Massachusetts residents must pay an annual excise tax on their vehicles. The RMV creates the bill; however, the car owner must pay the city or town where the vehicle resides within thirty (30) days of the issuance date. They must pay the tax, even if they did not receive a document for it.

The state imposes interest and penalties on late tax payments. Outstanding excise tax bills prevent owners from registering their vehicle, renewing their driver’s license, or handling RMV-specific tasks.

Individuals must notify the RMV and local tax assessor about address changes as soon as possible. They must cancel their plate and vehicle registration to avoid unwarranted excise tax bills if they move out of the state. The same policy applies to lost, stolen, and repossessed vehicles, and cars declared a total loss.

Step 4 – Register + Title

Each vehicle operated on Massachusetts roadways needs registering and titling. Drivers must make an appointment using the reservation system.

All transactions differ by type; therefore, the list below contains the documents needed for specific transfers. The forms cannot have whited-out areas, erasures, or changes upon submission. Owners must print the application on standard white printer paper because the state does not accept applications on colored paper or card stock. Individuals who fail to abide by these laws are subject to rejection, thus resulting in paperwork delays.

If the registration and title go through, the owner receives a registration certificate, new license plates, and an expiration decal for their rear plate. Unless a lien exists, the title comes by mail in six (6) to eight (8) weeks. In this case, the state mails the title to the lienholder.

• In-State Dealership Purchase
• Private Sale
• Transfer by Gift
• Transfer by Family Member
• Inheritance
• Transfer from Out-of-State

In-State-Dealership-Purchase

In most cases, Massachusetts dealers handle registration and titling for the customer. If the dealership does not manage these transactions, the new owner becomes responsible for bringing the required forms to their nearby service center.

Before the appointment, the person possessing the car must complete and sign the application (Form TTLREG100_1119) with the dealer. Then, they must visit a licensed Massachusetts insurance agent to take out an insurance policy for the car. To acknowledge the plan, the agent must stamp and sign the application. The owner must bring the signed and stamped application to the service center, where they accept or deny it. Information about the lienholder must also exist in the appropriate section of the form.

In addition to bringing the application, the owner must submit proof of ownership and an accepted form of (ID). They must also pay for the registration and titling fees and a 6.25% charge for sales taxes.

Private Sale

New owners must register and title their vehicle independently, meaning the seller does not have a legal obligation to attend the appointment or handle tasks for the buyer.

The registrar must provide the completed application (Form TTLREG100_1119) with a stamp and seal from their insurance agent. This document must also contain accurate lienholder information if they have an active loan on the vehicle.

Buyers must also bring the certificate of title signed by the seller. If a title does not exist, it does not contain the required information, or the state deems the car exempt because of its age, the individual must present the current registration and a bill of sale instead. In this case, the bill of sale must contain the sales price and the printed names and signatures of the buyer and seller.

The applicant must show their ID and pay the required processing fees during registration and titling. They also owe a sales tax. The state takes the higher of the following two calculations: 1) 6.25% of the purchase price, or 2) the car’s National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) trade-in value.

Transfer by Gift

Owners who obtained a vehicle as a gift must pay a $25 charge and the title and registration fees. Vehicles that qualify as tax-exempt require the previous owner to complete an affidavit (Form MVU-24). If the recipient received the car as a gift from a family member, the individual must complete another affidavit (Form MVU-26) instead.

The person who acquired the car must register and title it by making an appointment with a service center. They must bring the application after completing and signing it with the previous owner. It must also have a stamp from the associated insurance company. The state also requires the title assigned to the new owner unless it qualifies as exempt due to age. In this case, they must provide the completed registration and bill of sale.

Individuals must settle their payment with the state to receive documentation. If they do not have the finalized tax exemption form from the previous owner, they must also pay taxes on the car.

Transfer by Family Member

If an individual transfers their vehicle to a family member, the new owner does not need to pay sales tax. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters qualify as “family members.” Grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles do not fit this category. The person who transferred the vehicle must apply for tax exemption using an affidavit (Form MVU-26).

Inheritance

Three (3) people can legally transfer a deceased vehicle owner’s title, including the surviving spouse, the personal agent of their estate, and a court-appointed representative.

The surviving spouse only qualifies if they were married to the deceased individual upon their death. This ability does not apply to loved ones living with the person or ex-spouses. To transfer the title and registration into their name, they must bring an application (Form TTLREG100_1119), the decedent’s title assigned by the spouse, an affidavit (Form TTL 103-0421), and a copy of the death certificate that includes the name of the spouse.

The personal agent must transfer ownership of the vehicle to the individual listed on the deceased person’s will. They must provide them with a copy of the appointment of a personal representative and the decedent’s certificate of title.

Deceased individuals who did not create a will must have a court-appointed representative take care of the transfer. The representative must give the inheritor a copy of the appointment and the decedent’s title.

Transfer From Out-Of-State

Car owners moving to Massachusetts from another state must immediately transfer their title and registration. They need to provide the service center with an application, proof of their insurance, verification of ownership (i.e., the previous title or the registration with a lien), and payment. In addition, they must complete an affidavit (Form MVU-29) stating they purchased the car in another state and, therefore, do not need to pay Massachusetts taxes.

Step 5 – Renew

The license plate type determines the registration length, with the standard being one (1) or two (2) years. Individuals can renew in person and receive their documentation immediately. They can also send the paperwork online or by mail to obtain their registration and plate decals within ten (10) days.

Upon renewal, the applicant must make the required payment and have an active insurance policy. To verify the plan, they must have the insurance agent stamp their completed and signed renewal document (Form TTLREG100_1119).

Owners who have a suspended or revoked registration cannot renew. Similarly, the state rejects the application if they have unpaid parking tickets and excises taxes or EZ-pass violations. Individuals can check for penalties using the online check status portal.