Moving to Massachusetts: license, registration, deadlines

No other person shall so operate unless licensed by the registrar, unless the person possesses a receipt issued under section eight for persons licensed in another state or country, or possesses a valid learner's permit issued under section eight B, except as otherwise provided in the section.

Only a resident of the commonwealth is eligible to apply. No license shall be issued until the registrar or an authorized agent is satisfied that the applicant is a proper person to receive it and, if applicable, has surrendered the operator's license issued by another state.

No person shall operate any motor vehicle or trailer upon any way, except as authorized by section three, unless such vehicle is registered in accordance with this chapter and carries its register number displayed. Under section three, a motor vehicle or trailer owned by a non-resident who has complied with the laws of the state or country of registration may be operated without registration under this chapter to the extent that, as finally determined by the registrar, the state or country of registration grants substantially similar privileges; no such vehicle may be so operated on more than thirty days in the aggregate in any one year or, where the owner acquires a regular place of abode or business or employment within the commonwealth, beyond a period of thirty days after the acquisition, except during such time as the owner maintains in full force a policy of liability insurance providing indemnity for or protection to him, and to any person responsible for the operation of such motor vehicle or trailer with his express or implied consent, against loss by reason of the liability to pay damages to others for bodily injuries, including death at any time resulting therefrom, caused by such motor vehicle or trailer, at least to the amount or limits required in a motor vehicle liability policy as defined in section thirty-four A.

M.G.L. c.90 §1A

No motor vehicle or trailer, except one owned by a person, firm or corporation, for the operation of which security is required to be furnished under section six of chapter one hundred and fifty-nine A, or one owned by a person, firm or corporation subject to the supervision and control of the department of telecommunications and energy, except supervision and control under chapter one hundred and fifty-nine B, as to which said department has issued a certificate as hereinafter described

M.G.L. c.90 §1A

or one owned by a street railway company under public control, or by the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or the Massachusetts department of transportation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority or the Massachusetts Port Authority, shall be registered

M.G.L. c.90 §3

a motor vehicle or trailer owned by a non-resident who has complied with the laws relative to motor vehicles and trailers, and the registration and operation thereof, of the state or country of registration, may be operated on the ways of this commonwealth without registration under this chapter, to the extent, as to length of time of operation and otherwise, that, as finally determined by the registrar, the state or country of registration grants substantially similar privileges

M.G.L. c.90 §3

provided, that no motor vehicle or trailer shall be so operated on more than thirty days in the aggregate in any one year or, in any case where the owner thereof acquires a regular place of abode or business or employment within the commonwealth, beyond a period of thirty days after the acquisition thereof, except during such time as the owner thereof maintains in full force a policy of liability insurance

M.G.L. c.90 §3

except during such time as the owner thereof maintains in full force a policy of liability insurance providing indemnity for or protection to him, and to any person responsible for the operation of such motor vehicle or trailer with his express or implied consent, against loss by reason of the liability to pay damages to others for bodily injuries

M.G.L. c.90 §3

including death at any time resulting therefrom, caused by such motor vehicle or trailer, at least to the amount or limits required in a motor vehicle liability policy as defined in section thirty-four A

Make separate returns as a resident and as a nonresident of income subject to taxation under chapter 62.

Apply for a CDL from the new State of domicile within no more than 30 days after establishing his/her new domicile, and surrender the CDL from the old State of domicile to the new State of domicile.

Shall not have more than one license to operate a motor vehicle except during the ten day period beginning on the date the person is issued a license to so operate. Each applicant for a commercial driver license shall certify to the registrar that he does not have a commercial driver license from more than 1 jurisdiction.

No new application for registration shall be accepted under the provisions of chapter ninety until the owner makes application to the registrar for a certificate of title of the vehicle, except for vehicles referred to in section two.

The registrar shall establish rules and regulations providing for a periodic staggered inspection of all motor vehicles; provided, however, that the periodic inspection for motorcycles shall not be staggered and shall run from June 1 of each year until May 31 of the following year, inclusive; the rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, an annual maintenance inspection to determine the proper and safe condition of the following: brakes, stop lamps, lights, directional signals, horn, vehicle identification number, steering and suspension systems, glazing, windshield wipers and cleaner, number plates, tires, fenders, bumpers, external sheet metal, reflectors, splash guards, chock blocks, safety belts and exhaust system

The registrar shall establish rules and regulations providing for a periodic staggered inspection of all motor vehicles; provided, however, that the periodic inspection for motorcycles shall not be staggered and shall run from June 1 of each year until May 31 of the following year, inclusive.

An excise is assessed and levied in each calendar year on every motor vehicle and trailer registered under chapter ninety, for the privilege of such registration; if a motor vehicle or trailer is originally registered after January thirty-first in any year, the excise shall be that proportion of the excise for the full year which the number of months following the month preceding that in which it is registered bears to twelve. Where the owner is an individual inhabitant of the commonwealth, the board of assessors shall assess the excise and commit the same to the collector of taxes. The excise shall be due and payable at the expiration of thirty days from the date upon which the notice was issued.

Possession of the firearm or ammunition without being duly issued a license, permit or card under sections 129B, 131, 131A or 131F is permitted only for 60 days after entry into the commonwealth. All firearms possessed in the commonwealth shall be registered via the real time electronic firearms registration system; a firearm imported by a new resident of the commonwealth may be registered within 60 days.

M.G.L. c.140 §129C(a)(ii)

Possession of a firearm or ammunition for a particular purpose and limited time without being duly issued a license, permit or card under sections 129B, 131, 131A or 131F shall be permitted by: ... any new resident moving to the commonwealth, only with respect to any firearm or ammunition then in their possession prior to moving or return and only for 60 days after such return or entry into the commonwealth

Subject to the exceptions listed in section two, file an application for number with the director on a form approved by him. Listed in section two: a motorboat numbered in accordance with the numbering system of another state approved by the secretary, provided that the certificate of number is in full force and effect and that such motorboat shall not have been within the commonwealth for a period of time in excess of sixty consecutive days.

M.G.L. c.90B §2(5)

A motorboat numbered in accordance with the numbering system of another state, which system has been approved by the secretary; provided, that the certificate of number or similar document awarding a number to such motorboat is in full force and effect; and provided, further, that such motorboat shall not have been within the commonwealth for a period of time in excess of sixty consecutive days.

No person shall operate a snow vehicle or recreation vehicle unless the vehicle has been registered in accordance with this chapter and a registration number assigned by the director is displayed on the vehicle. A recreational vehicle owned by a resident in another state may be deemed to be registered in the commonwealth if it is registered in accordance with the laws of the state in which the owner resides, but only to the extent that a similar registration exemption or privilege is granted under the laws of said state; the commissioner of fisheries, wildlife and environmental law enforcement shall designate which states shall be granted said exemption or privilege.

M.G.L. c.90B §30

A recreational vehicle owned by a resident in another state may be deemed to be registered in the commonwealth if it is registered in accordance with the laws of the state in which the owner of such vehicle resides, but only to the extent that a similar registration exemption or privilege is granted under the laws of said state for recreational vehicles registered in the commonwealth

M.G.L. c.90B §30

provided, however, that the commissioner of fisheries, wildlife and environmental law enforcement shall designate which states shall be granted said exemption or privilege.

In those cities and towns in which an exemption is made available, a taxpayer aggrieved by the failure to receive such residential exemption may apply for such residential exemption to the assessors, in writing, on a form approved by the commissioner, on or before the deadline for an application for exemption under section 59. The exemption is not more than 35 per cent of the average assessed value of all Class One, residential, parcels within the city or town, applied only to the principal residence of a taxpayer as used by the taxpayer for income tax purposes.

An estate of homestead to the extent of the declared homestead exemption in a home may be acquired by 1 or more owners who occupy or intend to occupy the home as a principal residence. The estate of homestead shall be created by a written declaration executed and recorded in accordance with section 5: in writing, signed and acknowledged under penalty of perjury by each owner to be benefited by the homestead (if the home is co-owned by a married couple and is the principal residence or is intended to be the principal residence of both spouses, the declaration shall be executed by both spouses; if the home is owned in trust, only the trustee shall execute the declaration), recorded, each owner to be benefited by the homestead and the owner's non-titled spouse, if any, shall be identified, and the declaration shall state that each person named therein occupies or intends to occupy the home as their principal residence.

Cause the dog to be registered, numbered, described and licensed for the remainder of the current license period within thirty days after the dog arrives. The trigger is the dog's arrival, not the owner's residency. Other animal import, rabies and local requirements are not resolved by this record.

Section 138 requires the local licensing transaction. No fine or general animal-import clearance is inferred from this provision.