On the Road: A Tradesman’s Guide to Out-of-State Vehicle Registration

America is built upon the back of hard working men and women in the skilled trades. The folks who get out there when the sun won’t be up for a couple more hours, in their bib overalls and heavy duck coats, or sweating it out in the midday sun. 

There are somewhere in the ballpark of 35 million people who work in the trades, which means that ten percent of the total population works a trade skill. Of course, this is the entire population, not the working population; the percentage of the working population is much higher. One of the marquee characteristics of the tradesman is their not only willingness but expectation of working and living on the road. 

Sometimes, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to keep your vehicle registered in your domicile state if or when the registration taxes are high, or especially if your home state requires smog checks. If you are just passing through a state or are working there for a few months, do you need to stay in potential restrictive domicile state? Let’s talk about these road warriors and what some of their options are. 

Why Tradesmen Need Flexible Vehicle Registration

It’s hard to nail down exactly how many people who work in the trades do so on the road, but it’s not insignificant. 

But it’s not so much about the numbers that matters. It’s the demands of the job. Tradesmen work all over the country, hopping state lines like crazy. Now, these guys and gals don’t necessarily need flexible car registration; and car registration is fine. But the bigger issue is why shouldn’t they? If there is a state that offers a better deal and saves them some coin, why should they be stuck dealing with a home state that takes away from their bottom line? There isn’t much that’s more inconvenient than having to go back to your domicile state to register your truck mid-job. Instead, a third-party handling it all for you is a very attractive option, and it is exactly what we do. We interface with the Montana DMV to handle all of the tedious registration work so you can focus on your craft. 

How to Register Your Vehicle Out of State

Alright, so what do you need to register your vehicle out of state if you work on the road a lot? First, don’t worry; you don’t need special permission or anything from your home state. This is your business, not theirs. 

But you will need a few things to get the ball rolling and save that sweet dough (notice a theme?)

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

Okay, this one is really just for show. There is no eligibility. Are you an American? Do you already own a work truck or are you getting ready to buy one? If you are sitting there thinking “How do I register my truck online?”, you are eligible. 

Step 2: Gather Required Documents

There is no eligibility requirement at all, but you will need to provide a few things for use to do the work. Generally speaking, you will just need a few things for the process of registering out of state, and it is nothing different than what you have to take to your home DMV. 

• Proof of ownership (signed title, MCO, bill of sale, etc)

• And that’s it. 

Yeah, we thought there’d be more, too. But to get the ball rolling, all you need is a valid proof of ownership. We prepare the rest and send it to you.

Step 3: Choose Your Registration State

There are two main options, but for almost all registrations, there is only one: Montana.

Montana has no sales tax, and since you have to own the vehicle through an LLC, you are a resident of Montana. This protects you in case you are ever questioned about why you have a driver’s license and address from your home state but your truck registration or truck registration renewal is from Montana. 

Step 4: Complete Your Registration

You don’t actually have to do much here. Click the buy button, follow the instructions, fill out the paperwork and send it back, and go about your business. 

The Benefits of Online Vehicle Registration Renewal

This is all about personal choice. If you like saving money, then it is definitely for you. Since there are only three states that have zero sales tax, odds are good that you are paying sales taxes and will save money.

Oh, and you don’t ever have to go to the DMV again. Ever. Or get your work truck smog checked or inspected. 

Is Out-of-State Registration Right for You?

We think that out-of-state registration is a no-brainer for just about anyone that lives and works on the road. You don’t have to deal with smog checks, state inspections, long lines at the DMV, or sales tax. I mean…why is there anything to deliberate? We set out to make the process as easy as we can, and we stand by that. Give us a call if you have any questions, or just go ahead and get started! We promise, it is one of the easy things you’ll do today.