There's so much to love about owning a car — the freedom it gives you, the feeling of the breeze in your hair, the moment when you finally purchase your first car (to name a few).

The list of benefits of owning a vehicle goes on and on. That being said, buying a new car in Calgary comes with its fair share of responsibilities. Drivers in Calgary (and the rest of Canada) are required to have the following credentials in order to legally drive a vehicle:

• Valid driver's licence
• Provincial minimum of third-party liability insurance ($200,000)
• Valid vehicle registration

Today's article will focus on the ins and outs of the latter — vehicle registration in Calgary. Many drivers assume that registering a car in Calgary is a simple process, but there are a handful of nuanced details that some drivers are unaware of.

Continue reading if you'd like to learn everything you need to know about car registration Calgary.

If you’re looking for a general guide on how to register a motor vehicle in Alberta, feel free to click the following link.

What do you need to provide for the Calgary car registration process?

Drivers in Calgary need to provide a registry agent with the following information in order to register their vehicles:

• Valid identification (driver's licence, provincial health card, etc.)
• Proof of vehicle ownership (i.e. a receipt or bill of sale)
• Proof of valid auto insurance
• Commercial inspection, out-of-province or salvage title (when applicable)

Make sure that you have prepared all of the documents listed above before starting the vehicle registration process in Calgary. To be clear, if you do not have one or more of the credentials mentioned above, you will not be able to register your vehicle.

Drivers should also note that they need to pay any outstanding fines before they can begin the vehicle registration process. You can pay your outstanding fines in person or online.

What types of vehicles need to be registered in Calgary?

The Alberta government states that motor vehicles (cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, etc.) and non-motor vehicles (like trailers) must be registered to be driven on Albertan roadways.

Drivers that are caught operating one of the vehicles mentioned above will receive a fine of (at a minimum) $230.

However, there are a handful of exemptions to this vehicle registration rule. The following types of vehicles can be operated on Albertan roadways without valid registration:

• Mobile homes
• Trailers that feature permanent modifications like air compressors, tar buckets, crushing equipment, welders, etc.
• Farming equipment (that is used for livestock or similar agricultural purposes)
• Heavy-duty industrial vehicles like street sweepers, tractors and backhoes

Additionally, the following types of vehicles can be operated off of Albertan roadways (i.e. private property) without valid registration:

• Golf carts
• Mini-bikes
• Segways
• Small mopeds
• Mini-ATVs (both three and four-wheeled models)

Who is eligible to register a vehicle in Alberta?

Drivers 18 years old (and older) are able to register a vehicle in Calgary and the rest of Alberta.

Drivers who are under the age of 18 are unable to register a car in Calgary unless a parent or guardian accompanies them. This rule does not apply if the driver is married or self-supporting.

Additionally, drivers that are staying in Calgary temporarily (a period equal to or less than 183 days) do not need to register their vehicle if said vehicle is registered in another province.

How much is car registration in Calgary?

The Calgary car registration cost is $84.45 for a one-year period and $159.45 for a two-year period (for passenger vehicles).

However, the price that you pay for registration will depend on the type of vehicle you wish to register.

Here's a quick breakdown of the pricing for car registration renewal Calgary:

• Off-road vehicles — $54.45 for a one-year period
• Motorcycle — $54 for a one-year period, $99 for a two year period
• Non-motorized trailer — $163 for a one-year period
• Antique cars — One-time payment of $39.45

Do you need car insurance in order to register a vehicle in Calgary?

In short, yes, all drivers need to have valid auto insurance in order to register a vehicle in Calgary and the rest of Alberta.

Car insurance is legally required throughout the province of Alberta (and the rest of Canada) for a number of reasons. However, the primary reason is that car insurance allows drivers to pay for expenses that they may not be able to cover without financial assistance. A severe collision can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property damage and hospital bills.

So, to prevent drivers from going into debt when they get into a car accident, the Canadian government requires drivers to purchase the provincial minimum level of third-party auto insurance. The required level of auto insurance varies from province to province, but, as stated earlier, the provincial minimum in Alberta is $200,000 of third-party liability coverage.

Are you currently looking for car insurance quotes in Alberta? You've come to the right place…

Save up to 25% on quality car insurance when you shop with Surex

Just because car insurance is required doesn't mean that it should cost an arm and a leg to insure your vehicle. Unfortunately, many drivers in Alberta feel that their car insurance rates have become too high.

If you're thinking about re-shopping your car insurance policy, contacting a Surex insurance advisor should be at the top of your priority list.

At Surex, we do things differently; instead of pairing you with an advisor on a first-come-first-serve basis, we permanently pair our policyholders with their own advisor. Having access to your own advisor allows you to save time and dive into solving the issue.

Not to mention, unlike insurance agents, our brokers work with a variety of Alberta's top car insurance companies. So instead of pushing a single product in hopes of meeting a sales quota, we can tailor your quotes to meet your needs and budget.

Contact your Surex insurance advisor today to get started to receive a collection of high-end quotes from the province's top-rated car insurance providers.

While chatting with your advisor over the phone or online, don't forget to ask about the benefits of bundling your car insurance policy with your home, condo, renters, etc. policy (the savings can be as high as 25%).