You can register a car online in Vermont in two situations: renewing a registration already on file, and printing a 60-day temporary registration and plate for a vehicle you just bought. A first-time, permanent registration still has to go through a DMV office, a participating town clerk, or the mail.1Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration, New
What the Online System Covers
The myDMV portal handles renewals for most vehicle types, including cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats, and ATVs. You can renew up to 60 days before your current registration expires, and you don’t need the paper renewal notice. The system looks up your vehicle with your plate number and the last four characters of your VIN.2Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration Renewal
The portal also issues a temporary registration and printable plate for a newly purchased vehicle, valid for 60 days while you complete the full title and registration paperwork. You need a valid Vermont driver’s license, and there is a $6 fee. The DMV paused this service in November 2025 for system upgrades, with a planned return by January 2026, so confirm it’s available before counting on it.3Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Temporary Registration
What the portal does not do is complete a first-time registration. If you’ve bought a vehicle and need a title transfer, permanent plates, and a permanent registration, you have to submit a Registration, Tax, and Title Application in person or by mail.1Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration, New
How to Renew Online
Go to the myDMV portal on the Vermont DMV website. You can renew as a guest or sign in to a myDMV account. The guest route asks for your vehicle type, the last four characters of your VIN, and your plate number, then shows your vehicle for you to confirm.4Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. How Can I Renew My Vehicle Registration on myDMV
Signed in, you’ll see your vehicles listed with a “Renew Registration” link beside each one. The account version also lets you update your address or request a replacement plate during the renewal.5Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. How Do I Create a myDMV Account
Either path then asks you to choose a one-year or two-year registration period, enter an email for the confirmation, review the fees, and pay. Online payments go on Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
What You’ll Pay
Fees depend on the registration length and your vehicle’s fuel type. Plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles pay more to offset the gas tax they don’t generate, and every fee includes a $2 Clean Air Fund fee plus, for electrified vehicles, an EV Infrastructure fee.6Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration Fees
- Gas or diesel: $91 for one year, $167 for two.
- Plug-in hybrid: $135.50 for one year, $256 for two.
- Battery electric: $178 for one year, $341 for two.
The two-year option saves a few dollars and means one less renewal to track. If you’re registering a newly purchased vehicle rather than renewing, Vermont’s 6% purchase and use tax applies on top of the registration fee, whether you bought from a dealer or a private seller.
What Happens After You Submit
You’ll get an on-screen confirmation and an emailed receipt. The system also generates a temporary registration valid for ten days while the DMV processes the renewal, and your permanent documents arrive in the mail in about ten business days.7Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration, Renew
If you used the online temporary plate option after buying a vehicle, you can print the plate and registration document immediately. The 60-day window is for finishing the full registration by submitting a Registration, Tax, and Title Application to the DMV.8Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Vermont Registration, Tax and Title Application
When You Have to Register In Person or By Mail
First-time registrations, title transfers, and anything else the portal doesn’t support need to go through a DMV office, a participating town clerk, or the mail. Town clerks handle a large share of Vermont’s vehicle registration work and are often easier to reach than a DMV branch in smaller communities. Bring the completed Registration, Tax, and Title Application, your supporting documents, proof of insurance, and payment.
By mail, send the same packet to the Vermont DMV at 120 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05603-0001.1Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration, New Include a printed J.D. Power vehicle valuation dated within the last seven days so the DMV can verify the vehicle’s value for tax. Mailed payments must be by check or money order; the DMV doesn’t take credit cards by mail.
Get the Inspection Done Within 15 Days
Vermont requires both a safety and an emissions inspection on registered vehicles. If your car doesn’t already carry a valid Vermont inspection sticker, you have 15 days from the date of registration to get it inspected. You can drive it during those 15 days, but it still has to be in good mechanical condition and meet Vermont’s safety standards.9Department of Motor Vehicles. How Long After I Register My Vehicle Do I Have to Get It Inspected Bring your insurance card; inspection stations won’t run the test without proof of insurance on hand.
What a Lapsed Registration Costs
Driving on an expired registration is a bad trade for the few minutes a renewal takes. Under 23 V.S.A. ยง 301, operating an unregistered vehicle carries a fine ranging from $47 to $1,197, with a standard waiver penalty of $162 to resolve the ticket without a hearing.10Vermont Judiciary. Judicial Bureau Waiver Penalties A lapse can also complicate an insurance claim after an accident, since insurers sometimes question whether the vehicle was legally on the road.