Why You Should Check Your PA Vehicle Registration Status as Often as Possible

Pennsylvania laws and regulations prohibit individuals from driving unregistered cars. They also require those with expired or suspended vehicle registration to visit the official Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) website for renewal or restoration.

So, is your vehicle registration valid, expired, or suspended? If you don’t know, check its status as soon as possible through https://www.swift-tags.com/blog/check-status-vehicle-registration-pennsylvania. Keeping abreast of your vehicle’s registration status in PA is crucial for several reasons, some of which we’ve discussed below.

Take notes.

An Overview of Vehicle Registration Status

Vehicle registration refers to a legal document that proves you are the owner of a specific roadworthy automobile. On the other hand, a vehicle registration status refers to the present-day condition of your vehicle’s registration. A vehicle registration status contains essential information like registration validity, expiration date, and renewal requirements.

Why Checking Vehicle Registration Status is Important

As a potential or current vehicle owner, you should check your registration status regularly for the following reasons:

1. Know a vehicle’s current standing

You can determine an automobile registration’s current standing by checking the vehicle registration status. An active status enables you to use your vehicle on public roads without any worries. On the other hand, if the status indicates that vehicle registration is expired or suspended, it gives you ample opportunity to rectify the problem before it escalates.

Remember, vehicle registration only lasts 1 or 2 years in Pennsylvania, depending on your chosen registration period. After this time has elapsed, the registration expires, demanding renewal. On the other hand, issues like unpaid toll violations often result in suspension.

And you should know that driving a vehicle with an expired or suspended registration can result in hefty fines or land you in jail.

2. Confirm ownership

Before buying a used vehicle, you should check certain aspects, including its history and registration. Checking registration status is crucial in confirming car ownership before making a financial commitment.

You may face several issues while purchasing a used car, including ownership disputes. This significant problem can undermine your ability to buy the vehicle in question by introducing legal uncertainty and, in extreme cases, invalidating title transfer. If you want to avoid these and many other complications, use registration status to confirm if the seller is the certified owner of the vehicle on sale.

Check lien status

By 2022, around 31% of adults living in the US needed an auto loan to afford a car. So, some second-hand vehicles you’ll find on the market likely belong to owners who took out a car loan and have yet to make all payments. And if that is the case, they have created a lien, and the lender holds their vehicle’s title.

Buying a vehicle with a lien is a complicated situation for various reasons. For instance, it puts you in a position where, if the seller doesn’t pay off the loan, you will have to do it while buying the vehicle or take over the remaining balance.

To avoid nasty surprises, check the vehicle registration status before committing. That will allow you to discover any outstanding debts and hidden liens.

Final Thoughts

Checking your vehicle registration status is essential because it helps you establish if the registration is valid, expired, or has any other issues. Additionally, doing it before purchasing a vehicle allows you to verify ownership and confirm if the automobile on sale has any outstanding debts or hidden liens.

SEE ALSO: Electric Vehicle Tax Credit: Eligibility,Criteria & How to Claim It?