New Minnesota residents have 60 days to register a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, utility trailer or house trailer, per Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS).
By the It’s Minnesota Editorial Team (who writes this). Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
What Is The Vehicle Deadline?
DVS says you must register right away if the registration is expired or the vehicle is a commercial truck or trailer.
What Do You Bring?
- Current odometer reading.
- Insurance company name, policy number and expiration date.
- For a vehicle from another state, a current title or an accepted copy marked “COPY”, among other forms DVS lists. A Minnesota title is issued only once the most current out-of-state title is submitted.
What About The Driver’s License?
Minnesota Statutes 171.03 lets a new resident with a valid license from another state drive on it for up to 60 days after becoming a resident, and 30 days for a commercial license. DVS says drivers over 21 with a valid non-commercial license do not need a written or road test. Full list: new resident checklist.
What We Could Not Verify
- Registration fees and taxes: not collected.
- How DVS counts the first day of residence in your case: ask DVS.
Sources
- DVS: Vehicle registration for new Minnesota resident, read November 1, 2026
- DVS: Class D driver license for new resident, read November 1, 2026
- Minnesota Statutes 171.03, read November 1, 2026
Checked November 1, 2026 by It’s Minnesota. Cite this page: It’s Minnesota, “How Long Do New Residents Have To Register A Car In Minnesota?” (itsminnesota.com/answers/how-long-do-new-residents-have-to-register-a-car-in-minnesota/), checked November 1, 2026. Free to quote with a link.
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