Titling a Car in Massachusetts After Moving From Another State
Last verified: October 2026 against Massachusetts RMV and DOR sources
You must register your vehicle in Massachusetts as soon as you become a resident. There is no grace period.
A car you bought and registered in your old state more than 6 months before, while you lived there, is exempt from Massachusetts sales tax.
Step by step
- 1
Complete Form MVU-29
Fill out the affidavit for a motor vehicle purchased outside Massachusetts (MVU-29). A vehicle bought and registered in your prior state more than 6 months before, while you lived there, is exempt.
If you bought it within the last 6 months and paid tax to a state that gives Massachusetts the same credit, you pay only the difference up to 6.25%.
- 2
Get Massachusetts insurance
A licensed Massachusetts insurance agent completes, stamps, and signs the Registration and Title Application. Sign it after checking the information.
- 3
Gather proof of ownership
Bring your out-of-state title. If a lienholder holds it, bring your out-of-state registration and a copy of the title showing the lien, the security agreement, or a recent printout of owner information. Vehicles from New York, Kentucky, Minnesota, Maryland, Missouri, and Montana need the physical title.
- 4
Register at an RMV Service Center
Schedule an appointment (walk-ins are welcome). You leave with a registration, plates, and a decal. The title is mailed in about 6 to 8 weeks.
- 5
Pay the fees and get an inspection
The title is $75 and standard passenger plates are $60 for two years. Get an inspection sticker within 7 days of registering. Your city or town will bill the yearly motor vehicle excise.
What to bring
- Form MVU-29
- Registration and Title Application, stamped by your Massachusetts insurance agent
- Your out-of-state title, or registration plus lien documents
- Payment for the $75 title and registration
- An inspection within 7 days of registering