moving and changing car registration

[med10333]

Hey everybody, I'm moving to Florida from Maryland and I'm driving my car down in July for MS1. I know that usually you are supposed to change your license plates and get a new drivers license etc. within a few weeks, but since I will be a full-time student, can I just avoid all this hassle and keep my Maryland plates and license?

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[ejw5075]

Hey everybody, I'm moving to Florida from Maryland and I'm driving my car down in July for MS1. I know that usually you are supposed to change your license plates and get a new drivers license etc. within a few weeks, but since I will be a full-time student, can I just avoid all this hassle and keep my Maryland plates and license?

I'm moving to FL also and am keeping my PA plates/license. My friends at PSU in undergrad from OOS did not have a problem with their home states license.

 

[tman1820]

edit> (I changed some of the things I was wrong on...)

As long as you keep your "home" address as your permanent address, you don't have to change anything...plus pretty much every state gives a pass to students...but you do need to keep residence in your original state, so if you are moving and you don't have a parent or relative to let you use their address as yours, you are out of luck and have to change everything.

There are some drawbacks...you can't vote in Florida, but you can always vote by absentee. You won't get Florida resident discounts at the theme parks, because there is always time for roller coasters, even in med school. Also if Nova gives tuition breaks to state residents, then you won't get those...but when it comes to this, most schools use your address on your application for this, and won't let you change that after matriculating, so this probably wouldn't be a factor for you anyway. Also, you will have to drive the car back to maryland every year to get an inspection sticker...so just make sure that you get it done before you leave this summer because if it expires in March or something, well that'll be a headache.


But it probably would be easier to keep your car registered, at least, in Maryland. Whether you change your license is up to you.

 

[guydudcl371]

As long as you keep your "home" address as your permanent address, you don't have to change anything...plus pretty much every state gives a pass to students...but you do need to keep residence in your original state, so if you are moving and you don't have a parent or relative to let you use their address as yours, you are out of luck and have to change everything.

There are some drawbacks...you can't vote in Florida, but you can always vote by absentee. You won't get Florida resident discounts at the theme parks, because there is always time for roller coasters, even in med school. Also if Nova gives tuition breaks to state residents, then you won't get those...but when it comes to this, most schools use your address on your application for this, and won't let you change that after matriculating, so this probably wouldn't be a factor for you anyway.


You can always switch your license and not bother switching your registration...its perfectly legal to drive a car from out of state, as long as that car is registered to a real address in your home state. That way you don't have to pay for registration and new plates in Florida...especially if you end up moving away for rotations and have to change it all over again in a new state since you won't have a Florida residence anymore...

The major drawback to this is you have to drive the car back to maryland every year to get an inspection sticker...so just make sure that you get it done before you leave this summer because if it expires in March or something, well that'll be a headache.


But it probably would be easier to keep your car registered, at least, in Maryland. Whether you change your license is up to you.

Check out the DMV's website as each state's rules are VERY different. I know in Nevada you do not have to get a new driver's license if you're a student, but your car CANNOT be in the state without it being registered and insured in Nevada for more than 60 days. Every state should have a "mover's guide" on their website that breaks it down for you. Good luck.

 

[swimchick]

^Thanks for that advice. I wasn't sure what I needed to do with my car since I don't plan to make Georgia my permanent, legal residence.

I found out that as a non-resident student in Georgia, I can keep my car registered and insured in my home state as long as I have a valid license plate on my car. Since my parents live in Louisiana, I am going to keep my car registered and insured here.

 

[willen101383]

I know in PA you legally have to get a license/registration within 30 days of moving here. When I moved here for grad school I MOVED....not just came as a student....so I dont know if the law applies for students.

But seriously guys..maybe its just bc im a bit older.....but isnt it time to grow up and have your own lives/addresses? I cant imagine putting my parents as my address after college/for medical school.

 

[tman1820]

I know in PA you legally have to get a license/registration within 30 days of moving here. When I moved here for grad school I MOVED....not just came as a student....so I dont know if the law applies for students.

But seriously guys..maybe its just bc im a bit older.....but isnt it time to grow up and have your own lives/addresses? I cant imagine putting my parents as my address after college/for medical school.

If it means saving some money on expenses I'll have to spend again in 2 years when I move to another state for clerkship's, then I guess I still haven't grown up yet..🙂


But I know most states do require you change your license after 30 days of living there, that is if you use your school address as your permanent address...which makes you a resident of the new state. If you become a resident, and the car is registered in your name...then you need to change the registration...at least thats how most states do it. So if you don't change anything, then your fine...if you change your license, then you most likely have to change both, if the cars in your name. If the cars in someone elses name (ie. your parents) then you don't have to change both, but can change your license, if you are so inclined.

I think I mixed some of that up earlier in my above post.


Changing your registration though, at least in my case, is a waste... I just renewed mine 2 months ago so I'm good with driving a Massachusetts car in Maine for now. So I'm probably going to just retain my Mass residency for now, unless something else forces me to do otherwise.

I can't imagine a state hassling student's that much since that would require every out of state resident college student to change their license/plates...and you know that doesn't happen.

 

[plauto]

I'd get it registered wherever insurance is cheaper. Your parents=cheapest insurance 😉

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

You will need to have your car registered in either the state you are driving it in or the state that issued your driver's license. If you don't, you will be in violation of the tri-state law. It probably won't get you more than a warning from any policeman who pulls you over, but it's good to know.

I recommend registering in whichever state has cheaper registration and insurance costs, unless smog or vehicle inspection tests will be an issue. If you get pulled over and the policeman asks, either tell him that you're a student or that you just arrived in the state. When I bought my 1984 Toyota wagon in Nevada I had to mail the title to my mom so she could register it in Alaska for me. There was no way it could have passed a Nevada air quality inspection, and Alaska tags cost half as much as Nevada. If you do something like this, just make sure whoever you send the title to is really trustworthy, or they'll end up owning your car. 😱

 

[curt656]

Here is something to think about...If your state charges a tax (like ad valorem in Georgia) on your car to renew the tag, you may want to think about changing the tag here in Florida. We are not charged such a tax, and it is a flat rate (like $75) whether you drive a Hyundai or a Lamborghini.

I lived in Georgia for a couple of years and it cost like 300-400 dollars a year to renew the tag. RIDICULOUS!