Massachusetts Driving Experts???????????

[LaRue Medlin]

My son has moved from SC to Franklin Mass... He knows he has to get a new drivers license,,, ok,,, Doing that on Monday. RMV is telling him to keep driving his car (SC registered) in Mass, he has to register it in Mass... Now,, "I" own the car and it is financed in my name here in SC. I have the paid taxes, registration and insurance here... Why can't he just press on and keep driving the car? He has been told he will get a ticket and pay fines for driving an out of state car while being a Mass resident. (and not be a student) Any suggestions, comments or knowledge.... Thanks BTW,,, sorry but I HATE Massachusetts!

 

[Mark K 2]

Wisconsin's the same way. If you live here and keep your vehicle here, you have to register and license it here regardless who owns it.

 

[Bob McDonald]

It would seem to me that since you own the car and don't live in Mass., you don't have to register it there. If the car's registration s shows that you are the owner, and not your son, then he has only borrowed your car temporarily and he shouldn't have to register "your' car anywhere else.



The problem lies in just how long is he is 'borrowing' the car? If, for all practical purposes, it is forever, then there is a problem. If the reason to keep the car registered in SC, is a financial reason (i.e. lower registration rates or insurance), then that is a problem as well. Does the word fraud come to mind?

 

[gary s]

Have him just keep his current license and leave the vehicle registered in the current state.

If asked he is visiting or has dual residence.

Just double check with your insurance company to make sure he is covered for an extended stay in another state.

I do it with all but one of my vehicles and there is no problem at all.

 

[Robert Caffyn]

I agree with Bob and Gary. Why bother to change everything? Have him keep his SC license. The car in your name. The only big deal would be for him to go back to SC to renew his license. I can see only one major problem, he would have to pay income tax in two states if he kept the SC address. Bob

 

[LaRue Medlin]

Uncle_Bob...... sorry but offense taken,,, no fraud..... not here,, just trying to use common sense! :angry: I pay for his car, I pay for his insurance. I know I have to get insurance in Mass,, but my problem lies with making me get Mass plates. Now I will have to add him to the title, no biggie, and then pay Mass 100$ for a drivers license, 500$ + for insurance in a high pay state, and another 150$ to transfer tags. I WILL do the right and legal stuff, but it just rubs me the wrong way.



Gary, Living permanently in Mass he has to have a Mass license to get work (not a student exempt). Plus my insurance company says they will drop me completely if I don't change to Mass on the car.



Bob_C... I was going to go your route but found out Mass give people "perks" for turning in out of state people that live in Mass...... Maybe that's not said right, but you get my meaning.. Mass sucks IMHO

 

[Mark K 2]

Despite what you guys wish to happen, the law is the law. I've learned that northeastern states are picky about this. Here, you occasionally have a student from Minnesota going to a Wisconsin university try to get away with the same thing. Within a couple of months, the student has a few hundred dollars in tickets and still has to register his vehicle here.

 

[Bob McDonald]

LaRue,



Sorry, but I did not mean to imply that you intended to commit fraud. I just meant to say that IF the reason ANYBODY chose to not register in Mass. (or any other state), was to avoid high rates, then that state would accuse them of fraud. Most states are like that. They want your registration fees if you are driving in their state.

I am sorry if you thought I was calling you out on it.



Bob

 

[LaRue Medlin]

no problem Bob,,, I don't really have a problems with everything, I will do what it takes, heck I will be getting a daughter-in-law out of all this. It's just it's going to cost $$ and right now, he's out of a job and the lock business is slow and I am just barely creeping by.

 

[Richard L]

LaRue,

I guess that if Massachusetts will let your son register the vehicle there when your name is on the SC title, then I don't see any problem? You should not have to pay any taxes on the vehicle, only the registration fees...which might be pretty hefty.



I don't know, but I don't think they can force you to give up your ownership or force you to title the vehicle in Massachusetts just because you let your son used the vehicle. I don't know that living in a different state necessarily constitutes Residency.



I worked as a Computer consultant for several years and I spent more time in some states than I did at my home in Texas. For most trips I used rental cars, but for clients closer to home I would drive my own vehicle. In some states, I had to pay income taxes on money I earned in that state (because the company I worked for was registered to do business in that state). As a non-resident, I was supposed to get that money back, but that didn't happen.



....Rich

 

[Gavin Allan]

I had a somewhat similar situation, although mine was all in the same state.



My father-in-law basically "loaned" me a car when I was in college. I ran into problems trying to buy insurance-- my insurance company would not let me add the car if he was the owner- they wanted it to be in my name. His insurance company would not let him add me, as I was not a dependent. He didn't want to add me anyway, and I wanted my own policy. I eventually talked him into gifting me the car (an old POS VW oilburner) and then after I got it licensed in my name, I was able to add it to my insurance policy.

 

[Richard L]

LaRue,

I doubt that your son can register the vehicle in Massachusetts without the title being in his name..... Perhaps you can put it in his name and keep a lien on the title?



Unless the vehicle is title in Rue's name, They might ticket the vehicle, but the ticket would be in your name, and you don't live in Massachusetts, so now what do they do?



They should not be able to tow it, as long as it is legally parked...but that may be the fly in the oinment. If Rue gets a ticket or gets the vehicle towed, he might not be able to get the vehicle out of impound unless he is the legal owner? Kind of a Catch-22.



Of course, if nobody is insisting that Rue register the vehicle in MA, then I would not be in any hurry. However, if he has changed his drivers license to an MA license, then that may imply that you are a resident of MA and must register your vehicle in MA.



I had a similar problem when I was stationed in Washington DC and bought my new 1965 GTO. I registered it in VA because they did not have a sales tax at the time. At the time I was living in Washington, DC and had an Ohio Drivers License. About 6 months later I got stopped in Alexandria, VA for going the wrong way down a one-way street (long story). The cop ticketed me for not having a valid drivers license because he said that within 72 hours after registering a vehicle in VA, I was required to have a VA drivers license?? When I went to court, the judge threw out the invalid drivers license charge and admonished the police officer stating that as a member of the military I could register my vehicle in any state I choose to regardless of my residency or what state my Drivers license was from.



He did fine me $25 for going the wrong way on a one-way street, but suspended $10 so I only had to pay $15 plus about $3 court costs...:grin:



....Rich