Renewing license plates in another state

bigpanda

So I'm currently staying in Washington State right now and my insurance is showing Washington as my car is located here at the moment. I need to renew my plates before August but don't want to get Washington plates as I'm not sure how much longer I'll be in state. Does anyone know if your insurance needs to specify your state name (Michigan) even if they underwrite in that state for you to renew your plates.

I'd like to keep my Michigan driver's license and plates since I might be moving back there soon.

Seattle Thread

You are required to title and register your vehicle with the Washington State DOL within 30 days of moving here. With that comes a set of Washington plates. Plates themselves are only required to be renewed every seven years (apparently the reflective coating wears off and it makes it easier for law enforcement when plates are nice and shiny), but the tabs need to be renewed annually. It's $30, and can be done online.

You could give the Michigan DOL's website a go and see if they'll renew online while you're out of state. I doubt it, though, unless you've only been here for a short time (i.e., less than a month or two, tops). And since not registering with the WSDOL is unlawful, you could face some fines down the road if you are caught.

ASimPerson

Are you in Washington as a student? If so, you skirt most laws that make you a "resident" of the state, but otherwise what Makershot posted is correct.

Your insurance policy should always reflect the current location of the vehicle, not the registration. For instance, if you are a student from Michigan going to school in Washington, your car would be located for insurance purposes in Washington, but your registration would be renewed every year in the state of Michigan.

Most states allow you do do the renewal online, or you can have someone back home drop off the cash for you and mail you the stickers.

Again, if you are not a student going to school in Washington, you are almost certainly a citizen of the state of Washington and as such your car should be registered there, you should have a Washington driver's license, etc. There may be other exceptions others can advise you on, but as far as I know this is the case.

Aurin

Another exemption for titles/plates/driver's license, is if you're in the military. Otherwise, yeah, get Washington plates. >.>