Can your car be registered at a different address than where you live? (2025)

Can your car be registered at a different address than where you live? Generally, you can’t have a car registered at a different address to insurance except in eight states.

So, is it illegal to have car insurance at a different address? Yes, you could be fined or lose coverage in many states for not registering your car at the correct address, as it’s considered fraud. The best auto insurance companies use your address to assess your risk to insure.

If you’re wondering, “Can I register my car to a different address?” keep reading to learn more. Then, enter your ZIP code above to instantly compare quotes from the top providers.

Registering Your Car at a Different Address

So, does your car insurance address have to match your license? Most states will not allow you to insure your vehicle at a different address than the one on your license, which should be your permanent address. A few exceptions include: 

• College students: Can I register my car at my parents address? College students who attend school away from home may choose to keep their vehicle registered in their home state.
• Active-duty military: Active duty military members can keep their car registered where they live, even while stationed elsewhere.
• People with two homes: Can I register my car at my second home? Some states allow drivers to register their car at their second home or vacation property.
• Business vehicles: Can you register a car to a different address if it’s for business? Yes, vehicles used for business can be registered at the business address. (Read More: Best Business Auto Insurance)
• P.O. Boxes: Can you put a different address on your car insurance if it’s a P.O. Box? Generally, you can use a P.O. Box for billing purposes. However, your insurance company will want to know your garaging address.

Can I register my car at a different address than my driver’s license for another reason? Probably not. Ignoring this advice leads to possible headaches down the road.

Incorrect insurance information can also lead to:

• Denial of claims
• Cancellation of your policy
• Refusal to insure when it is time to renew

When you use your permanent address on your driver’s license, car registration, car title, and auto insurance policy, law enforcement and insurance companies can easily verify your information with state laws or check your auto coverage.

Registering Your Car in a State Where You Don’t Live

Can your car be registered in a different state than your driver license? You won’t be able to register your car in a state where you don’t have proof of residency. If you move to another state, you’ll need to obtain a new driver’s license and new registration in your new state.

Only a handful of states will allow you to keep your license after moving away, and you will always have to re-register your car to the new address. 

When changing the address on your car’s registration, you will need to prove that you are residing at the address provided. In most cases, this requires receiving mail at the residential address, but the requirements vary from state to state.

States That Allow You to Register Your Car at a Different Address

Where can I use a different address for my car insurance? Only eight states allow you to register your car at someone else’s address. These states are:

• Maine
• New York
• Delaware
• Pennsylvania
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• North Dakota

If you decide to keep your driver’s license in one of these states while registering your car in a different one, you will be required to provide proof of residency alongside meeting other requirements.

Can I have my vehicle registration mailed to a different address? In some states, you can use a different mailing address and residential address. In this case, your residential address is the one being used to determine your insurance premium, this should be the address where your car is parked most of the time.

Can I register my car in a different county than I live? Unless you live in any of the eight states above, you’ll likely need to register your vehicle in your county of residence.

How Location Affects Car Insurance Rates

So, why might someone wonder, “Does your car insurance address have to match your registration?” Aside from moving, another reason for registering your car at someone else’s address might be to reduce your auto insurance premium.

Check out the ZIP codes with the most expensive rates in each state below:

Cheapest ZIP Codes for Car Insurance in Each State

The state you live in has the greatest impact on your insurance rates as each state sets its own laws for minimum insurance coverage. Therefore, states with higher minimum liability requirements also have higher average car insurance costs.

See each state’s minimum auto insurance requirements here:

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements by State

The rates will also differ depending on the ZIP code you’re registered at, so you should always update your address, even if you are not changing states when moving. Factors that affect your rates the most include your neighborhood income levels, the proportion of expensive cars, the rate of traffic incidents or general accidents, and the rate of vandalism or property crime.

Read More: How Changing Your Address Affects Auto Insurance

So, does your car registration have to match your license? If you live in a high-risk location and suffer high premium rates, you might be thinking about insuring your vehicle at a different address on your license. We must warn you that this is considered insurance fraud that can cause you to lose your policy, so we strongly advise against it.

Why You Can’t Register Your Car at a Location You Don’t Live

Can you register a car at a different address? Registering your car at a different address from where you live is never a good idea, and will usually cause issues further down the road. 

Keeping the same address on your driver’s license, car registration, and car insurance policy is the easiest way to comply with state laws and your insurance policy. Plus, it makes keeping on top of paperwork much easier.

So, if you’ve been wondering, “Does my insurance address have to match license?” and you want to lower your rates, enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool below to instantly see quotes from the top providers in your area.