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Can I travel if my car registration expired?

My car registration just expired this week. I’ve been meaning to renew it, but I keep forgetting. I was going to visit my parents soon, who live a couple of states away, but now I’m wondering if I can even travel there with an expired car registration.

avatar
Melanie Mergen · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’re legally required to
register your vehicle
every year or two (depending on where you live).
There’s typically a grace period of one or several months in which you can drive your vehicle past the registration expiration date without being fined—but the length of that grace period depends on your state.
Once you’ve surpassed that grace period, you could face a ticket if you’re caught driving with an expired registration. In addition to a ticket, you may also face higher insurance costs as a result—and in some states, you could even have your car impounded.
If your registration just expired this week, it sounds like you may still be within the grace period—and, in the event you’re pulled over, the officer may only issue you a warning. If, however, your grace period has ended this week, that could put you in a tough spot if you hit the road and get pulled over. 
If you’re not sure exactly how long your state extends a grace period, you can check with the DMV—in many states, this type of information is available online. If you’re simply renewing your registration in the same state, you may even be able to complete the entire process online!
Registering your vehicle with your state’s DMV can be costly (not to mention a headache) but putting it off will cost you more in the long run.
View full answer 
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