The tags on cars are stickers that verify a vehicle\u2019s registration in the state it\u2019s owned it. Your car tags are good for one year only and will typically go on the corner of your license plate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between your vehicle\u2019s registration, license plate, insurance, and identification number, there is a lot to keep straight when it comes to your car. Getting a notice in the mail for soon-to-be expired car tags may have you cycling through all the different IDs of your vehicle to remember which one has to do with the tags on your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jerry<\/a>, thetrusted brokerage app that saves users money on their car insurance<\/a> exists to make car owners\u2019 lives easier, has created this handy guide on all things car tags. We\u2019ll go over what exactly they are and do, when they expire, and what you need to do to renew them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tags on cars are typically stickers on the license plate or cards kept inside the car\u2019s cabin that show proof of registration. It is illegal to drive an unregistered vehicle on public roads, so car tags let law enforcement officers know you\u2019re driving lawfully\u2014at least where your vehicle\u2019s registration is concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Registration stickers have alphanumeric codes that display the last month and year in which your registration is valid through. For example, your car tags may read \u201cNOV 22\u201d, meaning your current vehicle registration would be considered expired after the last day of November 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from the proof of registration, valid car tags also confirm proof of insurance, proof of vehicle ownership, and proof of good standing on any required car taxes. They are legally required at all times, and not having tags or having expired tags can lead to fines and other legal penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, car tags and license plates are different. Both are part of your car\u2019s registration but typically, tags are placed on the license plate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your tags usually come as small stickers and need to be renewed annually, while your vehicle\u2019s license plate is assigned by your state\u2019s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) one time and won\u2019t change unless the car is reregistered in a new state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn more: <\/strong>Your guide to buying a car in another state<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since expired car tags can get you into legal trouble and lead to potentially hefty fines, it\u2019s important to stay on top of their validation. And unfortunately, there isn\u2019t a blanket expiration date for everyone so you\u2019ll need to be aware of your specific renewal timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your<\/em> vehicle tags will expire one year from your previous vehicle registration. If you\u2019re unsure of when that was, simply check your current registration tags for the month and year listed. That will tell you the last valid month of your registration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your state\u2019s DMV should also send a renewal notice to the address associated with your vehicle\u2019s registration a few weeks before the expiry date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re approaching the expiration of your car tags, you\u2019ll want to take care of their renewal as soon as possible. There are several avenues vehicle owners can take to renew their tags, so pick the one that is the most convenient for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll need documentation for any of these renewal methods, though the specific documents you need vary between states. Be sure to check your state\u2019s requirements, but they may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a couple of weeks before the expiration and prefer good ol\u2019 snail mail, you can choose to mail your renewal directly to your local DMV. You\u2019ll need the renewal paperwork (often included in your renewal notice) and a non-cash payment, both postmarked before or by the expiration date to avoid additional fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With some wiggle room before your expiration, you could also visit your state\u2019s DMV website <\/strong>to make a renewal appointment online. It can sometimes take weeks before you can go in for your appointment, though, so be sure you have enough time for this route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, you could also handle your renewal directly on the state\u2019s DMV website, though you will have to wait for your new tags to arrive by mail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a bit short on time and need to renew your tags right away, you have some options. You could also check with your insurance company to see if they offer in-house DMV services like registration renewal to catch a much shorter line and a wait time that doesn\u2019t make you late for dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some states, the DMV even has freestanding kiosks <\/strong>in public places that can take care of basic DMV services. After entering your information and submitting your registration fees, you can immediately print your new registration card and new tags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, your car tag renewal date comes up out of nowhere. If you\u2019re not planning for the registration fees, you may have to dip into your savings to foot the bill and avoid an even higher fee. Be prepared for that expense and start racking up some savings on your car insurance<\/a> rates through Jerry<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. But don\u2019t worry about buying tiny office furniture: Jerry is an app. Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete, and you\u2019ll immediately get car insurance quotes for coverage similar to your current plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The average Jerry user saves over $800 a year on car insurance payments!<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat are tags on cars?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Are tags different from license plates?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhen do car tags expire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What should you do when your car tags expire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How to find cheap car insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n