Oregon Vehicle Registration

Registration for Purchased Vehicles

The registration process for vehicles purchased in Oregon depends on whether they are purchased from a dealership or a private seller.

Dealership Vehicle Purchases

In Oregon, registering and titling a vehicle must be completed simultaneously. When purchasing vehicles through car dealerships, the dealership handles all necessary paperwork. In contrast, individuals purchasing vehicles from private individuals are required to deliver the paperwork personally.

Private Vehicle Purchases

Vehicle owners in Oregon who have purchased new or used vehicles from private sellers must follow specific procedures to register their vehicles. They need to complete an Application for Title and Registration (Form 735-226) and provide essential ownership documents, which include:

• Original vehicle title
• Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) if vehicles are new
• Original lien releasesfrom previous security interest holders
• Original releases or bills of sale from previous owners

Additionally, owners must provide their Oregon driver's license or a state-issued ID card. An odometer disclosure, typically found on the title's rear side or within the application, is also required.

Depending on the vehicle type, proof of compliance with Oregon's low vehicle emissions requirement may be necessary, excluding hybrid, electric, or government-property passenger vehicles.

Another critical document is proof of insurance, which can be an insurance card or policy number. Oregon mandates the following minimum liability insurance coverage:

• Bodily injury per person: $25,000
• Total bodily injury to others per accident: $50,000
• Property damage per accident: $20,000

All required documents and applicable fees for title, registration, and license plates should be submitted in person or by mail to an Oregon DMV office.

Registration for New Oregon Residents

New residents moving to Oregon from another state have 30 days to tile and register their vehicles upon establishing residency. In addition to the previously mentioned requirements, they must fill out a Certification of Oregon Residency or Domicile (Form 735-7182) and provide two proof of residency documents.

Acceptable proofs of residency include the following:

• Tax records
• Utility bills
• Oregon voter registration card
• Receipts for Oregon public assistance
• Lease agreements
• Current bank/credit union account active for at least 60 days
• Any other documents demonstrating residence in Oregon for a minimum of six months

If the vehicle possesses an out-of-state or foreign title, a $9 vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection is mandatory. New residents may also need to submit a Use Tax Certificate if the vehicle was purchased from an out-of-state dealer and is brand new or has less than 7,500 miles.

Registration for Foreign Vehicles

When importing a vehicle into the state from abroad, owners must meet additional requirements beyond the standard ones. They must provide the vehicle's foreign title and proof of foreign ownership.

They also need to present evidence that the vehicle complies with the United States Federal Vehicle Standards, typically through a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Entry Summary (CBP Form 7501) or an original letter from the manufacturer.

Moreover, owners must complete a Certification of Liens on an Imported Vehicle (Form 735-6436). Any documents in a language that uses a different alphabet than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Registration for Salvage and Other Specific Vehicles

In Oregon, vehicle owners face additional requirements when registering specific types of vehicles. For reconstructed or salvaged vehicles, owners must complete an Assembled, Reconstructed, or Replica Vehicle Certification (Form 735-6511) and provide bills of sale or receipts for all of the significant components utilized in the reconstruction process.

Additionally, recreational vehicle owners, such as campers, travel trailers, and motor homes, must demonstrate that their vehicles comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1192, NFPA 501C, or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A119.2 standards, depending on the vehicle's manufacturing year.

Registration for Armed Personnel

Military personnel have distinct guidelines compared to civilians for registering vehicles in Oregon.

Active Duty Oregon Residents

Military members residing in Oregon must complete vehicle registration just like any other resident. This involves the submission of the required documents and fees to the DMV.

Out-of-State Military Assigned to Oregon

Military personnel assigned to Oregon but who are residents of another state do not need to register their vehicles in Oregon if they are already insured and registered in their native state. If they decide to register in the state, they must follow the new resident procedures.

Oregon Military Members Serving Elsewhere

Oregon residents serving in the military and posted out of state can register by mail. They must submit their Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) and the necessary fees.

Oregon License Plates

In Oregon, vehicle owners must have valid license plates to drive on public roads and indicate proper registration. When moving to Oregon or acquiring a new vehicle, owners must register to obtain plates. Plate renewal is also done through vehicle registration, and plates can be transferred to a new vehicle of the same type if the original vehicle is sold.

Motorcycles, mopeds, trailers, campers, and special interest or antique vehicles require one license plate. Other cars and trucks need two plates displayed on the front and back.

The rear plate must show stickers for the month and year of registration expiration, and the plates must not be altered or obscured by frames.

Oregon offers specialty license plates, including personalized tags, organizational plates, and military plates. The Oregon DMV allows custom letter and number combinations for standard and some special plates.

Special interest plates support Oregon parks, conservation, and other organizations. Non-profit and college plates enable owners to show support for specific groups and universities.

Military plates are also available for veterans, retirees, and civilians who wish to support the armed forces. Additionally, owners of antique or hobby vehicles may qualify for antique or special interest plates to highlight their unique automotive interests.

How To Obtain Vanity License Plates in Oregon?

Vehicle owners in Oregon holding a title in their name can apply for personalized or vanity license plates, depending on their situation.

For plates that are not expired or have been expired for less than a year, owners can order custom plates via the Oregon DMV's official web app called DMV2U Online Service Center (eServices). They need to navigate to the "Order a new plate" tab under "Vehicle Title and Registration," check plate availability, and place their order.

If plates are missing or have been expired for over a year, owners must complete an

Application for Registration, Renewal, Replacement, or Transfer of Plates and/or Stick (Form 735-268) and a Custom Plate Application (Form 735-205).

These forms, along with the vehicle title, fees, and necessary documents, must be submitted personally to a local Oregon DMV office or via mail.

Custom plates cost $50 annually per registration period, in addition to standard registration fees and plate costs, plus any surcharges for specialized designs.

Custom plates must include at least one letter or number per block, with each block accommodating a letter, number, hyphen, or remaining blank. They can be up to six characters long, with an optional space or hyphen.

Special characters and most punctuation are not permitted, and sequences of three numbers followed by three letters or vice versa are also not allowed.

Registration Fees

For passenger vehicles from the 2000 model year or newer, the registration fee is $126 for an initial 2-year registration or $252 for an initial 4-year registration if the combined MPG rating is between 0 and 19. For vehicles with a combined MPG rating over 40, the fee is $156 for a 2-year registration or $312 for a 4-year registration.

Registration fees for other types of vehicles, such as used motorcycles and mopeds, vary depending on whether the vehicle remains in the county where the owner is a resident.

For example, vehicle owners residing in Clackamas, Multnomah, or Washington County face higher fees if their vehicles remain in these counties. Conversely, vehicles kept outside these counties incur lower registration fees.

OReGO Road Usage Charge Program

The Oregon DOT has introduced a road usage charge program known as OReGO, which offers an alternative to the traditional fuel tax. Participants in this program pay fees based on the miles they drive rather than the amount of fuel they use.

Vehicle owners with cars rated at 40 MPG or higher can qualify for a reduced registration fee if they join OReGO before registering their vehicle. To maintain the reduced fee, these drivers must stay in the program for the entire registration period, or they will be required to pay the higher registration fee.

For used electric passenger vehicles enrolled in OReGO, the registration fee is $86 for a 2-year registration or $172 for a 4-year registration. This fee is doubled for new OReGO-enrolled vehicles.

Title Fees

The title fees in Oregon are based on the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), vehicle type, model year, and combined MPG rating. The fees for light passenger vehicles and trucks with a GVWR of 2,600 pounds or less are as follows:

• 1999 model year or older: $101
• 2000 model year or newer with 0-19 combined MPG rating: $101
• 2000 model year or newer with 20-39 combined MPG rating: $106
• 2000 model year or newer with 40+ combined MPG rating: $116
• Electric vehicle: $192

A $90 title fee applies to heavy motor vehicles with a GVWR of over 26,000 pounds and trailers with a loaded weight of over 8,000 pounds. This fee does not apply to travel trailers, special-use trailers, or motor homes.

Other Title Fees

There are fees for the replacement and transfer of heavy vehicle titles, as well as for titling salvage vehicles.

• Heavy Vehicle Replacement Title: $90
• Heavy Vehicle Replacement Title with Transfer: $90
• Salvage Title: $27
• Salvage Title Replacement: $27

County Registration Fees

In Oregon, additional county registration fees may be applied to the standard registration fees based on the vehicle address, residence address, or business address at the time of application.

In Multnomah County, an extra fee of $56 is added for each year of registration. Heavy trailers with permanent registration are subject to a one-time county fee of $10.

Washington County also imposes additional fees. For each year of registration, there is a $30 fee. Additionally, heavy trailers with permanent registration are assessed a one-time fee of $10. Motorcycles and mopeds are charged an extra $17 for each year of registration.

Similarly, Clackamas County charges an additional $30 for each year of registration. Heavy trailers with permanent registration incur a one-time fee of $10. Light trailers are charged $5 annually for Clackamas County registration fees.

Vehicle Privilege and Use Taxes

Since January 1, 2018, Oregon has imposed a 0.5% vehicle privilege tax on in-state sales and a vehicle use tax on out-of-state purchases registered in Oregon.

Taxable vehicles must be dealer-purchased, dated January 1, 2018, or later, driven 7,500 miles or less, under 26,000 pounds, and not previously registered in Oregon. Dealers handle the in-state tax, while buyers must pay the out-of-state tax before registration.

Additional Fees

In addition to the standard and county-specific registration fees, vehicle owners may incur additional fees based on specific situations.

Plate Fees

The fees for license plates can vary depending on the vehicle's requirements. For vehicles that need only one plate, the original issuance costs $13.

If the vehicle requires two plates, the fee for the original issuance is $26. Furthermore, transferring Oregon plates to another car costs $30.

VIN Inspection Fee

When submitting a title and registration application for a vehicle with an out-of-state or foreign title, a VIN inspection fee of $9 is required if done in Oregon.

Online Renewal

Vehicle owners can renew their vehicle registration online if they meet the following conditions:

• The vehicle registration has expired.
• The vehicle does not require an emissions test, and the registrant is not required to submit a Declaration of Exemption (Form 735-1400).

OR

• The registrant has a registration renewal notice from the Oregon DMV.
• No changes are being made other than an address change.
• The vehicle requires an emissions test, and the vehicle has passed the test.
• The car in question is neither a tow truck nor categorized as a heavy vehicle.
• The registration card and stickers will be sent to the regular address.

To proceed with the online renewal, vehicle owners must visit the Oregon DMV's official website and use the DMV2U Online Service Center. They should select the "Renew/Replace My Vehicle Registration" tab.

Following this, they need to enter the renewal access code found on their renewal notice. Other required information includes:

• Their last name, date of birth, and zip code
• License/permit/ID/permit/license number
• The last six digits of their Social Security number
• The vehicle's title number and license plate number

Payment of the renewal fees can be made via credit or debit card. Once the renewal process is completed, registrants can print a receipt. The new Oregon registration documents and license plate sticker will be mailed to them.

For inquiries regarding their renewal status, they can contact the Oregon DMV.

In-Person Renewal

Another method to renew vehicle registration in Oregon is by visiting a local Oregon DMV office or a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) testing station.

For those located in a DEQ area (Portland-Metro or Medford-Ashland area), passing an emissions test is necessary when renewing at a local Oregon DMV office. If exempt from the emissions test, the registrant must fill out a Form 735-1400. Additionally, they must bring their renewal notice or a completedForm 735-268.

Vehicle owners can complete renewals at a DEQ testing station if an emissions test is required and successfully passed. They can also pay for in-person renewals using a credit or debit card, check, or cash.

Mail Renewal

Vehicle owners opting for mail renewal must adhere to the exact requirements of those renewing in person. All necessary documents and payments (check or money order) should be mailed to the following address: