State Registration

[speifer]

Hi, I am temporarily living in PA but I have a permanent address in NY where my car is registered to. I've heard conflicting information on whether I have to get my car registered in PA. I will only be in PA for a year, but I'm paying PA taxes. With my job I will only be in any one location for a year before moving; do I have to keep transferring my registration or is my permanent address sufficient? Thanks!

[Sarge]

As long as you maintain an adress in NY (ie: Mom and Dads house) you can keep the car and insurance in NY.

§ 1303. Vehicles of nonresidents exempt from registration.

(a) General rule.--A nonresident owner of any foreign vehicle may operate or permit the operation of the vehicle within this Commonwealth without registering the vehicle in this Commonwealth or paying any fees to the Commonwealth, provided the vehicle at all times when operated in this Commonwealth is duly registered and in full compliance with the registration requirements of the place of residence of the owner and further provided the vehicle is not:

used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation or profit;
regularly operated in carrying on business within this Commonwealth;
designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property for hire, compensation or profit and not subject to reciprocity under section 6144 (relating to vehicle registration and licensing) or 6149 (relating to automatic reciprocity); or
special mobile equipment if not also required to be and actually registered under the laws of the place of residence of the owner.

[Sarge]

§ 1301. Registration and certificate of title required.

(b) Proof of residency.--A person charged under this section has the burden of proving that he is a nonresident whenever he asserts a defense based on section 1303 (relating to vehicles of nonresidents exempt from registration). If he produces at the office of the issuing authority satisfactory proof that he is a nonresident and is in compliance with section 1303 within five days after being charged with a violation of this section, the issuing authority shall dismiss the charge.