Do you have to be a US citizen to register a vehicle?

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
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I am curious if you need to be a US citizen to register a vehicle and get plates for it? Also do you need to be a US citizen to get a drivers license?
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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I thought you already had this covered in your last post.
 

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
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81
I'm going to say it is not required although you probably need a SS# to do so. No again on the license. I have a friend from Nepal who got his license, purchased a car, and registered/plated the car with no issues.
 

nickbits

Diamond Member
Mar 10, 2008
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No but you have to be a legal resident. Meaning if you are not a citizen you have to have a green card or work visa.
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
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Originally posted by: nickbits
No but you have to be a legal resident. Meaning if you are not a citizen you have to have a green card or work visa.

What if I have a vacation home somewhere that I use in the summer or winter months?
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
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Just for clarification, I'm not a resident/citizen/or have a green card. I'm Canadian. I'm wondering if it would be a possiblity for me. I know lot's of Canadians have vacations homes/condo's in Florida, so it would only make sense if they had stuff registered there.
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I thought you already had this covered in your last post.

Nope, you are wrong sir.
I see.

I assumed you were all legal for the motorcycle.
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
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Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I thought you already had this covered in your last post.

Nope, you are wrong sir.
I see.

I assumed you were all legal for the motorcycle.

I am finding out tomorow, the ministry was closed over the weekend. If they validate a US insurance policy, then I am set to go, if they don't, it's plan B, and that's buying the bike there, insuring/registering it, and bringing it over for the summer months here. No ones going to stop me with a New York license plate, they will just assume I am visiting, and since insurance is so cheap in the states, they would think I would be crazy not to have it.

It all boils down to getting plates...
 

mmallern2000

Member
Oct 19, 2008
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Originally posted by: DVad3r
I am curious if you need to be a US citizen to register a vehicle and get plates for it? Also do you need to be a US citizen to get a drivers license?

Nope, only a legal resident.
 

mmallern2000

Member
Oct 19, 2008
99
0
0
You must have legal status in the United States to get a driver's license, and register vehicles. I work for Immigration in Colorado.
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
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Originally posted by: mmallern2000
You must have legal status in the United States to get a driver's license, and register vehicles. I work for Immigration in Colorado.

Can a Canadian citizen like me get legal status? What about if I own a vacation house? Or reside there with a visa for a certain amount of time?
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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I was wondering how you were going to pull off getting insurance on your bike in NY without registering it in NY.

I don't think renting a storage locker qualifies you as being a resident.
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
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Originally posted by: mugs
I was wondering how you were going to pull off getting insurance on your bike in NY without registering it in NY.

I don't think renting a storage locker qualifies you as being a resident.

Progressive does it without it being registered there, I tried with GEICO first and they don't do that sort of thing, apperently Progessive likes to insure anyone. When I spoke to the GEICO people they told me I need to reside at a valid zip code and a storage locker won't qualify. Different policies I guess.
 

Steve

Lifer
May 2, 2004
15,945
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Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: mmallern2000
You must have legal status in the United States to get a driver's license, and register vehicles. I work for Immigration in Colorado.

Can a Canadian citizen like me get legal status? What about if I own a vacation house? Or reside there with a visa for a certain amount of time?

Guessing - If you own US property, you pay US taxes, meaning you'd need a US Social Security Number.

I'm no immigration agent/lawyer, but I'd say that's a good start.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,677
30,997
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Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I thought you already had this covered in your last post.

Nope, you are wrong sir.

lol. makes that thread so much more hilarious.

waiting for backfire post.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,677
30,997
146
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I thought you already had this covered in your last post.

Nope, you are wrong sir.
I see.

I assumed you were all legal for the motorcycle.

I am finding out tomorow, the ministry was closed over the weekend. If they validate a US insurance policy, then I am set to go, if they don't, it's plan B, and that's buying the bike there, insuring/registering it, and bringing it over for the summer months here. No ones going to stop me with a New York license plate, they will just assume I am visiting, and since insurance is so cheap in the states, they would think I would be crazy not to have it.

It all boils down to getting plates...

regardless, I think you can work it out. I would still laugh a bit if the previous brag thread switches from I <3 America to fuck those commie American bastards!
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I thought you already had this covered in your last post.

Nope, you are wrong sir.
I see.

I assumed you were all legal for the motorcycle.

I am finding out tomorow, the ministry was closed over the weekend. If they validate a US insurance policy, then I am set to go, if they don't, it's plan B, and that's buying the bike there, insuring/registering it, and bringing it over for the summer months here. No ones going to stop me with a New York license plate, they will just assume I am visiting, and since insurance is so cheap in the states, they would think I would be crazy not to have it.

It all boils down to getting plates...

regardless, I think you can work it out. I would still laugh a bit if the previous brag thread switches from I <3 America to fuck those commie American bastards!

lol, it would be disappointing, but I would still <3 you. Man I am trying everything in my power here to avoid crazy insurance, I have even been getting crazy visions of buying a few acres of land in Montana, raising some organic cattle, you know, working the land.

If I fail my next step is craigslist ad's with my pics looking to marry an American woman for cheap motorcycle insurance ;)

 

mmallern2000

Member
Oct 19, 2008
99
0
0
Basically having work authorization, or some sort of visa (other than just a vistor's visa) will allow you to register. If you have a work visa (B-1) Fiance visa, etc, then you can. Otherwise, just living here without authorization is considered living here illegally, and you can be deported for it, Canada or not. You may be a border country, but so is Mexico.
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
I believe you are wrong about registration my love, my master wizard skills have taken this directly from the NYS DMV site :)


Registration of a Vehicle by a Non-Resident of the US

Question
Can I register a vehicle in NYS if I am not a resident of the US?

Answer
Yes, but you must comply with the requirements to register a vehicle in NYS.

You must have NYS liability insurance to register a vehicle in NYS. If you apply for NYS insurance coverage, but you do not have a driver license from the US or Canada, the application process can be difficult. The DMV recommends that you contact several US insurance companies to get information about NYS liability insurance.


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Looks like I just pwned Canada in the ass hard :) fu and your 5000 $ insurance quotes ;)


I went to my ministry today also and they said having US insurance is fine and they can give me plates in Ontario, either way, I'm set both ways :D

Why am I so powerful?

 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: nickbits
No but you have to be a legal resident. Meaning if you are not a citizen you have to have a green card or work visa.

What if I have a vacation home somewhere that I use in the summer or winter months?

You have to live there the majority of the year to register a vehicle at a given address.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
99,162
17,470
126
Originally posted by: mmallern2000
You must have legal status in the United States to get a driver's license, and register vehicles. I work for Immigration in Colorado.

Run illegals! I know there are some here :)
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: mmallern2000
You must have legal status in the United States to get a driver's license, and register vehicles. I work for Immigration in Colorado.

Run illegals! I know there are some here :)

My parents friends did that and got caught. They ran a bunch of Brazilians over the border to the US from Canada, dropped them off in some forested area I believe, illegals crossed on foot, and they drove across the border to meet them and pick them up. That's when they got nabbed. From what I remember the car got taken away, they did some jail time, got fined a shitload, and went from owning a house to renting a shitty apartment above a bakery lol.

The part that I don't understand is, once they got through the forest, why drive to the other side and pick them up at all? Just leave lol, let them fend for themselves.