NewStateDrive
District of Columbia arrival plan

Moving to District of Columbia? Start the car transfer in the right order.

See the license and registration deadlines. Add your old state and title status when you want the plan applied to your car.

Build the full state-to-state routePreview a saved route
Checked against official state sourcesLast reviewed 2026-07-31. Facts below link to the official material that supports them.
Driver licenseWithin 60 days
Title / registrationWithin 60 days
SequenceLicense First

How long do I have to register my car after moving to District of Columbia?

Within 60 days
Register the vehicle within 60 calendar days after beginning to live in DC. A DC driver license or non-driver ID must be issued first.Official source 1 ↗
Start before the deadline
Insurance, inspection, and a lender-held title can delay the registration. Confirm those handoffs before the office visit.

What else new District of Columbia residents need to know

License
Convert the out-of-state license after becoming a District resident and no later than the 60-day resident window.Official source 1 ↗
Insurance
Put valid DC vehicle insurance in place for registration and keep it continuous while the DC tags remain active.Official source 1 ↗
Title / lender
If a lender or lessor holds the title, send DC DMV's out-of-state title request and include the signed loan or lease agreement. DC DMV provides an online title-receipt check.Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗
Inspection / VIN
The vehicle must pass DC inspection before full registration. Brand-new passenger vehicles are exempt, and a 45-day temporary tag may be available when an expired out-of-state tag or lender-held title blocks inspection.Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗
Tax / fees
Title, registration, and any lien-recordation fees apply. Excise tax depends on the transaction and vehicle facts; confirm the amount before filing.Official source 1 ↗ · Official source 2 ↗

Lender or lessor holds the title? See the financed-car title path for District of Columbia.

Moving on military orders? See the District of Columbia military PCS guide.

Optional saved route

Keep the District of Columbia move in one checklist

Add the state you are leaving to save the complete route, including deadlines, title steps, closeout, and final proof.

Keep your place and return later

Track your progress, dates, title requests, and receipts to keep. We will email a private return link.

Transaction details

Use these fields when the vehicle was bought, sold, gifted, inherited, rejected, or delayed.

We use your email for the saved route. The two checkboxes are optional.

Choose the state you are leaving

AL

Alabama → District of Columbia

Add Alabama plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
AK

Alaska → District of Columbia

Add Alaska plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
AZ

Arizona → District of Columbia

Add Arizona plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
AR

Arkansas → District of Columbia

Add Arkansas plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
CA

California → District of Columbia

Add California plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
CO

Colorado → District of Columbia

Add Colorado plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
CT

Connecticut → District of Columbia

Add Connecticut plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
DE

Delaware → District of Columbia

Add Delaware plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
FL

Florida → District of Columbia

Add Florida plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
GA

Georgia → District of Columbia

Add Georgia plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
HI

Hawaii → District of Columbia

Add Hawaii plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
ID

Idaho → District of Columbia

Add Idaho plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
IL

Illinois → District of Columbia

Add Illinois plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
IN

Indiana → District of Columbia

Add Indiana plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
IA

Iowa → District of Columbia

Add Iowa plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
KS

Kansas → District of Columbia

Add Kansas plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
KY

Kentucky → District of Columbia

Add Kentucky plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
LA

Louisiana → District of Columbia

Add Louisiana plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
ME

Maine → District of Columbia

Add Maine plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
MD

Maryland → District of Columbia

Add Maryland plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
MA

Massachusetts → District of Columbia

Add Massachusetts plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
MI

Michigan → District of Columbia

Add Michigan plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
MN

Minnesota → District of Columbia

Add Minnesota plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
MS

Mississippi → District of Columbia

Add Mississippi plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
MO

Missouri → District of Columbia

Add Missouri plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
MT

Montana → District of Columbia

Add Montana plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
NE

Nebraska → District of Columbia

Add Nebraska plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
NV

Nevada → District of Columbia

Add Nevada plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
NH

New Hampshire → District of Columbia

Add New Hampshire plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
NJ

New Jersey → District of Columbia

Add New Jersey plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
NM

New Mexico → District of Columbia

Add New Mexico plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
NY

New York → District of Columbia

Add New York plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
NC

North Carolina → District of Columbia

Add North Carolina plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
ND

North Dakota → District of Columbia

Add North Dakota plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
OH

Ohio → District of Columbia

Add Ohio plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
OK

Oklahoma → District of Columbia

Add Oklahoma plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
OR

Oregon → District of Columbia

Add Oregon plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
PA

Pennsylvania → District of Columbia

Add Pennsylvania plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
RI

Rhode Island → District of Columbia

Add Rhode Island plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
SC

South Carolina → District of Columbia

Add South Carolina plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
SD

South Dakota → District of Columbia

Add South Dakota plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
TN

Tennessee → District of Columbia

Add Tennessee plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
TX

Texas → District of Columbia

Add Texas plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
UT

Utah → District of Columbia

Add Utah plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
VT

Vermont → District of Columbia

Add Vermont plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
VA

Virginia → District of Columbia

Add Virginia plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
WA

Washington → District of Columbia

Add Washington plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
WV

West Virginia → District of Columbia

Add West Virginia plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
WI

Wisconsin → District of Columbia

Add Wisconsin plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route
WY

Wyoming → District of Columbia

Add Wyoming plate, insurance, registration, and closeout rules to the District of Columbia arrival sequence.

Open route

Official District of Columbia sources

Drive Passport Full Service

We can run the full District of Columbia move with you

If Full Service fits your move, add where you are leaving and who has the title. We prepare the route, handle supported follow-up, track the handoffs, and finish with a proof check.

Preview a saved route
You complete identity checks, signatures, payments, inspections, and visits.
Saved routeDC ARRIVAL ROUTE
Example checklist
Destination plan

Your District of Columbia move

Route open
LicenseWithin 60 days
VehicleWithin 60 days
Office orderLicense First
  1. 01
    Accepted insurance proofMatch the destination rule and effective date
    Confirm first
  2. 02
    Title access and ownershipOwned, financed, and leased paths separated
    Title path
  3. 03
    Office and vehicle prerequisitesInspection, VIN, documents, and appointment order
    Before visit
  4. 04
    Old-state closeoutAdd the origin to map the plate and insurance handoff
    Add origin