A Mileage Declaration Form (also known as an Odometer Disclosure Statement) (Federal Form): If the vehicle is up to sixteen thousand pounds (16,000) or not up to ten (10) years old, a copy of an ODS must be attached to the bill of sale form.

Note: The parties involved in the transaction of buying and selling the vehicle or the vessel are to imprint their signature on the document.

Registration of a Motor Vehicle

When a person purchases a vehicle for personal use, they are to register it within ten (10) days of purchasing it. This registration expires after one or two years: this time frame depends on the plate type. Registrations can be renewed online or via mail.

Registration Center

Applications made for the registration of a motor vehicle must be submitted to a Drop Off Center for Registration or a Massachusetts Approved Location for Registering of Vehicles.

Documents Required for Registration 

1. Proof of Purchase and Sale (in this case, a Bill of Sale Form);

2. A Mileage Declaration Form  (also known as an Odometer Disclosure Form (Federal Form);

3. Certificate of Title to prove ownership(applications can be made online or via mail for title change/replacement);

4. A driving license that is legitimate in the State of Massachusetts;

5. If someone else registers the vehicle in place of the original owner of the vehicle, a Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney will be needed;

6. An application to register and to have your vehicle titled;

7. Payment of Registration costs;

8. A confirmation that the vehicle is insured and the limited coverages are known:

• $20,000 for one person if the person is physically injured;

• $40,000 for every accident that led to physical injury;

• $8,000 for every person involved in an accident; this is for personal injury protection;

• $20,000 for every person physically injured from a vehicle with no insurance;

• When an accident of an uninsured vehicle causes physical injury to persons, $40,000 is paid;

• $5,000 is paid when damage is caused to the property of another person.

Boat Registration

When a person newly buys a boat for personal use, they are to register it within twenty (20) days of buying it. When the registration expires, renewal can be done via online mail (using an addressed envelope) or physically at a designated registration location.

Registration Center

Register of vessels can be done physically at a designated registration location or via mail ( this mail is to contain all the documents needed for a successful registration; including a check that can be paid to the Massachusetts Commonwealth)

Documents Needed 

1. Proof of Sale and Purchase (which is a Bill of Sale in this case);

2. Proof that Vessel or Snow Vehicle Sales or Use Tax has been paid;

3. For boats that are up to 14 feets or more in length, a document showing title is needed;

4. An MSO (also called a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin is needed when the Vessel bought is brand new);

5. The vessel’s ID number traced with a pencil;

6. An application to register and title the vessel;

7. Payment of the registration cost.