It is unlawful for a person to operate a vehicle on a public highway of this state without having in full force and effect a current and proper vehicle registration and displaying license plates on the vehicle. Failure to initially register a vehicle before operating the vehicle on the public highways of this state is a traffic infraction, with a total fine of $1,136. Failure to renew an expired vehicle registration before operating a vehicle on the public highways of this state is also a traffic infraction, with a total fine of $150 if the registration has been expired two months or less or $242 if the registration has been expired for more than two months.

The 2025-27 biennial transportation budget provided funds to the Department of Licensing to send periodic notifications to vehicle owners with significantly expired vehicle registrations to increase compliance with annual vehicle registration requirements. Notifications must contain information about vehicle registration requirements and possible penalties associated with operating a vehicle with an expired registration.

Failure to renew an expired registration of a vehicle parked, standing, and unoccupied on the public right-of-way, on publicly owned property, or within a privately owned, off-street parking facility imposing vehicle parking fees is a traffic infraction. The infraction is issued to the registered owner, but is not part of the registered owner's driving record and must be processed in the same manner as a parking infraction.

Enforcement of such an infraction within a privately owned, off-street parking facility imposing vehicle parking fees may only occur if the facility owner consents to such enforcement and sufficient notice is provided to persons accessing such facilities.

The penalty for failure to renew an expired registration of a parked, standing, and unoccupied vehicle is $145 if the registration has been expired two months or less or $248 if the registration has been expired for more than two months.