What To Know When Buying a Vehicle From Out-of-State

One of the many great things about living in Massachusetts is how easy it is to cross state lines and explore the vast beauty of New England. Because of how simple it is to travel to other states, you may be considering purchasing a new vehicle outside of Massachusetts. 

However, purchasing a vehicle out-of-state will add a few more steps you may not be familiar with. 

At Berry Insurance, we frequently help clients register and title their new vehicles purchased out-of-state. If you’re going through this process yourself, keep reading to learn what you’ll need to provide to complete your registration. 

What do I need to register a new out-of-state vehicle in Massachusetts?

After purchasing a vehicle from an out-of-state dealer, you will need to then apply for Registration and Title Application (RTA). 

In some cases, an out-of-state dealer will be able to complete the RTA and send it to your licensed insurance agent to receive its stamp and signature. Sometimes, especially if you purchased the vehicle from a smaller dealership, your insurance agent may need to complete the RTA  for you entirely. In most cases we recommend working with your agent during this process, as it’s common to experience delays when having to rely on dealerships to mail the proper forms to the RMV. 

When registering the car, sometimes the dealer will do this for you if there is a Massachusetts RMV location close enough to them. If not, it will be up to you to go to the RMV yourself. The dealership will have 7 days from the date of purchase to register a newly acquired vehicle - the countdown beginning as soon as the vehicle is purchased, which is indicated by the bill of sale or certificate of transfer. 

If you already own a vehicle or trailer, you can transfer your registration to a new vehicle purchased from a dealer within 7 days of disposing of your previous vehicle. 

To complete the registration process of your new vehicle, you will need to have the following:

• Proof of an active insurance policy 
• A Registration and Title Application stamped and signed by the insurance agent
• Accurate and completed lienholder information (If there is a lien against the vehicle)
• The bill of sale
• A manufacturer’s certificate of origin (new vehicles only)
• Previous owner’s certificate of title (pre-owned vehicles only) 
• Dealer reassignment form (if applicable)

When submitting the certificate of origin or the title from the previous owner, be sure to check the date sold, odometer reading, sale price, and signatures are all listed on the back. 

If the dealer has to mail the documentation, they will need to send it to the RMV Registration Department’s address: 

This address is only for out-of-state dealers or service providers - documents from any other sender will be returned. 

What comes next? 

After submitting the application for registration and title, it will take approximately 6 to 8 weeks for it to be processed by the RMV. If there is a loan on the vehicle, the RMV will mail your title to your lienholder. 

It’s important to note that the application must be legible, printed on white 8 ½” x 11” paper, and not contain any white-outs or alterations. Applications that don’t follow these guidelines may not be accepted. 

After the transaction is complete, you will receive: 

• New license plates
• A registration certificate
• A year of expiration decal for the rear plate

What if I’m buying an out-of-state vehicle from a private seller? 

If you purchase a vehicle outside Massachusetts from a private seller or individual (i.e. not a car dealership) the process will mostly be the same. The major difference will be having to apply in person at the RMV service center.

When applying you will need one of the following documents in addition to the completed application: 

• Prior owner’s certificate of title
• Prior owner’s registration and bill of sale for exempt vehicles 
• Transfer document with the mileage, signatures and names of the buyer and seller, and sales price. 

How much will it cost to register an out-of-state vehicle?

Those looking to register a vehicle purchased out-of-state can expect a 6.25% sales tax to be collected based on the purchase price of the sale. If the vehicle’s dealer is not registered with the Department of Revenue, the sales tax will instead be calculated at 6.25% of the vehicle’s purchase price or the National Automotive Dealer Association (NADA) trade-in value - whichever happens to be the higher value. 

In addition to sales tax, drivers will typically be charged $60 to register a normal private passenger vehicle, which is good for 2 years. You would also need to pay the $75 Certificate of Title fee, making a total of $135. 

However, the cost to register vehicles in Massachusetts can vary depending on plate type. For more information on this cost, refer to the RMV’s Schedule of Fees, which breaks down specific plate types and fees.

Getting your new vehicle ready for the road

We know that this can all seem like a lot of steps to handle just to register your new vehicle, but working with the right insurance agent can help make the process a lot smoother. 

Our team at Berry Insurance is always happy to help our clients through this process and ensure their newly purchased ride will be ready for adventures in and around Massachusetts. 

If you’re buying the new vehicle as a gift or plan to give your older vehicle to a friend or loved one, you may be interested in what goes into gifting vehicles in Massachusetts. To learn more about transferring gifted vehicles, read this guide: Gifting a Car: What You Need to Know.