How to Renew Your Truck Registration: A Step-By-Step Guide

It's common knowledge that to operate a motor vehicle legally, the driver has to register it with local authorities. The same rule applies to the commercial trucking industry. However, registration isn't a one-time process, so what happens when it's time to renew truck registrations?

When you're ready to renew vehicle registrations like the Unified Carrier Registration for commercial trucks, motor vehicle carriers throughout the country turn to FMCA Filings. We're a respected filing service that helps commercial truckers and motor carriers comply with the many state and federal transportation regulations. Below we cover what you should know about the truck registration renewal process.

What It Means to Register a Vehicle

Every state has its own laws regarding vehicle registration requirements. Still, driving an unregistered vehicle on public roads or highways is illegal everywhere. Drivers must renew their truck registration within a few months after its expiration date, or they'll have to register it as new again.

So what is vehicle registration? It's a way to link a vehicle's ownership with a specific person and report it to the state's Department of Motor Vehicles or another relevant transportation department. It also lets these government agencies know that vehicles are in good standing with safety and emission regulations since insurance and inspections are usually part of the vehicle registration process.

Vehicle registration must occur any time you buy a new vehicle or move out of state. Registration includes a set of license plates for the vehicle and a sticker or decal to put on the plate. The sticker shows the registration's expiration date.

Why Is Vehicle Registration Renewal Necessary?

It doesn't matter if you own a car for private transportation purposes, run a motor carrier business, or have luxury vehicles as a status symbol: Your vehicles must have valid registrations. Registrations expire, so drivers must renew truck registrations within a specific timeframe. 

Registration renewals are important because they ensure a truck driver's legal registration status stays up-to-date. With it, they can use public roads to transport goods. You could accrue fines or risk vehicle impoundment if you don't renew your truck registration within your state's mandated timeframe. 

What You'll Need to Renew Your Truck Registration

Sometimes states allow truck registration renewal online, and other times they require mail-ins or in-person appearances. Documentation is necessary in all cases. Though states dictate which information they need to renew truck registrations, the general necessities include:

• Proof of insurance
• Your driver's license number
• The vehicle identification number
• Proof of recent inspection
• Your license plate number
• Passed emissions test
• Proof of vehicle ownership
• Government-issued photo ID

Before renewing your truck registration, check with your local DMV to ensure you have all the necessary information. You can also turn to FMCA Filings, where our agents will provide you with all the information and help you need. 

The Commercial Truck Registration Renewal Process

These are the basic steps within the truck registration renewal process. 

Know Your Renewal Date

Before your truck registration expires, you'll likely get a renewal notification. The notification will contain relevant information such as how to renew your registration, the documents you need, and the current registration's expiration dates. Not all states send out notices, but it's still your responsibility to know when your vehicle registration expires.

Renew Your Vehicle Registration According to Your State's Requirements

When you're ready to renew your truck registration, gather your documents and follow your state's registration renewal process.

For instance, if you live in New York, online renewal isn't available for vehicles exceeding 55,000 pounds, semi-trailers, or for-hire vehicles like buses and taxis. New York State also requires pick-up trucks to carry commercial registrations if they have business logos or advertisements. Before making an appointment to renew vehicle registration at a local DMV, drivers must complete a Vehicle Registration / Title Application MV-82 form. 

Pay Registration Fees

Registration renewals include fees and the amount will depend on your state and the type of vehicle you own. 

Pass Truck Inspection

Most states require a vehicle inspection or emissions test before drivers can renew their registrations. 

Get Your Renewal Sticker

Once you provide all the necessary documents and pass state-mandated vehicle tests or inspections, you'll get new registration documents and another sticker to add to your license plate.

Start Your Commercial Truck Registration Renewal Today with FMCA Filings

Commercial drivers must renew truck registrations to comply with state and federal regulations. At FMCA Filings, we make it easy for those within the commercial trucking industry to have the valuable information they need to maintain regulatory compliance while handling administrative duties.

Whether you need to know about the process for the renewal of truck registrations or details about an agent for service of process, we have you covered. Explore our easy to navigate online portal for more information, or contact our FMCA Filing crew online. You can also reach out to us through our live chat function.