Question: I’m moving out of state temporarily, but I plan to move back to my home state within a year. Do I need to change my vehicle registration and license?
Answer: If you intend to establish residency in a new state, you will be legally required to change your driver’s license, registration, and car insurance to match your new address—even if that move is just temporary. What qualifies as “residency” can vary from state to state so it is best to check with the new state to see if you will qualify or not.
There are exceptions to this rule
These exceptions include:
- Drivers with a permanent residence they plan to keep: If you’re a homeowner with a permanent address in your home state, you can continue using that address for your license and registration.
- Out-of-state students: If you’re a student who is moving temporarily for college, you can continue using your parents’ address as your permanent residence. Your out-of-state driver’s license, registration, and car insurance will all still be valid—provided you communicate to your insurance company that you’ll be moving temporarily.
How to change your driver’s license and car registration after moving to another state
Once you’ve moved to your new state of residence, you can get your new driver’s license and registration by contacting your new home state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Most states require that you do this within a certain period after moving, usually within 10-60 days.
You’ll need to bring several documents with you to your local DMV office, which may include:
- Proof of identity, such as your birth certificate, your old license, and/or another form of government ID card
- Proof of your Social Security number, usually your Social Security card
- Proof of residence, such as a utility bill, lease, or other documentation of your change of address
- Your previous vehicle title
- Proof of auto insurance coverage that meets the minimum requirements in your state
In some states, you’ll be subjected to a vision test and possibly a knowledge test and/or driving test before you’re issued a temporary license and new license plates. For more information about what’s required in your new home state, check your local DMV website.
How to change your car insurance after moving to another state
After your move, you’ll need to update your auto insurance policy to match your new state of residence. This means finding a new policy that fits your new needs (and your updated address), and then canceling your old one.
Different states have different minimum car insurance requirements; some states, for example, require drivers to carry high liability insurance coverage limits, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), and personal injury protection (PIP). Meanwhile, other states require low liability limits and not much else. New residents should
check state laws to learn more about insurance requirements in their state before shopping for a new policy.
Liz Jenson is an insurance writer who specializes in general automotive and insurance topics. Liz’s mission is to produce informative and useful content to help car owners make smart choices when buying cars and car insurance. Since joining Jerry in 2021, Liz has written nearly 4,000 long- and short-form articles on topics including state-specific insurance recommendations, common car insurance questions, and deep dives into vehicle model details. Before they came to Jerry, Liz was a full-time student at Indiana University, Bloomington working on a double major in English and French.
Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.
