Just wondering what the time limit is on my driver's license and the plate.

A. My driver's license itself passes over around October, so I'll be getting a new one anyway, but I don't want to get in any major trouble if I get pulled over before then. Yes, I googled it, ( http://www.dmv.org/ma-massachusetts/id-cards.php ) has some decent info on how to do it if I wanted to, but nothing indicates I need to in a certain time limit. I realize NC has a new rule you need to do it ahead of time and get it in the mail - anybody know MA's rule on that?

B. In Massachusettes, do they do the whole inspection/registration deal, or is it still on a separate window sticker?

C. Will my Geico Insurance be valid there? I thought it would suffice to notify Geico of my new address and that would be the end of it.

To do convert my license, the RMV (Registry of Motor Vehicles) says it'll need proof of residency. ( http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/9oos.htm ). Will I need to have someone send me something in the US Mail? I might not be renting under a contract.

6/10/2009 3:40:11 PM

when did you decide to move to massachusettes?

6/10/2009 3:41:51 PM

when she got a super awesome job in Cape Cod

6/10/2009 3:46:13 PM

If you're going to live in Massachusetts for a long time, switch it over. If you plan on coming back to NC then fuck it, don't change a thing.

I lived in NYC for 3 years and had my car up there most of the time. I kept my car insured in NC and kept a valid NC driver's license. Of course, this means every year I had to have the car inspected in Wake County (but I usually drove down in the summer anyway). Keep in mind, of course, that this is all illegal. However, there really is no penalty for it.

(I was pulled over once in NYC, and had the cops come twice when my car was broken into/vandalised and they didn't care that I had NC tags and NC license despite living in NYC for 2 years + ).

If you're making a switch, all you need for proof of residency is any bill showing you live there. It could be as simple as a cell phone bill. And I'm pretty sure you have 90 days to switch

[Edited on June 10, 2009 at 4:02 PM. Reason : NC insurance = cheaper than most (if not all) northern states]

6/10/2009 4:01:01 PM

I've never lived in MA, but since I relocated from NY to NC fairly recently I can chime in on the insurance part.

If you're going to be registering your car in MA, you will most likely have to buy an insurance policy that's valid in MA as well. (e.g. i don't think you can't be driving around a car with MA plates that's insured in NC). Alot of states (NC for example) will require you to show proof that the car is insured in that state before even letting you transfer the registration over.

Because different states have different premiums, your premium will most likely change even if you keep the same level of insurance (and the premium will most likely be higher in MA unfortunately, along with the price of everything else up there).

Watch out for those Masshole drivers!

6/10/2009 4:04:17 PM

Can I switch my Geico coverage over by having them do it or do I have to close an account and reopen?

6/10/2009 4:36:46 PM

They can do it. You may get raped on insurance there, depending on your zip code. My sister is in Charlestown and pays $160 a month for minimum on a beater. But that area has outrageous insurance rates.

6/10/2009 4:50:53 PM

Quote :

"(I was pulled over once in NYC, and had the cops come twice when my car was broken into/vandalised and they didn't care that I had NC tags and NC license despite living in NYC for 2 years + )."

this isn't always the case -- i got a parking ticket in california while my car was still registered in north carolina, and the ca dmv contacted me about needing to switch my registration (including a nice penalty for not doing it as soon as i moved)

also, i don't know about massachusetts, but you're supposed to switch something like 10-20 days after becoming a resident in california (not 90)

(obviously, some of this can be fudged, just mentioning it)

6/10/2009 5:02:55 PM

Where in MA, b/c if it is Boston, do you really need a car? My experience is that you can get around Boston on foot & with the metro extremely easily. Either way I'm jealous. Have fun up in MA!




[Edited on June 10, 2009 at 5:25 PM. Reason : thread needed at least 1 pic]

6/10/2009 5:23:44 PM

If you are going to be paying any sort of utility bill, that's usually good for proof of residency.

6/10/2009 6:53:13 PM

We went down to one car and I love it. Now I walk more than I drive. I recommend doing it if you can!!1

6/10/2009 7:05:27 PM

I'll be staying in Hyannis/Yarmouth/Dennis Ft/Barnstable. Might be driving about 15-20 min to work.

6/10/2009 8:52:05 PM

I'm moving to Boston in two weeks!

I won't be getting/having a car. woot.

6/11/2009 4:11:55 PM

Just saw an article where some dude in Boston proper plunked down 300k for a parking spot, haha.

6/11/2009 4:16:27 PM

fawk. we'll we're living in Brookline and are renting our apartment's parking spot for $150/month.

6/11/2009 4:25:51 PM

^give it less than 6 months and you're gonna seriously miss your car.

Quote :

"Where in MA, b/c if it is Boston, do you really need a car? My experience is that you can get around Boston on foot & with the metro extremely easily. Either way I'm jealous. Have fun up in MA!"

Someone already said Cape Cod. Reading comprehension FTL.

roberta brings up a good point, how the law varies from state. You can look all this up online though, so I'd do that if you're gonna try and cheat the system.

6/11/2009 4:32:39 PM

My boss has a Pied-à-terre in NY and paid 165K for parking spot and he's only there about 6-8 days a month

Fucking crazy, mon

6/11/2009 4:37:12 PM

Are you planning to relocate permanently or is it a seasonal job? If the latter you may want to keep the paperwork in NC, like the reverse of the out of state students at state.

6/11/2009 4:42:33 PM

^^^Well reading only the threadmaker's post, I wasn't aware that other people were giving out info about where she was living. But can I really be held responsible, I mean who really reads anything Thumper has to say anyways? (j/k)

6/11/2009 6:41:31 PM

It's seasonal, I guess I'll keep the paperwork, then. I was worried that in the off-season I'd want to get another job there to carry me over and then I'd be "permanent."

6/11/2009 8:28:56 PM

I wouldnt switch anything since it is seasonal, I have lived in a couple states and did not switch it because I knew I wasnt going to be living there perm. I just drove home when the inspection was due, BUT I was not THAT far away. I believe it is $texas to register your car again in NC. Anything seasonal would not be worth it...and if you got pulled just tell them you are there temp when they ask why you still have NC plates...make sure you say you have been there less than a month.

6/11/2009 9:30:58 PM