My mom is planning to move here from Texas and she is bringing her car. She won't drive it as much once here. In fact I'll probably drive it more.

Her Texas registration and insurance is about to expire next month.
I'm trying to figure out if these are my options and which is best.

Option #1
Mom renews registration/insurance in Texas before moving to NC.
- Delays from having to pay to register the car in NC. Delays having to pay NC vehicle/property tax. (Texas does not have vehicle tax)
- Will her TX insurance cover her driving the car in NC?
- Will she be stopped for having Texas registration and tags?
- Will my insurance cover me in driving her car?

Option #2
Mom registers car in NC and obtains NC insurance.
- Have to immediately pay NC title/registration/plate fee and vehicle tax, and get car inspected.
- Not sure what her NC insurance would cost.
- Does she have to get a NC drivers license first? She wants to avoid this.

Option #3
Mom transfers title to me and I register car in NC in my name and add to my existing NC insurance.
- Still have to immediately pay NC title/registration/plate fee and vehicle tax, and get car inspected.
- But may save insurance as it's added to my existing NC insurance as a second/leisure car?
- Can she still drive the car with a valid TX drivers license.
- Would my insurance still cover her if she drove the car?

I'm confused as to insurance coverage requirements, and if car insurance is tied to the car or the driver.

[Edited on October 4, 2011 at 6:01 PM. Reason : thanks]

10/4/2011 6:00:24 PM

you're supposed to have your current address on your license. if she didn't get an NC license, she would be in violation of this. you cannot get a license without proof of insurance. insurance follows the driver, not the car. even if you don't own a car, you have to have insurance to go get your license. you're supposed to register your car in NC if you're living here for a certain number of days (something like 90 days iirc). multiple car insurance policies almost always save you money as opposed to two separate single car policies.

ncdmv website can answer most of your questions.

bottom line is, when you move to a new state, get a new license and register your car in the new state like everyone else does.

[Edited on October 4, 2011 at 6:22 PM. Reason : s]

10/4/2011 6:21:04 PM

I have a friend that keeps her car registered in another state to save some money. That's all the info I have at the moment though.

And you won't get a ticket for not having your current address on your license unless the cop is feeling particularly dickish.

[Edited on October 4, 2011 at 6:44 PM. Reason : ]

10/4/2011 6:43:16 PM

hmm but my mom will be moving in with me. how would they know if she is permanently living with me versus just visiting from texas?

so if one doesn't own a car but needs a license, they still have to get some sort of insurance? how will the company quote if there's no car to quote on............

on another note, if my friend drives my car and she gets in an accident, does her insurance kick in or my insurance since it's my car?

10/5/2011 9:59:21 AM

I always hated how your license lists your address and then they expect you to keep it current. I pretty much gave up on that during the college years, if I changed my license address every time I moved during those years I could have paid for a new wing at the local DMV with that fee they charge.

10/5/2011 10:40:09 AM

You can get a ticket for not having your address current on your license (I know the dick ass cop gave me a ticket for it). Per NC law you must inform the DMV of change of address within 60 days. The only reason I was caught though was my registration or insurance card (can't remember which) address didn't match the address on my drivers license. That is all I have that I can add at this time though

10/6/2011 12:52:09 AM

^You won't get caught for this unless you get pulled over for something else.

Quote :

"And you won't get a ticket for not having your current address on your license unless the cop is feeling particularly dickish"

Agreed. And even if you get a ticket all you have to do is go to the ADA at the courthouse to show you "fixed" it and they'll throw away the charge.


krazedgirl, in my experience most cops don't give a shit about minor stuff like that. I left NC and lived in NYC and had my car up there 8 months out of the year for 3 years. My auto insurance mailing address was NYC but I was able to keep the car insured in NC (go figure). I never changed my residency to NY and I never got a NY driver's license. I had 2 break-ins into my car and neither time did the cops care when I pulled out my NC driver's license, but informed them that I lived on that block. And my insurance company didn't care when I filed 2 claims for break-ins in NYC either.

[Edited on October 6, 2011 at 9:21 AM. Reason : l]

10/6/2011 9:19:50 AM