Oh Oh!! In Mass. the evidence of a proper renewal is a new STICKER in the upper right hand corner of your reginstration plate.
Thank you..your post just reminded me that my NEW sticker is in the glove compartment and I’m showing an expired sticker. A senior moment??
This will be the second time I missed. The first time I was stopped for an expired sticker I had to show the nice cop (there are some) my registration. He saw the NEW sticker on the card, accepted it, removed the sticker and actually put it on the plate in the rear of the car. Said, “have a nice day” and went on his way.
I know people here in PA who have forgotten to put their new sticker on but who drove for months and months with no problem.
Unless they were unfortunate enough to drive through one particular borough south of Pittsburgh, where the local cops lie in wait all day to ticket people like this in order to fund their pension.