New Mexico MVD Form 10002, the Application for Vehicle Title and Registration, is the single form you use to obtain both a certificate of title and license plates for a vehicle in New Mexico. You complete it for a new purchase, a private sale, an out-of-state transfer, or a gift, and you submit it in person along with proof of ownership, identification, and payment. The steps below walk through where to get the form, how to fill in each section, what to bring with it, and what you will pay.
Where to Get the Form
The official PDF is hosted on the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department website and can be printed at home.1New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department. New Mexico MVD Form 10002 – Application for Vehicle Title and Registration Paper copies are also available at any MVD field office and at authorized third-party MVD providers, sometimes branded as MVD Now or MVD Express. New Mexico does not offer online submission for initial title and registration; the completed form has to be handed in at a counter.
How to Fill Out Each Section
State law sets what the application must contain: the owner’s name and bona fide New Mexico residence address; the vehicle’s make, model, body type, cylinder count, fuel type, VIN, and odometer reading; and the names and addresses of anyone holding a lien or other interest in the vehicle.2Justia. New Mexico Code 66-3-4 – Application for Registration and Certificate of Title The form is organized into a handful of sections that track those requirements.
Owner Information
Enter the full legal name, Social Security number, and mailing address of every registered owner. If your residence address differs from your mailing address, there are separate lines for each; fill in both.1New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department. New Mexico MVD Form 10002 – Application for Vehicle Title and Registration
Vehicle Description
Copy the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number exactly as it appears on the vehicle, typically on a plate visible through the lower driver’s side of the windshield. Then enter the model year, make, model, and body type.
The odometer disclosure is on the form itself. The seller certifies the reading by checking one of three boxes: actual mileage, mileage in excess of the odometer’s mechanical limits, or a warning that the reading is not the actual mileage.1New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department. New Mexico MVD Form 10002 – Application for Vehicle Title and Registration Fraudulent odometer statements carry fines and possible imprisonment under state and federal law.
Lienholder Information
If you financed the vehicle, list the lender’s legal name and mailing address in the lien section. The MVD prints the lienholder on the certificate of title, and you will not receive a clean title until the loan is paid and the lien is released. Verify the name and address against your loan documents before you submit the form.
Applicant Certification
Every listed owner signs the certification at the bottom, affirming that the information is true and that the owner has complied with New Mexico’s Mandatory Financial Responsibility Act. Your signature is itself the affirmation of insurance, so make sure coverage is active before you go to the office.1New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department. New Mexico MVD Form 10002 – Application for Vehicle Title and Registration New Mexico’s liability minimums are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $10,000 per accident for property damage.3State of New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance. Auto Insurance Tip of the Month Keep your proof of insurance in the vehicle for traffic stops; the MVD does not collect a separate insurance card at the counter.4FindLaw. New Mexico Code 66-5-205 – Vehicle Must Be Insured or Owner Must Have Evidence of Financial Responsibility
Documents to Bring With the Form
The form alone will not get you a title. You also need proof of ownership, and the right document depends on how you acquired the vehicle:
- New vehicle from a dealer: the manufacturer’s certificate of origin, provided by the dealer at sale.
- Used vehicle from a dealer or private seller: the existing certificate of title signed over by the previous owner. For a private-party sale, also bring documentation showing the purchase price and date of sale, since the MVD uses those to calculate excise tax.
- Gift transfer: MVD Form 10018, the Affidavit of Gift of Motor Vehicle or Vessel, signed and notarized by both donor and recipient. It exempts the transfer from the 4% motor vehicle excise tax, requires both parties to affirm under penalty of perjury that no payment changed hands, and asks you to state the relationship between donor and recipient.5New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division. Affidavit of Gift of Motor Vehicle or Boat6New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
Every listed owner also has to present a valid government-issued photo ID at filing.
VIN Inspection and Emissions
If the vehicle was previously titled in any state other than New Mexico, a certified VIN inspector must verify that the VIN on the vehicle matches the VIN on the title before the MVD will process the application.7MVD Now. New Mexico VIN Inspection Service The inspector checks two spots: the public VIN plate on the dashboard, visible through the windshield, and the federal safety certification label on the driver’s door jamb, commonly called the Nader sticker.
If the public VIN plate is missing or altered, the vehicle is bumped to a Level 3 inspection, which only law enforcement can perform. If only the Nader sticker is missing, the inspector locates the VIN in two other permanent locations on the vehicle, such as the frame, firewall, or wheel well.7MVD Now. New Mexico VIN Inspection Service The inspection is recorded on a New Mexico VIN form and expires 90 days after it is completed, so do not schedule it far in advance of your MVD appointment.
Emissions testing is required only in Bernalillo County. Residents of the county, and anyone who commutes into the county 60 or more days a year, must pass an emissions inspection and provide proof when registering.8Motor Vehicle Division NM. Does New Mexico Require Emissions Testing? Everywhere else in the state, it does not apply.
Fees and Taxes You Will Pay
Two charges come due when you submit the form: motor vehicle excise tax and the registration fee.
The excise tax is 4% of the vehicle’s purchase price. If you bought the vehicle out of state and already paid that state’s sales or similar tax, you can credit what you paid against the New Mexico excise tax owed on the same vehicle.6New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Legitimate gifts documented with a notarized Form 10018 are exempt.
Registration fees depend on the vehicle’s weight and model year. Passenger vehicles run $27 to $62 for a one-year registration and $54 to $124 for two years. Trucks with a declared gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less run $38 to $207 for one year and $76 to $414 for two years, with heavier and newer vehicles at the top of the range.9Motor Vehicle Division NM. Register Your Vehicle
The 90-Day Deadline
You have 90 days from taking transfer of a vehicle to apply for a certificate of title, whether the vehicle was bought in New Mexico or brought in from another state. Missing that window adds a penalty equal to 50% of the excise tax owed.10MVD Now. What To Bring To The MVD On a $20,000 vehicle, that turns an $800 excise tax bill into $1,200.
Where to Submit
Bring the completed Form 10002, your supporting documents, ID, and payment to an MVD field office or an authorized third-party MVD provider. The clerk reviews the paperwork, confirms your VIN inspection if one was required, and calculates the total. Payment methods vary by location, so call ahead if you plan to use cash or a check.
If you cannot appear in person, someone else can handle the transaction using MVD Form 11020, the Limited Durable Power of Attorney. The vehicle owner signs and notarizes the form, specifying the transaction type and the vehicle details, and the person acting under the power of attorney signs a notarized affidavit affirming the authority has not been revoked. The power of attorney expires 30 days after signing or upon the owner’s death, whichever comes first.11New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division. Limited Durable Power of Attorney MVD-11020
After You File
Once the MVD accepts the paperwork and payment, you receive a temporary registration permit valid for up to 30 business days.12Motor Vehicle Division NM. Proper Use of Demonstration and Temporary Registration Permits That permit covers you on the road while the state prints your permanent registration certificate and plates. The certificate of title is processed separately and typically arrives by mail within a few weeks.