District law requires that all vehicles housed and operated in the District be registered in the District of Columbia. If you move to the District, you have 60 calendar days from the date you begin to live in DC to register your vehicle with DC DMV. You must first convert your out-of-state driver license to a District of Columbia driver license or non-driver identification card.
Note: If you are a student, diplomat, active military member, part-time resident, member of Congress or presidential appointee and you want to retain your home state driver license or tags, you must apply for a reciprocity permit.
How to Register Your New or Used Vehicle
To legally register your new or used vehicle in the District, you must visit a DC DMV service center with the following:
- Completed Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application
- All owners must be listed on the vehicle title.
- The vehicle must pass DC inspection. Brand new passenger class vehicles do not require inspections.
- All vehicles registered in the District must have proof of valid DC insurance.
- Payment for title and registration fees due at the time of processing.
Note: Vehicle registration renewals are available online or by mail and registration card replacements are available online or in-person.
Leases and Liens
If your vehicle is under lease or lien, you may encounter the following special circumstances in registering your vehicle.
- Has expired non-DC tags and the title is with the lienholder or lessor, you may obtain a temporary tag to take the vehicle through inspection.
- If the title is being held by the lienholder or lessor, you must submit a request to obtain the title using the lienholder out-of-state title request form.
Note: In addition to the other documents required for registering the vehicle, you must also provide a signed lease agreement.
You can access DC DMV's Online Out-of-State Title Information system to verify whether we have received the title from the lienholder. Once the title has been received by DC DMV, the vehicle may be registered.
Lease Buyout Registration
If you buy your car at the end of a lease, to register it, you will need all of the information above and an odometer statement that shows the current mileage of the vehicle. You may retain the current valid vehicle tags from your lease period.