How to Register a Car in Oklahoma
If you live in Oklahoma, you’ll have to make an in-person visit to your local Oklahoma Tax Commission office to register your vehicle for the first time.
Written by Zachary Morgan
Reviewed by Alita Dark
Whether you’re a newcomer to
Oklahoma
or a lifelong resident who just purchased a new vehicle, you will have 30 days to title and register your car with the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC).RECOMMENDED
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How to register a car in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma vehicle registration process is pretty simple, but you’ll need to have your ducks in a row all the same. You will need a completed Application for Oklahoma Certificate of Title for a Vehicle, proof of ownership, and enough money to pay fees. If applicable, you’ll also need your old license plate, lien documentation, and an odometer statement.
If you just moved to Oklahoma
If you’ve recently moved to Oklahoma, you’ll have 30 days to register your vehicle and trade your out-of-state license for an
Oklahoma driver’s license
. For the most part, you’ll be dealing with the OTC throughout the registration process.Transferring your old license to an Oklahoma license is pretty easy. If your old license is valid and you’re not changing vehicle types, or if your old license has been expired for fewer than six months, you can make an appointment at your nearest
Oklahoma Licensing Office
to get a new one. You’ll have to bring the following:- Your out-of-state license
- Your Social Security Number
- A Name Change Document (if applicable)
Once all your documentation has been certified, you’ll be able to choose between a four-year license ($42.50) and an eight-year license ($81).
Now, we can move on to the registration process. For both new and established residents, you have to visit your nearest OTC tag agent office in person the first time you title and register a vehicle. Before applying for the title and registration, you’ll have to purchase a valid Oklahoma car insurance policy (more on that later).
For the registration process, you will need a valid proof of ownership, money to pay fees, and a completed
Application for Oklahoma Certificate of Title for a Vehicle
.Valid proofs of ownership include:
- The out-of-state vehicle title (for new residents)
- The Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (for new vehicles)
- The current title for a used vehicle (under the resident’s name)
- Proof of insurancefor a valid Oklahoma car insurance policy
- Your old license plate, if applicable
- Proof of payment for title and registration fees
- Lien documentation (for financed vehicles)
- An odometer statement if the vehicle is nine years old or newer (can be included on the transferred title)
In addition, the tag agent might perform a VIN and/or odometer inspection before issuing the title certificate for new and out-of-state vehicles.
Aside from the application form and proof of identity, you’ll also have to pay various fees for your title and registration. The precise amount you can expect to pay depends on a number of factors, and your tag agent will tell you exactly what you owe. Fees include:
- An $11 titling fee
- A $96 motor vehicle registration fee
- A $17 title transfer fee for a newly purchased vehicle
- A $4 VIN inspection fee for used/out-of-state vehicles
- A lien processing fee for financed vehicles: $10 if the lienholder is in-state, $13 if out-of-state
- A $5 postage fee for mailed license plates
- An excise tax if you’re transferring vehicle ownership
And that’s that! Once all your fees are paid and the paperwork is squared away, you and your vehicle will be officially titled and registered in the great state of Oklahoma.
If you just bought a car
If you’re a longtime resident of Oklahoma but you just purchased a new vehicle, you’ll follow the same registration process for the most part, but you’ll have to provide some extra documentation and pay some additional fees. Namely, you’ll have to provide your OTC representative with the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin as well as a $17 title transfer fee.
How much insurance coverage do you need in Oklahoma?
Per
Oklahoma's car insurance laws
, drivers are required to purchase a minimum amount of car insurance coverage before they can legally get behind the wheel. For newly established Oklahoma drivers, your policy must meet the following minimums:- At least $25,000 per person ofbodily injury liability
- At least $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability
- At least $25,000 per accident ofproperty damage liability
Remember that you have to meet these minimums before you can apply for a title and registration, so put it at the top of your to-do list. Furthermore, while this coverage represents the bare minimum you’re required to have legally, it’s still a good idea to purchase more than the lowest possible amount of protection for you and your vehicle. Adding
collision
and comprehensive coverage
to your policy is a good way to stay protected. Extra liability protection wouldn’t hurt, either.RECOMMENDED
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How to renew your Oklahoma vehicle registration
You have to visit an OTC office in person the first time you register your vehicle, but when the time comes to renew your registration, you have the option of doing so online, through the mail, or in person again.
If you don’t mind physically visiting your nearest OTC office, then all you have to do is make an appointment and bring the following with you:
- Registration renewal notice
- Proof of VIN
- Oklahoma title number or license plate number
- Proof of insurance
- $47.50 renewal fee plus postage
If you’d rather renew through the mail, you just need to take the same documentation listed above and mail it to the following address:
OK Tax Commission
P.O. Box 26940
Oklahoma City, OK 73126
The easiest and fastest way to renew is to
go online
, provide your documentation, and pay the amount shown by the OTC.How to replace a lost registration sticker or license plate
If your license plates and/or registration sticker are ever lost, stolen, or damaged, you can visit your local OTC office and fill out
Form 797-D
to get replacements. You’ll have to provide proof of insurance and pay a replacement fee—$9 plus a $1.50 insurance fee for a new sticker and $9.50 plus a $1.50 insurance fee for a new plate.“I just financed a new car and knew my insurance premium was going to rise.Jerrywas well worth it to use. They helped me find a lower premium and canceled my old policy instantly when I was ready to switch!” —Meghana D.
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FAQs
What are the requirements to register a vehicle in Oklahoma?
If you want to register your car in Oklahoma, then you’ll need proof of insurance, proof of ownership, money for fees, and a completed Application for Oklahoma Certificate of Title for a Vehicle.
How much does it take to register a car or truck in Oklahoma?
The total cost of your vehicle’s registration is determined by a variety of factors, like how new the vehicle is or whether it came from in-state or out-of-state, but the specific registration fee is $96 for motor vehicles.
Who is exempt from registering their vehicle in Oklahoma?
All Oklahoma vehicles that are intended for road use must be registered, but there are discounts available if certain conditions are met. For example, Oklahoma residents who have had their vehicle modified to accommodate a disability will only have to pay a $36 registration fee, as opposed to $96.
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