When you buy a new car in New Jersey, the car dealership does the registration for you. If you buy a used car, then you have to do the registration yourself. When the car registration is about to expire, you have to renew. All these items will cost you some bucks. Here is a guide on how to do the registration and the renewal.
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How to Register Used Car in NJ?
The process for registering a used car in New Jersey is straightforward. It could be a used car from someone, a dealership, or an auction.
All used car Registrations in New Jersey happen at the NJ MVC(New Jersey motor vehicles commission). To register your car NJMVC you need to carry the following documents,
- A title;
- A New Jersey insurance policy number, the company, and insurance card;
- Dealer reassignment
- Power of attorney in case someone else other than yourself is required to sign the documents
- Lienholder info and financing statement in case car is financed or leased
- Motor Vehicle Commission Entity Identification Number(EIN).
- For car purchases at auction, have the notarization bill of sale, a photo or a pencil tracing of the VIN Plate, and the latest previously issue registration paper. (You also need the documents when a car comes from a state that does not issue a title)
- A purchase order if the car was state-transferred and even issued with titles but lacks a tax stamp.
- Secondly, have the payment ready. The fees include $60 standard charges, $85 for a financed car with one lien, or $110 when the vehicle has two claims. Payments will be made using a credit card, cash, money order, or a check to NJ MVC
Note:
- The registration fee varies with your type of vehicle and is inclusive of licensed plates.
- There is also a sales tax fee, call the New Jersey Taxation Division, on 609-984-6206 to help with the calculations.
Lastly, once at the agency, there are a few things to do, namely:
- Fill a Form BA-49 meant for Vehicle Registration Application.
- In case you got the car from a different state, fill Application for a Certificate of Ownership.
Reminder: Provide every required document and fee at the Registration/ Title office.
Once registration is complete, it can last you four years before it expires. You will get a notice three months before the expiration.
Then, you will have thirty days after the registration to renew your vehicle registration. The renewal process is straightforward. Let me show you how.
How to Renew Vehicle Registration in NJ?
Vehicle owners in New Jersey can renew their registration online. Here’s all you need to do to renew your vehicle registration. You will need the following documents to renew any motor vehicle registration.
- A Social Security Number
- A Registration Renewal Form
- A working credit card
- An Insurance Identification Card
Now that you have these items, what follows is the actual registration renewal process. Here’s what happens:
- Go to NJMVC’s official website by clicking here.
- Scroll down and select Online Services
- On the Online Services Page, scroll down and select Renew Vehicle Registration.
You will land on a page Registration Renewal.
- Click Begin Online Registration Renewal
You land on a Login page.
- Key in PIN from the renewal form you have or from the renewal notice you got
- Select whether or not your registration privilege is canceled in a different state
- Then, click Continue.
- The system confirms whether the PIN exists.
Note: You will be charged $1.50 for renewal of registration online
- Conclude renewal
- Now, enjoy your ride without any fuss.
Above, we talk about the PIN on your registration renewal form. A common question is how the PIN can be retrieved if lost or acquired when you do not have one.
Getting your PIN should be easy. Here’s what to do.
- Go to NJMVC and navigate to Registration Renewal PIN Lookup. Click here to get to the page.
- On the page that opens, enter details required; Plate Number,
- Vehicle Identification Number(VIN)
- Driving License or your ID number (Or the Corporation Code)
- Check the I’m not a robot” box.
- Click Get PIN
Now you have a PIN to use for your renewal of vehicle registration. The renewal should be simple after this. Nevertheless, you might lose your car registration. If you’re still in New Jersey, then you could do replace your registration paperwork. You can avoid a trip to the motor vehicle registration agency by doing the renewal online.
The procedure is simple. Let’s do it here.
How to Replace Car Registration in New Jersey?
Losing your car registration can result in fines when you do not have one while on the road. The State of New Jersey has put in place ways to get your vehicle registration replaced through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Here’s how we can go about the replacement process.
- First, you need to appear at an MCV branch in person.
- You need to be the owner or the co-owner; have the necessary documentation like the Driving License for that.
- In case you are not the owner, have a notarized statement of consent from the owner.
- Possess a New Jersey insurance ID card
- Now, get a form BA-49(Vehicle Application Registration form)
- Fill the form and sign, or if the owners are more than all, should sign it.
Note: The replacement is subject to a $5 fee. This varies. For instance, if the replacement comes in the first three years into the four years of initial registration, you will need to pay $11.
In a different case, you might have registered a leased and lost the registration. Well, do not panic. There is a way you can replace registration for a leased vehicle. Let me show you how a friend of mine did it.
- First, he had to call the leasing company and get the legal ability to replace registration. That includes Power of Attorney with your name (the lessee), information identifying the vehicle, and an authorization statement.
- Then he headed to the MVC office with the Driving license, a completed form BA-49 above, and a New Jersey Insurance ID or receipt.
- Lastly, he paid for the typical registration fee of $5 and got his registration.
Well, vehicle registration isn’t the only thing you may lose. Losing a car tag and being on the road without one amounts to a fine.
The solution: Replace your car tag. Here’s how you can go about it.
How to Replace Lost Car Tag in NJ?
You may lose tag yourself, break it, or maybe it gets lost. The first step is to always report to the police when you suffer the plate or when stolen. Then have a copy of the police report with you.
After that, you can go on to get your replacement. Here’s how the process goes.
- Go to the MVC in person to get the new plates.
- First, you will fill vehicle registration or form(BA-1), also known as the Plate Status form.
- Then, present the registration with your identification document, and get the new plates.
- The fee for this is $6 and $11 for any dedicated replacement or unique plates.
Of course, for the broken one, you do not have to report to the police. However, you will have to do something about it, so you can get it replaced. Here’s what I did for my new plate just recently.
- Filled out plate status form
- Then I handed the form together with my current car registration and my identification and paid the $6
- From here, I gave the damaged plate to MVC
- I opted for a new plate with new numbers, so I did not have to fill the SPU-89(Application for Remaking an Existing Plate form)
Payment for this is usually $11, and the plate will reach you between ten to twelve weeks
Note: You still have to give MVC your broken plates
In this case, on the road, have the necessary documents to show you’re awaiting the replacement to avoid a traffic ticket or a fine.
Conclusion
Now, there is more we may talk about the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission(NJ MVC). The registration, the renewal, and the replacements. Here, you have a few of those solutions to put you in motion in case any of these situations arise. Take your time and make things right and avoid those hefty traffic penalties.