Laws governing vehicle title and registration
In addition to safely navigating the roadways, a motorist must also understand the requirements for vehicles that he/she drives.
New Jersey residents who buy a new or used vehicle must title, register, and insure it before driving it on public roads (N.J.S.A. 39:3-4, 39:10-11, 39:6B-1, 39:6B-2). New Jersey law states a vehicle classified under the Lemon Law must have that classification on the title (N.J.S.A. 39:10-9.3). For information about the Lemon Law, contact the Lemon Law Unit of the Division of Consumer Affairs at (973) 504-6200. If a motorist moves into this state, the law requires his/her vehicle to be titled and registered within 60 days; sooner, if the out-of-state registration expires before then (N.J.S.A. 39:3-17.1). The titled owner (person whose name appears on the title as the owner) or a person with authority to act on the vehicle owner’s behalf1 is required to visit an MVC agency to process the transaction. An initial registration for a brand-new vehicle will be valid for four years. All other registrations are typically valid for one year2 (N.J.S.A. 39:3-4).
1 Visit www.njmvc.gov for specific information on who is authorized to act on the owner’s
behalf.
2 Visit www.njmvc.gov for exceptions.
