Are you a resident of New Jersey or planning to move to New Jersey? Then, you need to know that car registration is vital.
Why Do you need to Register your Car?
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ MVC) mandates car registration. Registering your car helps easily identify a vehicle and its owner. Additionally, you become authenticated to drive your vehicle on NJ highways and roads. Therefore, prepare to register your car today.
This guide provides all the information you need about registering a car in New Jersey.
Documents Required to Register a Car in New Jersey
You need to provide the following documents to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission during the registration process:
- Car Title
- Driver’s license
- New Jersey Insurance Card/Company Name/Policy Number
- Power of Attorney if an agency is registering the car on your behalf
- An MVC entity identification number
- Lien Holder information and Finance statement. If you leased or financed the car
- Social Security Number card
- Odometer reading
Car Registration Process in New Jersey
When you have all the documentation, follow the following steps during registration.
- Find the motor vehicle agency of your choice.
- There are thirty-nine agencies you can visit. Some of them include the Newton agency
- Washington agency
- Flemington agency
- Paterson agency
- Randolph agency
- Visit the NJMVC website to find the best vehicle agency in your county.
- Calculate your payment.
There are three things you will be charged. First it is the titling, registration, and sales tax fees. The titling payment depends on the following things.
- Standard vehicle – $60
- Financed car with a lien – $85
- Financed car with two claims – $110
The type of vehicle is a factor considered when calculating the registration fee. Also, remember to include your car’s license plate. If the car is new, you will pay a four-year registration fee. In case you don’t know how to estimate the sales tax fee, seek assistance from the NJ Division of Taxation. Call this department at 609-984-6206.
NB: The cost of automobile registration fees is determined by the weight class, model, and weight.
- Filling in the Forms
The registration process is not automated; you will visit an agency office physically.
You need to complete the vehicle registration application form, Form BA-49, at the motor vehicle agency.
If you are from another state, you must fill in the certificate of ownership form.
To complete the registration process, go to the title/registration counter with the forms and attached documentation and pay the fees.
The officer at the counter will verify your documents and application forms. After that, you will get your vehicle’s registration document and license plate.
Car Registration for New Residents of New Jersey
New residents of New Jersey and have a car. You need to register it with NJ MVC.
Do you find the process challenging? Don’t worry; you will learn the steps to follow when registering a car in New Jersey.
But what do new residents require? First, you become a resident of New Jersey when you stay for more than six months.
You have sixty days to register your vehicle after moving to NJ and becoming a legitimate resident.
- Acquire liability insurance.
Before registration, you must have NJ liability insurance.
- Find a motor vehicle commission agency.
As earlier said, there are thirty-nine MVC agencies. Find the one that suits you and request the necessary registration forms.
Necessary Documents you require are;
- NJ insurance ID card
- Social Security Number
- NJ driver’s license
- Car’s odometer reading
If you don’t have an NJ driver’s license, you must present other relevant documents for proof. Such documents include at least one primary and secondary document, a valid SSN, and proof of address.
Next, complete and submit the titling application form; however, if there’s a lien, you must complete Form CS-54.
Also, you need to fill in the registration form, also known as Form BA-49.
Registration of New Vehicles
There are various places where you can purchase a new car. You can buy a vehicle from a dealership or a person.
When you purchase a car through a dealership, the dealer will help you with registration. The registration fees are added to the car’s payment.
However, ten business days is the set time for those buying directly from a person. When you fail to register your car during this period, you will pay $25 for late registration.
In this scenario, you are required to have the following documents and fill in these forms.
- Title of the car
- Car Insurance
- SSN
- Driver’s license number
- Odometer reading
- Form BA-49
Additionally, you will pay the car registration fee, sales tax, and title fee too.
How to Transfer Car Registration in New Jersey?
The process of transfer of car registration is straightforward.
You need to know that registration transfers are only done for vehicles of a similar weight class. You cannot transfer the license and registration of a bus and a small car.
$4.50 is the fee you will pay for the transfer of registration.
An accredited New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agency does all these processes.
You can transfer the plates to your new car when your documents are validated.
Car Registration Renewal in New Jersey
The time has come, and you need to get your car’s registration. But how do you go about renewing the car registration?
You should know that you will receive an email from NJMVC informing you about renewing your registration. Your current registration expires in three months.
- Online Renewal
The best thing about the renewal process is that it is automated—no need to visit an agency.
Go to the NJ MVC website to start the process. You require the following things;
- PIN
- SSN
The PIN is in the lower right corner of the mail the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission sent.
Pay the amount stated in the mail, and you will have completed the renewal process.
You need to know that you cannot renew your car registration online after the time has elapsed.
- Through Mail
Do you feel you cannot do the online renewal process? You can renew your registration via mail.
The mail you receive from NJMVC will include a payment stub and a return envelope. Fill in the payment stub and input the payment using a money order or check.
- Via an Agency
You can also renew your registration through an agency. When visiting the agency, carry your driver’s license, license plate number, and insurance.
Remember to go in person.
Who is Entitled to Free Car Registration in New Jersey?
Is there free car registration in NJ? Yes, but it is only available to a select few.
You must be disabled to meet the requirements for free car registration. However, it is not only a disabled person but a disabled veteran.
Another group of people who qualify are those who possess the Medal of Honor.
Additionally, disabled veterans need to have either lost their hands or feet, are not able to use their hands or feet, or cannot see to qualify for free car registration in NJ.
New Jersey Car Registration for Military Personnel
Military personnel working and staying in New Jersey need to know various things about car registration.
Those in the military and on active duty but not residents of NJ are not supposed to register their cars. Even though you are exempted from registration, you should carry your state’s car registration and relevant documents are all times.
As an NJ resident on active duty in the military, you don’t have to renew your car registration and driver’s license. But once you become a civilian, you have ninety days to renew your registration.
If you are an NJ resident working in another state and need to register your car there, you will receive a refund for the remaining period of your car registration.
To drive your car legally in New Jersey, you need to register it today. Therefore, if you thought the process was daunting, it’s simple. If you haven’t registered your car, do it now to avoid problems with law enforcers.
Furthermore, car registration helps to identify you as the real owner of the car when an issue arises. So, don’t take it for granted; it is essential. For further queries about New Jersey car registration, please comment. You will get instant help.
Thank you for reading.
Also Read: Guide to Pay NJ Surcharge Online