety net. If there is any weird history or anything that doesn’t line up with what the seller says about the vehicle, you’ll find out about it on the VIN check.
Does Vermont Have Any Inspection Requirements?
Yes, Vermont does require both smog and safety inspections annually. Of course, they are only enforced in Vermont, so do with this information what you want.
Your vehicle does not need to be inspected to become titled, tagged, or registered in Vermont though. If you are looking for a way to get a title to transfer to your home state, you will be just fine.
If you are never going to drive through Vermont? That’s up to you. The only state that enforces Vermont inspections is Vermont, so consider yourself informed.
What Are the Out-Of-State Renewal Requirements?
There aren’t special requirements for out-of-state registration renewal in Vermont. Since you can title and register your car from any state, they don’t hold you to any arbitrary requirement of having a Vermont residence or address. You can have your address in California, New York, or wherever.
However, navigating these waters can be difficult on your own. We’re here to help you out. We take the hassle of registering your vehicle out of state, whether you are going with Vermont, South Dakota, or our Montana LLC option. Whichever way you choose, the extent of your effort is gathering a few documents and clicking a few buttons. That’s it. Keep an eye on the mailbox and install your tag when it arrives. It doesn’t get simpler than this.
As for renewals, we’ve got you covered here as well. One-time renewal? No problem. Don’t want to keep up with this on your own? We get it. Check out our auto-renew. Click once; worry never.
That’s A Wrap
Vermont is a beautiful state. It is also one of the easiest states to take care of a missing title for your vehicle. Mind you; it is not a place to fix a bad title or title brand; you will have to take care of that where you are if it can be taken care of. Like most states, Vermont has an online renewal feature, but if you’re registering an out-of-state vehicle, the easiest way to take care of this is through our auto-renew service once you have titled and registered through Dirt Legal. It’s just a few button clicks, and your registration renewal is set. No more worrying about missing your registration window or how to do it in an unfamiliar state; just click, pay, and move on with life.
Also, make sure to check out our Vermont registration for motorcycles and our off-road registration for your quads and UTVs!
John McCoy is a lifelong car and truck enthusiast and has a strong mechanical background off the road. He spent over 13 years in the U.S. Air Force as a crew chief, assigned to the B-1B Lancer, affectionately known as the Bone to those in the community, and the KC-135R Stratotanker. He resides on a small farm in Eastern Kansas where he (sometimes) enjoys fixing ancient farm equipment.