The Comprehensive Guide To Registering A Car In NJ [2025 Updated]

In case you moved to New Jersey from another state, you’ll have to upgrade your car enrollment (and get utilized to somebody pumping gas for you, as self-service is illicit). The same is genuine in case you buy a completely new car, despite the fact that in numerous cases the dealership can handle that portion for you. But in case you bought from a private party, you’ll also be required to overhaul your records. Regardless of whether you’re completely new to the Garden State, you’ll get begun with New Jersey car enlistment. Below is the instruction for registering a car in NJ. 

If you need to pass the license exam to obtain a driver’s license, an important thing you need to do is take our DMV practice test. From that, you can equip yourself with solid knowledge and need skills to pass your exam the first time with a high score.

Why is NJ car registration required?

The regulation of each state within the US requires you to enroll your car within the state you live in with the local DMV(which stands for the Department of Motor Vehicles) or transportation specialist. In reality, it’s illicit to drive without car enrollment or terminated car enrollment.

Once you enlist your vehicle with New Jersey, you’re making verification of proprietorship for your vehicle in case you get pulled over and get the feared “license and registration, please” from an officer. After you enlist your car, you get a permit plate and a sticker that’s utilized to distinguish your car, and the enlistment outlines that you’re the legitimate proprietor of the car.

Do I have to register my car in NJ?

There are by and large two scenarios where you should get a vehicle registration in New Jersey:

• You buy a vehicle and are a resident in New Jersey.
• After moving to New Jersey and becoming a resident in this state, you need to update your vehicle records. 

In fact, in case you buy a vehicle at a store or a dealership, car registration is not considered a challenging process due to the support of a car dealer. However, if you buy an old car through a third party, you often have to handle the car registration process on your own. Once moving to New Jersey, you’ve got about 2 months to upgrade to car registration (unless your current enrollment terminates sooner, in which case you ought to enroll before the expiration date). In any case, amid a Public Health Emergency, you’ve got 3 months.

What do I need to register a car in NJ?

Before the process of New Jersey car registration, you may well be inquisitive and ponder “What should be prepared before New Jersey car registration?”. What you would like to enlist for a car may change depending on in case you essentially bought a vehicle or in case you’re moving from another state.

To get started you’ll need:

• The title of your vehicle
• Your driver’s license and forms of identity card (6 point ID system is applied in New Jersey) 
• New Jersey proof of national insurance number (both insurer name and policy number or insurance card is all permitted)

In case you have leased your vehicle from a person who is signing documents, you have to prepare:

• Power of attorney in case there is a person signing documents on your behalf 
• Dealer reassignment documentation
• Information of lienholder and finance statement 

In case you have been moving to New Jersey and have the demand of updating your car registration, you have to prepare:

• 6 point ID system is applied in New Jersey
• A transfer permit (you can purchase it with a fee of $10)
• Giving up your previous out-of-state driver’s license for taking the new driver’s license of New Jersey

How to register a car in NJ?

Instructions for registering a car in NJ will be a bit diverse depending on the event that you bought a vehicle or in case you’re a completely new inhabitant of New Jersey.

In case you just purchased a car:

• Plan and arrange an appointment with the NJ MVC (which stands for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission).
• Bring enough related documents which are mentioned above.
• Fill out an application from BA-49 (the vehicle registration application).
• Pay all the registration, sales tax, and vehicle title fees. The registration fees can be different in various periods of time, but it often fluctuates from $60 to $110. 

In case you just moved to New Jersey:

• Plan and arrange an appointment with the NJ MVC (which stands for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission).
• Buy a transfer driving permit (which can cost you about $10).
• Bring enough related documents which are mentioned above.
• Fill out an application from BA-49 (the vehicle registration application). The form OS/SS-UTA within the  Universal Title Application is also required.
• Pay all the registration and vehicle title fees. The registration fees can be different in various periods of time.

You can have 2 months from your vehicle registration date, despite the fact that that time allotment has multiplied to 4 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep in mind that you can have less time in case your current vehicle registration is expiring sooner.

Is NJ doing car inspections?

All vehicles enlisted within New Jersey are required to be assessed, by and large, every 2 years – however, your beginning review period may shift depending on whether your vehicle is new or utilized, or in case you’re completely new to New Jersey. For more data on what steps to require to urge your vehicle to be reviewed, it would be ideal if you read the New Jersey Smog & Emissions Checks.

New New Jersey inhabitants

Completely new New Jersey inhabitants got to get their car or truck enlisted with the New Jersey MVC before they got their vehicle assessed. Amid enrollment, you will be issued a Form of SS-19, which you ought to take besides your Modern Shirt enlistment, New Jersey insurance card, and driver’s permit to an assessment station within 2 weeks after getting your vehicle enrolled.

Read more >> How To Change Address On License New Jersey?

New vehicles

Brand new vehicles that have never been titled and enlisted before the process of getting an assessment sticker for 5 years from the merchant at the time of purchase. It is not necessary for you to get the vehicle assessed until the date on the assessment sticker.

Utilized vehicles

Utilized vehicles obtained either in or out of New Jersey are not required to be assessed until they are 5 years old. In case you obtained the utilized vehicle from a car dealership, the merchant can fasten an assessment sticker dated to run out once the vehicle is 5 years old.

In case you obtained a vehicle from a private person, you’ll get a Shape SS-19 after you enlist the vehicle to induce an inspection sticker that covers the vehicle until it is years old. You may have to take the Frame SS-19 with you to the assessment station within 2 weeks of getting it.

Annual inspections

Certain types of classes of vehicles are required to total a security and outflows review yearly, rather than every 2 years. These vehicles incorporate:

• Taxis, Limousines, Buses.
• Bi-fueled or commercial gas vehicles.
• Commercial diesel vehicles are 18,000 lbs or more.

How much to register a car in NJ?

Enlistment expenses for utilized vehicles are based on the age and weight of the vehicle and are recharged every year. Modern vehicles (counting rented vehicles) require an expanded enrollment period for the introductory registration.

Extended registration for a new vehicle

Drivers of brand-unused vehicles have to pay 4 years of enrollment expenses when they begin with enlisting the vehicle. Discounts will not be given in the event that you offer, crash, or lose the vehicle to robbery or credit default before the conclusion of the enlistment period. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission incorporates an Enlistment Charge Calculator you’ll be able to utilize to figure out how much you’ll owe once you first enroll your unused vehicle.

Extended registration for a leased vehicle

You have to pay an enlistment charge for the total term of the rent on modern vehicles that have not had any prior deals or leases. In case the car rent does not lapse inside an ordinary calendar year period, you must pay the enrollment for another year. For case: A contract for 38 months requires vehicle registration for a full 48 months; while the contract for 36 months requires vehicle enrollment for 36 months.

Read more >> NJ DMV License Renewal: A Step-by-Step Guide In 2025

New Jersey license plates

By and large, in case you possess your vehicle by and large without any liens on it, you’ll get your license plates promptly after you register. If a lienholder has your title, you may get to hold up to induce your plates until the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission gets the title data. You’ll be informed by mail to return to your nearby MVC office to choose up your permit plates and car enlistment.

You’ll be able to exchange your existing New Jersey driver’s permit plates for your unused vehicle amid the process of registration. The registration and permit plates must have the precise same data as the old vehicle. There’s a fee of $4.50 additionally the prorated enrollment expense in the event that there’s an alter within the weight class.

In the event that the data on your enrollment changes, you’ll be required to yield your permit plates and get completely new ones for your unused vehicle. Any New Jersey driver’s permit plates you’re not utilizing have to be back to the NJ MVC (New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission).

New Jersey military vehicle registration

The state of New Jersey has distinctive enrollment alternatives for the military depending on whether they are out-of-state inhabitants, New Jersey inhabitants on active obligation or even US veterans.

Non-residents in New Jersey

Individuals of active obligation military units that are positioned in New Jersey, but are not inhabitants of New Jersey, don’t get to register their vehicles in New Jersey. Let’s ensure to keep your enrollment together with your domestic state, and continuously carry verification of enrollment and insurance status whereas positioned in New Jersey.

New Jersey inhabitants on active duty

New Jersey inhabitants serving within the military are qualified for an expansion of their current driver’s permit, vehicle enrollment, and review necessities for as long as they are on dynamic obligation. You must carry a military expansion letter, together with records proving your active military status, at all times. Once you return to civilian status, you’ll have to recharge your lapsed enlistment within 3 months of demobilization.

Vehicle registration refund in New Jersey

In the event that you’re positioned out of state and you must enlist your vehicle there, you’re qualified for a refund on the leftover portion of your New Jersey registration period. You must send within the below:

• Documents or letters that can explain the reason why you want to get a refund.
• Evidence of active out-of-state military service.
• A copied document of your military orders.
• Your NJ  license plates and registration.
• A copied document of your registration.

Medal of Honor recipients and Disabled veterans

Veterans with full disability from the military may qualify at no cost enrollment in the state of New Jersey. You must request an application from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. You’ll qualify in case you:

• Have a military disability rating.
• Are qualified for receiving auto financial assistance through the USA VA (stands for Department of Veterans Affairs) and have a New Jersey driver’s license with a vehicle equipped for disabled veterans.
• Have one of these disabilities: loss of vision (less than 20 degrees), loss of hand or foot, and loss of function of hand or foot.

Can you register a foreign vehicle in NJ?

In case you’ve obtained a vehicle abroad whereas, on active obligation, you must get it properly titled with the state before the process of registration. Once the vehicle is titled, you’ll enlist utilizing the same forms laid out over.

Read more >> How to Transfer Drivers License to NJ?

Is insurance required for registering a car in NJ?

For the purpose of registering a car in New Jersey, you have to have confirmation of your insurance status. You’ll bring your New Jersey car insurance card when enrolling in your car. Concurring to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission site, all vehicles enlisted in this state must have three distinctive sorts of insurance scope, counting:

• Risk insurance, which covers the fee of harm you make to other people in an auto accident 
• PIP (which stands for Personal Injury Protection), covers the fee of restorative costs in case of harm from an auto mishap
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage covers costs for your harms or wounds in the event that you’re in an auto mischance caused by an uninsured person

If you’re looking at your car insurance choices, take a look to see in case pay-per-mile insurance might be useful. Utilizing pay-per-mile insurance, you pay a little base rate each month and pay a few budgets for each mile. In case you’re a low-mileage driver, this will be the way to minimize your vehicle insurance costs.

In case you’ve as of late moved to New Jersey or obtained a vehicle in this state as an NJ inhabitant, it’s time to upgrade your records and get your car enrollment. Hope this article can be beneficial for you during the process of registration for cars in NJ. If you wish to obtain a new license, keep in mind that taking NJ permit practice test to pass the exam with a high score.