Registration Renewals

Your vehicle registration is usually valid for two years, but once your expiration date starts closing in, MVA sends out a registration renewal card.

You have plenty of choices on how to respond to the card, but all of them require paying a fee for your new tags.

Make Sure You're Eligible

If you have any glitches on your driving record (i.e., traffic violations or insurance compliance issues) at time of renewal, then you cannot, unfortunately, utilize the wide range of convenient registration renewal options the state has in place. Instead you will need to journey to a full-service MVA office to complete the transaction.

If your record is in the clear, the state makes it pretty painless to keep your vehicle up-to-date.

Renew Online

Perhaps the simplest and quickest way to renew is utilizing the online e-MVA system. This option even allows you to print out a temporary registration card as a substitute until the real version arrives in the mail.

If you do not own a computer, you can still take care of your renewal online at one of the numerous e-MVA kiosks located around the state. You should only use this option if your name, address, and insurance information are identical to the information on your registration card.

For the location nearest you, see MVA's list of kiosk locations under the "Renewing through e-MVA" section.

Renew by Mail

The old-fashioned way is still the choice for most. The MVA sends the renewal notice a couple months prior to the plate tags going defunct, and you send it back with a check. You will need to note corrections (if any) on the form and jot in your insurance information if it is not listed on the card already.

Note: if you're driving a company car, the person signing the renewal notice must list their official title. In other words, they must have the capacity to handle company property. Otherwise, you'll need to attach a Power of Attorney with your notice.

MVA only accepts checks or money orders payable to "MVA" (don't send cash). Checks should have your preprinted name and address. To help MVA keep track of your payment, write your driver's license number and a phone number on the check.

Renew by Phone

As long as your address, name, and insurance and vehicle information displayed on your registration renewal notice is up to date, you can nab your touch-tone telephone, call (888) 834-7344 (888-VEH-REGI), and renew by phone using a Visa or MasterCard.

MVA on Wheels

Now you can add MVA on Wheels to the list of services that come to you rather than you going to them. Of course, this rolling service doesn't come directly to your door, but it definitely comes close in some cases.

You can call (800) 950-1MVA to find the location nearest you, or check MVA's online schedule.

Other Ways to Renew

If you reside in a county that does not have an MVA office and would prefer not to drive all over the place, you can renew your registration at your local county treasurer's office or through an authorized title service agent.

Using either one of these alternatives has a monetary catch though: you will have to pay an added charge on top of the registration costs.

A Few Helpful Notes

• Renew as early as possible. Avoid the hassle of penalties by taking the time now to go through the renewal process.

• You will only receive one sticker for your renewal.

• MVA requires proof of insurance before you renew your registration, so make sure you renew on or before your insurance is expired, or else you have to pay a hefty uninsured motorist penalty.

• You can request new license plates if yours have been lost or damaged. Write "Need New Plates" above the plate number on your renewal notice. Once you receive the new ones, you must surrender your old plates to MVA.