Frequently Asked Questions

Are there times I won’t be allowed to renew registration?
Residents of the state of Vermont with expiring vehicle registrations can renew vehicle registrations by following the directions on their renewal registration notice. It is important to take a look at all the steps you are required to complete before you renew vehicle registration with your local DMV office. In case your drivers license is suspended, your documentation is invalid, or you lack proof of insurance, you might have problems with the vehicle registration renewal. It is recommended for you to visit your local DMV office and go through the process of vehicle registration renewal.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Vermont

Can somebody else renew my registration for me?
Yes, you can have somebody else renew vehicle registration for you in the cases of renewing online or by mail. You only need to make a payment of the fee with your debit or credit card and sign the application. After that, the person who will renew your registration for you can continue with the vehicle registration renewal. Vehicle registration renewals done in person at a Vermont DMV office require your presence along with your valid drivers license.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Vermont

Do boats need to be registered?
If you are a Vermont resident and you own and operate a boat or other vessel with a motor attached, you need to register your boat, unless you live outside of the state of Vermont and your boat is already registered in your home state. In order to register your boat, complete and submit the Motorboat Registration Application.

For more information: How to Register a Boat or Water Craft in Vermont

Do I need to file a police report if my registration was lost or stolen?
If you suppose that your Vermont vehicle registration was lost or stolen, you should immediately apply for a vehicle registration replacement at any Vermont DMV office. Moreover, you should contact your law enforcement agency to file a police report, which will notify the agency of the theft.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Vermont

Do I need to return my license plate if I move out of the state?
In the case you move out of the state, you will have to register your vehicle in another state. Additionally, you must return your license plate to the Vermont DMV. In order to do that, you should send the license plate to the following address:

Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles

120 State Street

Montpelier, VT 05603-0001

For more information: License Plates in Vermont

Do I need to turn in my damaged registration?
Yes, if your registration has been damaged, you will have to bring it to the nearest DMV office when you apply for a car registration replacement. Along with your damaged registration, bring the Duplicate/Corrected Registration/License or Learner Permit form and the payment for the registration replacement fee.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Vermont

Does a motorized scooter need to be registered?
In the state of Vermont, a motorized scooter is considered to be the same as a motorcycle, so you need to go through the same process as of any vehicle registration. In order to register your motorized scooter, you need to complete a Registration, Tax, and Title Application for motor vehicles. After that, you should take your identification documents, the application and a Bill of sale to your local DMV office.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Vermont

Does my vehicle qualify for a smog inspection?
In the state of Vermont, only certain vehicles mustundergo emission testing (including a smog inspection) including:
  • Vehicles from 1996 and newer (gasoline-powered)
  • Vehicles from 1997 and newer weighing 8,500 lbs. or under (diesel-powered)

Exhibition vehicles that date from 1940 are excluded from inspections only if the vehicle is in original manufacture condition.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Vermont

How can I renew my vehicle registration?
If you are a Vermont resident, you can renew vehicle registration in one of the following ways:
  • By US mail, if you have two weeks until the expiration date of your vehicle registration, send the completed car registration renewal form and the payment to the following address:

Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles

120 State Street

Montpelier, VT 05603-0001

  • Online by visiting the Vermont DMV Express website and have your credit or debit card ready so that you can pay online for the car registration renewal.
  • In person by visiting your local DMV office. Upon arrival, bring with you the registration renewal form with money to pay for the car registration renewal.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Vermont

How can I transfer my registration to another state?
Residents of Vermont who have a vehicle registration within the state and who plan to leave the state or to sell their vehicle to somebody who lives out of state, need to transfer their registration and vehicle title to the new state. Vehicle registrations differ from state to state, so the best thing for you to do would be to contact your local DMV office or the DMV in the other state where you plan to transfer your vehicle registration.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Vermont

How do I apply for a disabled person parking placard or plates?
If you are a Vermont resident and you need to obtain a disabled person parking placard or plates for your vehicle, you need to:

Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles 120 State Street Montpelier, VT 05603-0001

For more information: Information for Disabled Drivers in Vermont

How do I file a police report if my car registration was stolen?
Residents of Vermont who have had their car registration stolen should immediately contact a local law enforcement agency to file a police report. The law enforcement officials will take your statement and will hand you a copy of the police report. It is recommended to take this police report to your local Vermont DMV office when applying for a car registration replacement, so that the DMV can have it on file.

For more information:How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Vermont

How do I obtain a duplicate car registration?
In the state of Vermont you can replace car registration either online or in person at your local DMV office. In order to obtain a duplicate car registration, you need to complete the Duplicate/Corrected Registration/License or Learner Permit application and precisely indicate one of the following reasons for your replacement:
  • Lost car registration
  • Stolen car registration
  • Destroyed car registration
  • Car registration that needs correction

Along with the application, you should also bring payment for any required fees. You will receive a new car registration replacement certificate right away.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Vermont

How do I obtain car registration?
If you want to get vehicle registration for the first time in the state of Vermont, you must complete the following steps:
  1. Provide a proof of insurance of your vehicle
  2. Collect certain documents, including:
    • If you have bought a vehicle from a dealer, the dealer is supposed to send the documents to the closest Vermont DMV office. In other circumstances, you will have to collect the following documents:
  1. Visit your local DMV office in person, along with your completed forms

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Vermont

If I do not renew on time, will there be an additional fee?
If you are a Vermont resident and you approach your date for vehicle registration renewal, the DMV will send you by mail a renewal registration notice three weeks prior your expiration date. In case you don’t receive the renewal registration notice or you forget to renew vehicle registration before the expiration date, you can get ticketed if pulled over by a police officer. You may also need to submit a payment of additional fee if you renew vehicle registration after the month of expiration.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Vermont

Is there a different process I must follow if I lost personalized plates?
In the state of Vermont, the procedure for replacement of lost personalized plates is the same as for regular ones. To apply for a duplicate car registration by mail or in person at a Vermont DMV office, print and fill out a Special Plate Application, then submit it with the applicable duplicate car registration fees. The fees vary according to the type of personalized plates.

For more information: License Plates

Should I carry the registration on me or in the car?
Residents of the state of Vermont might wonder where they should keep the car registration documents. The state of Vermont does not have specific requirements about where to keep car registration documents. However, it is recommended to keep the car registration documents either on you or even better, to keep them in your car.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Vermont

What are the most common reasons why I would need to replace my registration?
If you are a Vermont resident, the most common reasons for which you would need to apply for avehicle registration replacement, include:
  • Your registration card or license plates/stickers are lost
  • Your registration card or license plates/stickers are stolen
  • Your registration card or license plates/stickers are damaged
  • Your registration card or license plates/stickers need a correction

In each of these situations, you will need a vehicle registration replacement and you can do that in your local Vermont DMV office.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Vermont

What are the required fees for my vehicle registration?
In the state of Vermont, there are number of factors which determine the vehicle registration fees. The fees vary according to:
  • The type of the vehicle.
  • The length of registration:
    • One-year registration
    • Two-year registration
  • The type of fuel it uses:
    • Gas
    • Diesel
    • Other
  • The requirement you make for specialized license plates

Listed below are some of the fees for the vehicles:

  • Autos, Jitneys, Motorhomes, Off-Highway Tractors, School Busses, Special Military Services, Street Rods and Trucks (up to 6,099 lbs.), pay the following fees according to the type of fuel they use:
    • Gas: $70 for one-year registration and $129 for two-year registration
    • Diesel: $27 for one-year registration and $50 for two-year registration
    • Other fuel: $122 for one-year registration and $225 for two-year registration
  • Antique and Exhibition vehicles pay the following fees according to the duration of registration:
    • One-year registration: $16 for gas and diesel
    • Two-year registration: $32 for gas and diesel

For more details about other types of vehicles and fees, go through the Vermont Registration, Tax & Title Application.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Vermont

What are the required fees to get replacement registration?
If you want to replace your registration in the state of Vermont, you will have to pay a registration replacement fee, which differs according to the type of vehicle you are getting a registration replacement for. The applicable fees are as follows:
  • ATV: $5
  • Motorboat/Vessel: $2
  • Snowmobile: $5
  • Other vehicles: $15

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Vermont

What are the required fees to renew my registration?
In the state of Vermont, there are number of factors which determine the vehicle registration renewal fees. The fees vary according to the length of registration:
  • One year registration:
    • Autos, Jitneys, Motorhomes, Off-Highway Tractors, School Buses, Special Military Services, Street Rods and Trucks (up to 6,099 lbs.), pay the following registration renewal fees according to the type of fuel they use:
  • Gas: $70
  • Diesel: $27
  • Other fuel: $122
    • Antique and Exhibition vehicles pay $16 fee for gas and for diesel
  • Two year registration:
    • Autos, Jitneys, Motorhomes, Off-Highway Tractors, School Buses, Special Military Services, Street Rods and Trucks (up to 6,099 lbs.), pay the following registration renewal fees according to the type of fuel they use:
  • Gas: $129
  • Diesel: $50
  • Other fuel: $225
    • Antique and Exhibition vehicles pay $32 fee for gas and for diesel

For more details about other types of vehicles and fees, go through the Vermont Registration, Tax & Title Application.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Vermont

What documents do I need to present to get a replacement car registration?
In the state of Vermont, if you have your car registration lost, stolen, damaged or if it needs correction, you will need to provide the following documents in order to receive an immediatecar registration replacement:

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Vermont

What documents do I need to present to get new registration?
When getting car registration for the first time in the state of Vermont, you need to present the following documents to the nearest DMV office:

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Vermont

What documents do I need to present to renew my car registration?
If you are a Vermont resident and you want a car registration renewal, you will need to present the following documents to your local DMV office:
  • Car registration renewal form
  • Appropriate payment for the renewal

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Vermont

What should I do if I have not received my registration tags or stickers?
Residents of the state of Vermont that approach their car registration expiration date, can renew car registrations by mail, online or in person at local DMV office. After submitting an application for a car registration renewal, you should receive new car registration stickers. If you have not received your new car registration stickers within two weeks of application, feel free to contact the Vermont DMV at 866-259-5368.

For more information: How to Obtain a Registration Sticker/License Plates in Vermont

When does my car registration expire?
In the state of Vermont, there are two types of car registrations:
  • One-year registration
  • Two-year registration

These two types of car registrations imply that your car registration expires either after one year or two years since the day when you had your car registered.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Vermont

Where can I find a local tax county collector office?
All Vermont residents who have to face the problem of lost, damaged or stolen car registration, can apply for a duplicate car registration either by mail, online or in person at any Vermont DMV office. When you visit your local DMV office, you should bring with you the completed application for Duplicate/Corrected Registration/License or Learner Permit. In case you need a tax county collector s office, you can find it:
  • By contacting your local Vermont DMV office
  • By visiting your state Department of Taxes at the following address:

VT Department of Taxes 133 State Street Montpelier, VT 05633-1401

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Vermont

Will I need to fill out an application to replace my car registration?
Yes, if you want to apply for a car registration replacement you need to fill out an application form for a Duplicate/Corrected Registration/License or Learner Permit. In this form, you need to point out the reason why you apply for car registration replacement, like whether your car registration has been lost, stolen, destroyed or it needs correction.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Vermont

Will I receive a renewal registration notice in the mail?
If you live in the state of Vermont and you approach your date for vehicle registration renewal, the DMV will send you a renewal registration notice by mail three weeks prior to your expiration date. This notice informs the vehicle owners of the expiration date of their vehicle registration. After receiving this notice, you can go through the process of car registration renewal online, by mail or in person at one of the DMV offices.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Vermont

Will my registration expire on my birthday or birth month?
As a Vermont resident, you can choose whether your vehicle registration will last for one or two years. The expiration date of your vehicle registration might fall around your birthday month, but it can also vary. Thus, the best solution for you would be to take note of the month of your expiration date in case you don’t receive a renewal registration notice from the DMV.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Vermont