Can I Register My Car Online In PA?
Vehicle registration is an important activity in Pennsylvania (PA). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is in charge of vehicle registration and driver licensing. In 2021, they had registered over 9 million drivers, with over 4 million vehicle registrations in 2020 in Pennsylvania.
Driving an unregistered car or a car with expired registration in Pennsylvania is a non-moving violation, which comes with sanctions and fines. Depending on the expired registration's peculiarities, the offender may pay fines worth twice the registration fee.
Vehicle registration in Pennsylvania typically lasts between one and two years. PennDOT has made several channels available for registering and renewing your vehicle registration. Depending on if you are registering a new car or renewing a car's registration, some services may not be available to you online.
Can I Register My Car Online?
Registering a new car or a newly purchased used car cannot be carried out online; it has to be in person at the PennDOT service center of your choice. After registering your car in PA, renewing its registration can be done online.
Registering A New Car In PA
A new car in this context comprises newly purchased used cars and brand-new cars. Registering these can only be done in person at the closest PennDOT service center to you or at the dealership. All you need to do is take the required documents and get registered, then wait for your registration card in the mail; it usually arrives within 30 days. Some of the documents necessary for registering a car in PA include the following:
- Pennsylvania issued driver's license or ID card.
- Proof of ownership of the vehicle such as an existing vehicle title signed over to you for used vehicles or a manufacturer's certificate of origin (MCO).
- Proof of safety and emissions inspection.
- Proof of vehicle insurance in Pennsylvania.
- Application for registration or Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return - whichever is applicable in your case.
- Vehicle identification number (VIN).
- Odometer readings.
- Existing license plates for used cars.
- Payment of various applicable fees such as registration, title, and transaction fees - whichever is appropriate in your case.
Renewing Your Registration in Pennsylvania
Renewing your vehicle registration in PA should ideally occur at the end of your current registration. A short while before your current registration elapses, a renewal notice is sent to you via mail that gives you the summary of the payable amount for your registration renewal.
Registration renewal can be done online, in person at a service center, or via mail. To renew your registration online, you can visit the swift-tag website and follow the prompt on the platform to input required details, then pay for your registration and print your registration card. To renew your registration in person, visit any PennDOT service center and provide the necessary documents. Note that you can only make payment with a credit or debit card, checks, and money orders at the office. Renewing your vehicle registration online will save you a lot of stress and it is often recommended than renewing it in person at a PennDOT service center.
Registration renewal can also be done through the mail by sending your renewal notice with the relevant documents to this address:
"Bureau of Motor Vehicles
1101 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2516".
In conclusion, while you cannot carry out your initial vehicle registration online, you can renew it online via the Swift-tag platform.
