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- This page, Apply for a Non Resident Short Term Registration, is offered by
- Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
Apply for a Non Resident Short Term Registration
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The Details of Apply for a Non Resident Short Term Registration
What you need for Apply for a Non Resident Short Term Registration
To apply for a temporary plate for a vehicle purchased from a dealer for out of state residents, you will need the following:
- A completed Registration and Title Application
- Proof of insurance
- Insurance Certification on the Registration and Title Application or a Non-Resident Short-Term Registration Standalone Insurance Certificate form
- Correct payment
- Identity requirements when registering for an individual or Proof of FID for a business
Fees for Apply for a Non Resident Short Term Registration
The fee for a temporary registration is $20. You are also responsible for the 6.25% sales tax.
Name | Fee | Unit |
---|---|---|
Temporary license plate for out of state residents | $20 | each |
How to apply Apply for a Non Resident Short Term Registration
This transaction can only be completed by an authorized dealer through our Business 2 Business (B2B) services or as a walk-in customer.
- A completed Registration and Title Application
- Proof of insurance
- Insurance Certification on the Registration and Title Application or a Non-Resident Short-Term Registration Standalone Insurance Certificate form
- Correct payment
- Identity requirements when registering for an individual or Proof of FID for a business
A 6.25% sales tax will be collected at this time based on the purchase price of the dealer sale. If the dealer is not registered with the Department of Revenue or the vehicle was purchased through a private sale, the sales tax will be calculated at 6.25% of the purchase price or the National Automotive Dealer Association (NADA) clean trade-in value, whichever is higher. If no clean trade-in value is available a default value agreed upon by both the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Revenue will be used.
After completing the transaction a temporary plate, sleeve & registration will be provided.
More info for Apply for a Non Resident Short Term Registration
Information on Massachusetts Vehicle Excise Tax
- The registration and vehicle are subject to Massachusetts Excise (property) Tax
- Excise Tax is calculated on a calendar monthly basis
- If the registration is active from January 28 - February 5, it would be subject to two months of excise tax
- If the start and expiration of the registration is within a single month, it would be subject to one month of excise tax
- The Massachusetts Department of Revenue will send the Excise Tax Bill to the mailing address provided during the registration transaction
- Do not ignore this bill as the interest and penalties are substantial if unpaid by due date
- The tax rate is $25/$1000 of the net valuation which is further adjusted depending on whether the registration was active during one or two calendar months
- Your vehicle's value, for excise purposes, isn't the actual purchase price or "book value" of the vehicle. Instead, it's a percentage of the manufacturer's list price in the year of manufacture
- Visit https://www.mass.gov/guides/motor-vehicle-excise for additional details on excise tax and calculation.