Can you live in one state and have car registered in another?

Question

I just moved to TX from NJ. I rent an apt in NJ that will be a vacation place. I left my car there and am going to surrender my license to TX. Can I keep my car and plates registered in NJ. I switched my insurance to cover my NJ car and Texas car.

Answer 1

If the NJ car "lives" in NJ, which is an established legal residence, and your TX car "lives" in TX, which is an established legal residence, there is no legal impediment to having 2 vehicles, one registered in and plated at each residence.  That only applies as long as you actually maintain 2 residences.  I had clients with main residence in Canada, 2nd residence in Arizona.  However, they did state having a vehicle registered and plated in Arizona, with the other cars in Manitoba, was a pain in the rear, so they sold it, and went back to having all vehicles based in Manitoba, leaving one in Arizona, and occasionally driving one down and bringing the other one back.

Keeping your vehicles together in TX may be better for insurance (multi-car discount).  Talk to the DMV in NJ, and your insurance broker for the information that best applies to your specific situation.  It may be dependent on the number of days you spend in each location.  If I were to maintain a 2nd residence in Alberta, for instance, I would have to register my vehicle there (and get a driver licence there) if I spent more than a certain number of days a year there.

Answer 2

No, they don't allow that.  At least I don't think so.  You'll have to have one primary state of residence and that's where your tags will have to come from.

Answer 3

No, you can only register a car in a state you are a resident of.  How do you know what state you are a resident of?  Easy.  Where do you pay your state taxes?

You live in TX, you vacation in NJ.

You have 20 days to do the transfers.