Can you get a car registered in one state and insured in another?

Insurance Forum Auto Insurance
1

Hey everyone, I need some advice. I’m a college student, 20 years old, and I’m planning to get a car. My family is based in Texas, but I go to school in New York, so driving back and forth isn’t really practical. I’m thinking about registering the car in New York since that’s where I’ll mostly be driving it, but getting insurance in NY is really expensive.

The plan is either to buy a car directly in NY or get a certified pre-owned one shipped to me. Registering it in NY sounds logical, but the insurance quotes are super high—about $2500 for six months! I was wondering if my dad could add me to his insurance plan in Texas while the car’s registered in NY. Has anyone had a similar situation? Any tips would be appreciated!

2

Usually, the car should be registered and insured in the state where it’s mostly used and parked.

3

Whitney said:
Usually, the car should be registered and insured in the state where it’s mostly used and parked.

Thanks for clearing that up!

4

Whitney said:
Usually, the car should be registered and insured in the state where it’s mostly used and parked.

What if the car’s registered and insured in a state you’re no longer living in? My car’s all registered in Arkansas, but I’m currently in Florida. I have Arkansas plates and insurance, and my provider is all online.

5

@Cameron
If you stay longer than the allowed time, it can become a problem, and they might deny a claim. It’s pretty easy for them to figure out where a car is being used full-time.

6

In NY, you can’t register a car there if it’s insured in another state. It all needs to match up with NY.

7

Vega said:
In NY, you can’t register a car there if it’s insured in another state. It all needs to match up with NY.

Alright, got it—thanks for the advice!

8

Since you’re a student, you might be able to keep an out-of-state car in NY temporarily. Check with NY law first though. Generally, you could keep the car registered and insured in Texas if your license stays there. But just know that if you have too many incidents in NY, your insurer might drop you.

9

@Eli
Good to know! My biggest concern is the yearly inspection requirement if it’s registered in TX. Do you know if there’s a way around that since I wouldn’t be driving back to Texas each year?

10

Zeph said:
@Eli
Good to know! My biggest concern is the yearly inspection requirement if it’s registered in TX. Do you know if there’s a way around that since I wouldn’t be driving back to Texas each year?

That wouldn’t be an issue until you bring it back to Texas. Just drive to the nearest inspection station when you’re back. NY can’t enforce Texas inspection laws, so you’re fine on that. An insurance agent in Texas could give more details.

11

@Eli
Oh okay, so I can register it in TX without worrying about yearly inspections? Thanks, I’ll double-check with an agent!

12

Zeph said:
@Eli
Oh okay, so I can register it in TX without worrying about yearly inspections? Thanks, I’ll double-check with an agent!

Texas does require annual inspections for all registered vehicles. They’re required for registration renewals.

13

@Eli
NY requires annual inspections too. If you stop NY insurance and don’t turn in the plates, they’ll suspend your registration. NY doesn’t take these rules lightly!

14

Crosby said:
@Eli
NY requires annual inspections too. If you stop NY insurance and don’t turn in the plates, they’ll suspend your registration. NY doesn’t take these rules lightly!

NY doesn’t require inspections for vehicles registered in another state, like TX. So there’s a bit of a loophole there.

15

@Eli
Not really a loophole. Each state has its own laws, and you can’t use Texas insurance on a car registered in NY. Pretty straightforward.

16

Crosby said:
@Eli
Not really a loophole. Each state has its own laws, and you can’t use Texas insurance on a car registered in NY. Pretty straightforward.

Yeah, you’re right. Just thought it’d help answer the main question.

17

@Eli
It’s true, but if you miss a Texas inspection, they could suspend the registration, which would be an issue if you’re in NY and get pulled over.

18

NY won’t give you plates without NY insurance. They’re strict, so don’t try any shortcuts.

19

Crosby said:
NY won’t give you plates without NY insurance. They’re strict, so don’t try any shortcuts.

Looks like NY insurance is the way to go. I’ll get a new policy for that.

20

Texas doesn’t require inspections for brand-new cars, but otherwise, they do. You can usually insure and register a car from different states, but some states like New Mexico require the insurance to be from the same state as the plates. It’s worth calling an insurance agent to get the details for your situation.