Massachusetts Temporary Plates: 20-Day Limit, Insurance, and Penalties

Massachusetts temporary plates are issued by a licensed dealer when you buy a vehicle, are valid for up to 20 days, and can be extended online through the Registry of Motor Vehicles if your permanent plates haven’t shown up in time.¹ You have to carry insurance that meets the state minimums the entire time the plate is in use, and driving past the expiration date is treated as operating an unregistered vehicle.

How You Get a Temporary Plate

You don’t apply for one at the RMV counter. State law authorizes the registrar to issue temporary plates to licensed dealers, who then hand them to buyers as part of the sale.¹ The dealer runs the registration through the RMV’s Electronic Vehicle Registration (EVR) system and prints a temporary certificate of registration along with a paper plate that mounts in a plastic sleeve on the vehicle.²

Before the dealer can issue the plate, you have to show proof of a Massachusetts motor vehicle insurance policy that meets the state minimums.¹ You also need ownership documentation, typically a bill of sale or title. A workable bill of sale lists the buyer and seller’s names and addresses, the year, make, model, VIN, odometer reading, purchase price, sale date, and both signatures.

The 20-Day Clock and Online Extension

A temporary plate is good for a maximum of 20 days from the date the dealer issues it.¹ That’s your legal driving window while the RMV processes and mails your permanent plates. Get your remaining registration documents in early, because the clock is short.

If day 20 is approaching and your permanent plates still aren’t in hand, the RMV lets you extend online. Log in through the RMV’s Online Service Center, choose “Access My Profile,” and select the “Extend My Temporary Plate” transaction.³ The extension is online only. Set a reminder around day 15 rather than trying to sort it out on the road.

Insurance You Must Carry

No insurance, no plate. And the coverage has to stay at or above Massachusetts minimums for the entire temporary registration period. Those minimums went up on July 1, 2025. The compulsory coverages are now:⁴

Bodily injury to others: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
Property damage: $30,000 per accident
Personal injury protection (PIP): $8,000 per person
Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

All four are required to register any vehicle in Massachusetts.⁵ If your policy lapses or falls below these limits while you’re on a temporary plate, the RMV can revoke the registration. Driving uninsured carries its own fines and license consequences on top of that. The older figures — $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage — no longer satisfy the state. Confirm your policy reflects the new numbers before you sign at the dealer.

Penalties for Driving on an Expired or Misused Plate

Once the plate expires, you’re operating an unregistered vehicle under state law. A first offense carries a fine of up to $100. Any subsequent offense can run up to $1,000.⁶⁷ The tenfold jump is a strong argument for using the online extension.

Misuse is more serious than lateness. Altering the expiration date, or putting the plate on a vehicle other than the one it was issued for, can be treated as fraud and can bring criminal charges, higher fines, and possible imprisonment.

One Plate, One Vehicle

A temporary plate is tied to the specific VIN on the registration application. You can’t move it to another car. Swapping the plate onto a different vehicle violates state law and voids the registration attached to it.¹ Buying two cars at once means two plates and two policies.

Out-of-State Buyers: The ST Plate

If you live outside Massachusetts but buy from a Massachusetts dealer, a different plate applies. The non-resident short-term registration is designed for out-of-state buyers who intend to drive the vehicle home and register it there.¹ These plates carry an “ST” prefix and cost $20, plus the 6.25% Massachusetts sales tax on the purchase price.⁸

To qualify, you need a valid out-of-state driver’s license and out-of-state residential address, and you can’t hold an active Massachusetts credential.² You also need proof of liability and property damage insurance meeting or exceeding Massachusetts minimums.¹ The dealer runs the entire transaction through EVR and can’t complete it if any eligibility piece is missing.

Sales Tax at the Dealer

Massachusetts charges 6.25% sales and use tax on vehicle purchases, and the Registration and Title Application plus any tax owed must be filed with the RMV within 10 days of the purchase.⁹ On a dealer purchase the tax is normally collected as part of the sale when the dealer processes your registration and temporary plate through EVR.² If you already paid sales tax to another state on the same vehicle, Massachusetts generally credits that amount, and you owe the difference only if the other state’s rate was lower than 6.25%.

1
General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 2D – Temporary Registration Plates
2
Mass.gov. Non-Resident Short-Term Registration Transaction Job Aid
3
Mass.gov. Ask the RMV
4
Mass.gov. Filing Guidance Notice 2025-A – New Motor Vehicle Mandatory Coverage Limits
5
Mass.gov. Basics of Auto Insurance
6
Mass.gov. Non-Resident Short Term Registration Plate Information Sheet
7
General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 9
8
Mass.gov. Apply for a Non-Resident Short-Term Registration
9
Mass.gov. Motor Vehicle and Trailer Sales and Use Tax