- NJ registration renewal notice
- Current car registration
Drivers are eligible to renew car a registration online if they have received a PIN in their registration renewal notice. To proceed with the renewal online, visit the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission s website and follow the instructions provided.
To renew an expired car registration by mail, send your registration renewal notice with your proof of NJ auto insurance and a check or money order for the renewal fee to:
NJ Motor Vehicle Commission
Revenue Processing Center
Trenton, NJ 08646-0009
How can I transfer my registration to another state? If you are moving out of New Jersey, you need to cancel your vehicle registration and turn in your inactive license plates. The next step to take is to contact the DMV of the state of you are moving to and become familiar with the car registration procedures in your new home state.
If you have moved to NJ, you must obtain a NJ vehicle registration on your car. Visit your local MVC and follow these steps:
- Submit proof of NJ car insurance
- Present proof of your Social Security Number
- Submit your NJ driving license
- Provide the vehicle s odometer reading
- Complete the application for registration (Form BA-49)
- Pay the registration fees (vary depending on the age and weight of the vehicle)
- Have your vehicle inspected
- Permanent placard
- Temporary placard
If you suffer from a permanent disability, you need to apply for permanent placard and/or a wheelchair symbol license plate either by mail or in person at an NJ MVC office. Make sure you complete an Application for Vehicle License Plates and/or Placard for Persons with a Disability (Form SP-41) and attach your medical certification on the application. If you are applying for a wheelchair symbol license plate, you should also submit your current vehicle registration. The NJ MVC does not charge a fee for permanent handicap permits.
Temporary handicap tags are issued to drivers with temporary disabilities and are valid for up to six months. Handicap placard applications are submitted to the NJ police chief and not the New Jersey MVC, even though the $4 fee needs to be mailed to the MVC.
How do I file a police report if my car registration was stolen? If your car registration and /or license plates have been stolen, you are required to report the theft to the local police and the New Jersey MVC. To do so, visit your local police station to file a police report, and then head to a nearby NJ DMV location and apply for duplicate license plates. You will need to provide the police report upon arrival at the MVC, as well as the stolen license plate number.
Reporting your stolen car registration with the police and the DMV will update your license plate status and protect you in the event of any fraudulent activities that may involve your NJ vehicle registration.
- Visit a MVC office
- Provide proof of age and identification, such as your New Jersey drivers license
- Present proof of NJ auto insurance
- Complete a Replacement Application (Form BA-49)
- A completed Power of attorney (POA)
- Pay duplicate registration fee
If your license plates are damaged, you can request duplicate plates by mail, however, if the plates are lost or stolen, you must make an in-person visit to an MVC office near you and obtain replacements. In this case, you also need to report your stolen license plates to the police.
How do I obtain car registration? All New Jersey drivers must register their vehicles to be able to legally drive them on state roads. If you have purchased a vehicle from a dealership, the dealer usually handles all your registration and titling issues. On the other hand, if you have bought a used vehicle or if you are transferring an out-of-state car registration, you have 10 days to register your car with the NJ MVC.
In order to register an out-of-state car registration with the NJ DMV, visit a nearby MVC location and provide the following documents:
- Certificate of title
- Registration application (BA-49)
- Vehicle odometer reading
- The buyer s driving license or another proof of identification as stated under the 6 Point ID program
- Proof of Social Security Number
- Proof of New Jersey auto insurance
- Payment for sales tax and titling fees
- Payment for registration fee
- Information for the lien holder, if applicable
- Certificate of Ownership (form SS-7) for out-of-state vehicles
If I do not renew on time, will there be an additional fee? No, the New Jersey MVC does not charge a late fee if you do not renew your car registration by the due date indicated on your registration renewal notice. However, bear in mind that you will be fined if caught driving on expired registration, so make sure that you renew on time.
Is there a different process I must follow if I lost personalized plates? No, the procedure to replace personalized license plates in New Jersey is the same as replacing standard plates. However, the NJ DMV charges a $6 replacement fee for standard plates and an $11 duplicate fee for special interest or dedicated plates.
If your license plates are damaged, you can replace your plates by mail by sending a completed Application for Remaking of an Existing Licensing Plate (Form SP89), a copy of your vehicle registration, and a check or money order for the required fee to the NJ MVC.
If your plates are lost or stolen, you must obtain replacements by making an in-person visit at a New Jersey MVC office and providing your car registration certificate, your drivers license and payment for the duplicate fee.
Should I carry the registration on me or in the car? Drivers must get car registration and NJ car insurance in order to legally operate a motor vehicle in New Jersey. Both must be carried in your vehicle at all times. Failure to do so will result in penalties and fines and even a suspension on your registration privileges.
- Voluntary replacement at any time during your registration period
- Lost car registration certificate, license plate and/or decal
- Stolen car registration or license plate
- Your registration certificate has been damaged to a point of illegibility and the necessary information cannot be read from it
If any of the reasons can be applied to your specific case, visit your NJ Motor Vehicle Commission location and apply for a duplicate car registration or license plates.
What are the required fees for my vehicle registration? Vehicle registration fees for used cars in New Jersey vary according to the weight and age of your vehicle. Check with the New Jersey MVC for the exact amount you will be required to pay before making your visit to a DMV location near you.
If you have purchased a new car, you must pay four years of registration fees upon the initial registration of the vehicle. Also, purchasing a leased vehicle requires drivers to pay a registration fee for the full term of the lease. To determine how much you owe the MVC in registration fee, use the NJ MVC Registration Fee Calculator.
- $5 for one year passenger/commercial registration
- $5 for the last year of four year accelerated registration
- $11 anytime during the first three years of a four year accelerated registration
The fees to obtain replacement license plates, if your original plates have been lost, stolen or damaged are:
- $6 for standard plates.
- $11 for special interest or dedicated plates.
You must replace car registration in person at a nearby NJ MVC location. If you are not sure what methods of payment are available at the MVC office of your choice, contact them for more information before heading out. You can send a check or money order for the duplicate license plate fee if you are replacing them by mail.
What are the required fees to renew my registration? New Jersey car registration renewal fees vary depending on the type of the vehicle, the weight and the year. Your registration renewal vehicle will indicate the exact amount you will be required to pay.
Also, keep in mind that if you are a disabled or senior driver (65 and older), you get a $7 discount off the vehicle registration renewal fees. The NJ MVC does not charge late fees if you fail to renew your registration, however, you will be fined if caught driving with expired decals.
- A NJ drivers license
- Proof of New Jersey car insurance
- A completed Replacement Application (Form BA-49)
- A Power of attorney (POA) from a leasing company, if you are replacing the registration of a leased vehicle
Drivers must also pay the applicable fees.
- A certificate of title, properly assigned with the name of the seller and the sales tax information section completed
- A completed Registration Application (BA-49)
- At least one proof of identification as stated under the 6 Point ID program
- Proof of Social Security Number
- Proof of New Jersey auto insurance
- Certificate of Ownership (form SS-7) for out-of-state vehicles
- Proof of identity, as required under the 6 Point ID program
- At least one of the following:
- NJ registration renewal notice
- Current car registration
What should I do if I have not received my registration tags or stickers? If you renew your New Jersey car registration in person at your local MVC office you will receive your registration tags on the same day. However, if you renew expired car registration online or by mail, you must wait at least seven days for the MVC to process your application.
If you have not received your renewed registration within that time, contact the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to get more information on the delivery status of your vehicle registration tags.
When does my car registration expire? A New Jersey car registration must be renewed annually. This applies to all commercial and non-commercial vehicles operated on NJ state roads. To help you with the process, the MVC will sent you a registration renewal notice in the mail prior to the expiration date on your registration certificate.
In addition, the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission offers three methods to renew vehicle registration: online, by mail or in person. Whichever you choose, make sure you have all the necessary documents and required payment before you get the car registration renewal process started.
Where can I find a local tax county collector office? In New Jersey, the Motor Vehicle Commission handles both licensing and registration and titling matters. If you need to complete a registration-related service, use our DMV locator to find a MVC office near you. By clicking on your location of choice on the map, you will all the information about that particular DMV location, from office hours to acceptable methods of payment.
Will I need to fill out an application to replace my car registration? Yes, you will be required to complete a Replacement Application (Form BA-49) to replace vehicle registration in New Jersey. This application is only obtainable from the New Jersey DMV offices.
Will I receive a renewal registration notice in the mail? Yes, the NJ MVC will send you a registration renewal notice reminding you that your New Jersey vehicle registration is about to expire. The MVC notice to renew vehicle registration will indicate the renewal fee you need to pay, the renewal due date and it will provide either a PIN, if you are eligible to renew online or an enclosed envelope, if you are allowed to renew by mail.
Please note that even if you do not receive a notice in the mail, it is your responsibility to renew car registration before it expires. The NJ MVC does not charge late fees if you fail to renew your registration on time, however, you will be fined if caught driving with expired decals.
Will my registration expire on my birthday or birth month? No, New Jersey vehicle registrations are valid for one year, which means that your NJ car registration will expire one year after the initial registration or renewal. You will be reminded of the expiration date on your registration certificate by receiving a renewal notice from the NJ MVC.
Keep in mind that even if you do not receive a renewal notice in the mail, you are still responsible for renewing expired car registration on time, as failure to do so will result in fines and various penalties.
