What you need to register a car in Washington DC

To register a car in Washington DC, you must submit your documents to the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV). The DC DMV requires proof of ownership, proof of residency, a valid ID, and proof of insurance before they will issue you a registration certificate and license plate.

If you are registering a vehicle you just bought, you will need the title or bill of sale. If you are transferring a registration from another state, you will need the out-of-state title or registration. The DC DMV will not register a vehicle without proof that you own it.

Proof of residency means a document showing your DC address — a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or government mail dated within the last 60 days all work. A driver's license or passport serves as your valid ID. For insurance, the DC DMV accepts proof from any company licensed to sell insurance in DC; your policy declaration page or a letter from your insurer showing your vehicle identification number (VIN) and policy dates is sufficient.

Key Takeaways

  • You must register your vehicle at the DC DMV in person or by mail, and you cannot register a car without proof of DC residency and a valid ID.
  • The DC DMV requires the vehicle title or bill of sale, proof of insurance, and proof of residency dated within the last 60 days.
  • Registration fees in DC depend on the vehicle's weight and age; you can find the exact fee for your car on the DC DMV website before you go.
  • A standard DC registration is valid for two years, and the DC DMV will mail your registration certificate and plates to your address within two to three weeks of approval.
  • If you are registering a vehicle with a lien (a loan against it), the lienholder's name must appear on the title, and you may need written permission from the lender.

In-person registration at the DC DMV

The DC DMV operates a single full-service location at 301 C Street NW in downtown Washington. You can walk in during business hours without an appointment, though wait times vary. The DMV is open Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring all required documents, your vehicle, and a completed Form MV-14 (process for Registration or Permit).

When you arrive, you will be given a number and directed to a waiting area. A staff member will call your number and review your documents. If everything is in order, they will collect your fee, take your vehicle outside to verify the VIN and issue plates, and give you a temporary registration to drive home. Your permanent registration certificate will arrive by mail within two to three weeks.

If you cannot visit in person, you may mail your documents and completed Form MV-14 directly to the DC DMV at 301 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. Include a check or money order for the registration fee. Processing by mail takes four to six weeks, and the DMV will contact you by phone if there are any problems with your process.

Registration fees and what they cover

DC registration fees are based on the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), not the make or model. A passenger car typically weighs between 4,001 and 6,000 pounds and costs $135 to register. Heavier vehicles cost more; the DC DMV website has a complete fee schedule organized by weight class.

Your registration fee covers the two-year registration period. You do not pay annually in DC — your registration is valid for 24 months from the date of issue. When your registration expires, you will receive a renewal notice by mail 30 days before the expiration date. You can renew by mail, online through the DC DMV website, or in person at the DMV office.

If you register a vehicle partway through the year, DC does not prorate the fee. You pay the full two-year fee regardless of when you register. This means registering in January or December costs the same.

Registering a vehicle with a loan or lien

If you are still paying off a car loan, the lender holds a lien on the vehicle — a legal claim that they own it until you finish paying. The lender's name must appear on the title as the lienholder. When you register the vehicle, the DC DMV will see the lien and may require written permission from the lender before issuing the registration.

Contact your lender and ask them to provide a letter authorizing you to register the vehicle in DC. Some lenders send this automatically when you take out the loan; others require you to request it. Bring this letter with your other documents when you register. If the lender's name is not on the title, the DC DMV will not register the vehicle until you contact the lender and have the title corrected.

Once you pay off the loan, the lender will send you a lien release document. Take this to the DC DMV to have the title updated and the lien removed. You do not need to re-register the vehicle after a lien is released, but updating the title prevents confusion if you sell the car later.

Transferring a registration from another state

If you are moving to DC and bringing a car registered in another state, you must transfer the registration to DC within 30 days of establishing residency. Bring your out-of-state title or registration, proof of DC residency, your valid ID, proof of insurance, and a completed Form MV-14. The process is the same as registering a new vehicle in DC.

Some states issue titles; others issue registration certificates that serve the same purpose. The DC DMV accepts either one as proof of ownership. If your out-of-state title has a lien on it, follow the same steps as above — contact the lender for written permission and bring that letter with your documents.

Your out-of-state plates are no longer valid once you register in DC. You may keep them as a souvenir, but you must display your new DC plates on the vehicle. If you register by mail, the DC DMV will mail your plates to your address; if you register in person, they will issue plates on the spot.

Special situations: rebuilt titles, salvage vehicles, and imports

A rebuilt title means the vehicle was declared a total loss by an insurance company, repaired, and inspected by the state that issued the title. DC will register a vehicle with a rebuilt title, but you must bring the rebuilt title itself, not a standard title. The registration process is otherwise the same.

A salvage vehicle is one that has not yet been repaired or inspected after being declared a total loss. DC does not register salvage vehicles for road use. You must have the vehicle repaired and inspected, and the title must be changed from salvage to rebuilt, before the DC DMV will register it.

Vehicles imported from outside the United States must meet federal safety and emissions standards before DC will register them. If you are importing a vehicle, contact the DC DMV before you buy it to confirm it can be registered in DC. Some older or specialty vehicles cannot be registered for road use in the District.

Renewing your DC registration

Your DC registration expires two years from the date it was issued. The DC DMV will mail you a renewal notice 30 days before expiration. You can renew online through the DC DMV website if your vehicle has not changed and your insurance is still current. Online renewal takes about five minutes and costs the same as in-person renewal.

If you cannot renew online — for example, if you have a lien on the vehicle or if your address has changed — you can renew by mail or in person. By mail, send your renewal notice, a check or money order for the fee, and a current proof of insurance to the DC DMV address. In person, bring the same documents to the DMV office. Renewing in person takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Do not let your registration expire. Driving with an expired registration is a traffic violation in DC and can result in a fine. If your registration has been expired for more than 30 days, you may have to re-register the vehicle instead of renewing it, which requires all the original documents and takes longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I register a car in DC if I do not have a DC driver's license?

Yes. You need a valid ID — a driver's license, passport, or state ID card — but it does not have to be from DC. You do need proof of DC residency, such as a utility bill or lease, to show that you live in the District.

What if the title is in someone else's name?

The person whose name is on the title must sign the title over to you and provide a bill of sale. Bring both documents to the DC DMV. If the title is in two names, both people must sign unless the title says "or" between the names instead of "and."

How long does registration take if I go in person?

If your documents are complete and correct, the DC DMV can process your registration in 15 to 30 minutes. Wait times at the office vary; arriving early in the morning or on a weekday afternoon usually means a shorter wait than midday or Saturday.

What happens if I register my car but do not have insurance yet?

The DC DMV will not issue a registration without proof of insurance. You must have an active insurance policy before you register. Once you have a policy, bring the declaration page to the DMV and complete your registration.

Can I register a vehicle that is not in my name?

No. The person registering the vehicle must be the owner of record on the title. If you are buying a car from someone else, they must sign the title over to you first. You cannot register a vehicle you do not own.