Massachusetts Title Law

Massachusetts Title Law went into effect on September 1, 1972. This law requires that all motor vehicles and trailers be titled within ten (10) days of purchase. Passenger vehicles with a model year of 1980 and older, purchased before November 26, 1990 are exempt from titling. Any vehicle purchased after November 26, 1990 must be titled, excluding the following:

• A vehicle owned by the United States, unless registered in accordance with the provisions of chapter ninety (90).
• A vehicle owned by a manufacturer or dealer and held for sale even though incidentally moved on a highway or used for purposes of testing or demonstration, or a vehicle used by a manufacturer solely for testing.
• A vehicle owned by a nonresident of the Commonwealth for which a currently effective certificate of title has been issued in the state of residence.
• A vehicle on loan from the United States Government or from a vehicle manufacturer or distributor to the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof.
• A vehicle regularly engaged in the interstate transportation of persons or property for which a currently effective certificate of title has been issued in another state or country.
• A vehicle moved solely by animal power.
• An implement of husbandry.
• Special mobile equipment.
• A self-propelled wheelchair or invalid tricycle.
• A trailer with a gross weight of three thousand (3000) pounds or less.
• A manufactured (mobile) home, as defined in Massachusetts General Law (MGL) c.140, § 32Q.