How long does a MA autoregistraion last?

[NadCixelsyd]

I thought all car registrations were two years. I just bought a new car. When I noticed that the expiration tag was "16", I thought it was a mistake. My registration expires in January, 2016.

Is this some chiseling way that the dealership saves money? I thought I was paying for a full registration.

[j***@gmail.com]

Post by NadCixelsyd
I thought all car registrations were two years. I just bought a new car. When I noticed that the expiration tag was "16", I thought it was a mistake. My registration expires in January, 2016.
Is this some chiseling way that the dealership saves money? I thought I was paying for a full registration.

Yes, two years for $60. I'd complain to the dealer (though I don't see how giving you a 16 sticker saves them any money).

There is a complication: passenger plates can't expire in November or December, since the last number on the plate determines the expiration month (or vice versa, depending how you think about it). And your expiration month is typically the month *before* you buy the car (i.e. if you buy a car in September 2014, your plates expire in August 2016). Various people on the Internet say if you buy a car in December or January, you're supposed to get an October plate with a slight prorated discount.

Jimmy

[Bill Duetschler]

Post by j***@gmail.com
Various people on the Internet say if you buy a car in
December or January, you're supposed to get an October plate
with a slight prorated discount.

Data point: I bought a used car in December 2005, and the plates
my insurance agent gave me for it expire in September. It did
come with a discount, although I'm not sure what the exact number
worked out to be. I think it was more or less prorated for the
fact that the plates expired early (Sept. rather than Dec. '07).

I think it's mostly a case of what the RMV office or insurance
agent happens to have around the office at the time.