Registering your car in a new state every time you take an assignment can be quite expensive. However, do you really need to register your car every time? Here is some advice on what you should do to adhere to state laws and also what other travel nurses have done in the past.
What You Should Do
Contact the DMV in the state you are moving to. Tell them your situation. Some will say that you do not need to register your car unless you are becoming a resident, some will say if you are staying in the state for more than two weeks you need to register the vehicle, and some will say they have an out-of-state vehicle fee (less than a regular registration) that you can obtain while you are there. The main thing to remember is that every state is different, so just ask them.
What Many Travel Nurses Do
Most travel nurses do not register their vehicle when on assignment. While this may be illegal in some states, the only reason it would be a problem is if you are pulled over more than once. If you are pulled over once, you might be able to talk your way out of a ticket. If you’re given a warning, or if they instruct you to register and provide proof of registration in order to wave the ticket, you will usually need to register your car within two weeks. At this point, you should definitely and absolutely adhere to the law. Because: If you are pulled over a second time, you may be in for a bigger ticket than the first time.
We recommend that you should reach out to the state DMV and find out the proper rules and regulation for the state you will be on assignment in. If you have any additional questions, consult the DMV.
Travel Nursing Without A Car
It’s also an option to leave your car at home when on assignment. With modern car sharing services and ride share apps this is definitely a possibility. With that being said it can often be more expensive than registering your car. The situations where this would be a good option is when working or staying in a city where parking is expensive or difficult. In more suburban and rural areas you should probably bring your car or rent a vehicle.
A huge part of the fun of travel nursing is getting to explore so we usually recommend having a vehicle. It allows you to explore more of the region you’re staying in and awards you the freedom & flexibility that makes travel nursing amazing in the first place.