Where the Massachusetts RMV Says to Keep Your Car Registration

What does the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles say about storing your vehicle registration? Not much.

Massachusetts residents will argue about most things, including the best place to store their registration.

Is there a "best place? That depends. One thing is certain, you better have it and proof of insurance in the vehicle if you are stopped by the police.

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Some folks prefer to leave their vehicle registration in the glove box or glove compartment of their car for easy access when needed. Others fear that if the vehicle is stolen, the registration is lost.

I have always kept my registration folded up in my wallet. When it's in my wallet, I know where it is and it's easy to retrieve when I need it.

But what if your wallet is lost or stolen?

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles doesn't seem to have an opinion as long as the document is in the vehicle when you are.

The Bellingham Herald reported, "You're supposed to have your registration and insurance documents in your vehicle when you drive, but the crime prevention folks will tell you it's a bad idea to leave them there when you're not with the car."

According to the paper, "A few years ago, both the registration and insurance laws were modified to allow documents in an 'electronic format." That means you can "take a photograph of your registration and download your insurance card from your insurance company and you'd be set."

CARFAX says, "It may sound counterintuitive, but you should never leave your car registration inside your car. Carrying such an important document in the vehicle can lead to it being stolen, lost or damaged."

There you have it, never leave the title inside your vehicle.