DMV ASAP: 6 Steps To New Vehicle Registration For Teen And First-Time Drivers

You've done it-you've finally managed to pass your driving test and you're now a licensed driver who's cleared to hit the road. However, before you can start driving regularly, you need to have a car you can drive, and one of the things that determines if a car is road-worthy is registration. Every car that drives on public roads needs to be registered, which means supplying the state with your information as the person responsible for the vehicle and paying your registration taxes and fees.

If you've never done this before, then this blog is for you: here are some helpful tips for how to register your vehicle as a teen or first-time driver.

Get a Title in Your Name
The first step to registering a vehicle is to have legal proof that you own and are responsible for it. When you purchase your vehicle, you should receive a proof of ownership form (most common when you purchase a car from a dealer using a loan), or the vehicle's title that you'll sign and take to your local motor vehicle regulation department during the registration process.

Get Needed Inspections Done
There's a good chance your vehicle will probably need to have at least one inspection done before you can register it in your name. In most states, you'll need to have your car tested for emissions levels. Most of the time, this can be done through one of dozens of local businesses that are licensed by your state to conduct these tests and report results to local regulators. In some states, such as Texas, you're required to get a safety inspection for your vehicle, which is similar to a smog check but looks at everything from your brakes to your lights to make sure your vehicle is safe to operate. In some cases, the results of these tests can be sent to regulators electronically. In others, you may have to take a physical copy of your passed inspection to a local office to complete your registration.