IDs and records
Who handles registering a vehicle or getting license plates?
Who handles it
Your state’s motor vehicle agency, often called the DMV, handles registering your car.
- Not Federal
- State
- Not Local
Facts checked November 5, 2026 · 2 sources
Why state government
Vehicle registration is a state service, handled by the same state agency that issues driver’s licenses.
What to do next
- Find your state’s motor vehicle agency on USAGov’s state motor vehicle services page.
- Check your state agency’s website for the documents and fees it needs to register your car.
- Ask your state or local government whether you owe personal property tax on the vehicle.
In your state
Find your state’s official offices on our state pages.
What varies
Some states and local governments charge personal property tax on cars and other vehicles. Not all do.
Learn the background: How does state government work?
Sources
Official recordUSAGov: State motor vehicle services
Official recordUSAGov: How to pay and get help with state and local taxes