Registration of Out-of-State Automobiles (ROSA)

ROSA stands for registration of out of state automobiles. Automobiles housed in the District of Columbia for 30 consecutive days are required to be registered and display a valid DC inspection sticker and tags when parked or operated on public space. The Department of Public Works monitors residential areas for the presence of automobiles not in compliance with DC registration requirements. If an automobile has been observed a second time within a thirty-day period, a warning notice may be issued indicating the automobile is eligible for the issuance of a citation and/or impoundment unless one of the following actions has been taken.

• Recurring visitor (frequent short term visits) report to a DMV service location and prove non-residency by presenting a copy of the original lease, deed or mortgage statement and a utility bill no more than 60-days old. The documents must be in the name of the registered owner of the vehicle. A copy of the vehicle registration in your name is also required. You may also mail the required documents to:

DC Department of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: ROSA Exemption
PO Box 90120
Washington, DC 20090

If mailing, your ROSA exemption receipt will be sent to you within 15 days. The ROSA exemption is good for a one year period.

• Temporary residents (more than 30 days) must register their vehicles or apply for the reciprocity permit.

Note: Warning notice or ticket for failure to register in the District of Columbia MUST be issued prior to issuance of ROSA exemption. Bring with you or mail in the warning notice posted to your automobile.

If you live with someone and the lease, deed or mortgage is not in your name, you must provide all of the following:

• A statement from the homeowner attesting to the fact that you reside at their home.
• A copy of the lease, deed, mortgage or a current utility bill (60 days or less) in the homeowner's name.
• A copy of the homeowner's drivers license or non-drivers identification.

Once you receive an exemption from ROSA, your vehicle license tag number will be entered into the District's ticket management system. The exemption applies to ROSA enforcement only. All other parking regulations still apply, such as residential parking. You will receive a receipt for your records indicating the exemption expiration date (365 days).

If you receive a ticket for failure to secure DC tags, you may contest the ticket online, by mail or in person. You must present the same documents listed for receiving the ROSA exemption.

After the one year exemption period, if you receive another warning notice, you may repeat the exemption process above.

Note :A ROSA exemption is NOT a parking permit, and it does NOT exempt a vehicle from DC parking regulations. For example, vehicles with ROSA exemptions are still subject to all Residential Parking Permit (RPP) restrictions in effect in the location where the vehicle is parked.

Similarly, a Visitor Parking Pass is not related to the ROSA program, and the use of a Visitor Parking Pass to allow a vehicle to avoid RPP time limits will NOT exempt that vehicle from ROSA requirements.