To transfer a vehicle into your name in New Mexico, you complete the New Mexico title transfer Form MVD-10049, attach the signed title and supporting documents, and submit the package at an MVD field office or authorized partner within 90 days of the sale. The form itself is one page. Most of the work is in the paperwork you bring with it and the 4% motor vehicle excise tax you pay at the counter.1Motor Vehicle Division NM. Motor Vehicle Division NM Homepage2New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
What to Bring With the Form
MVD-10049 does not stand alone. Bring the full package to your appointment or the clerk cannot process the transfer:3New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division. MVD-10049 Request for New Mexico Title Transfer
- The original certificate of title, either the New Mexico title (MVD-10030) signed over by the seller or an out-of-state title.
- A completed Bill of Sale (MVD-10009) showing the vehicle year, make, VIN, sale price, and both parties’ names, addresses, and signatures.4Motor Vehicle Division NM. Chapter 4 – Title and Registration – Used Vehicles
- A copy of a New Mexico driver’s license or ID for every buyer listed on the title. If your license is from another state, bring two proofs of New Mexico residency instead, such as a utility bill and a pay stub.
- A copy of your New Mexico auto insurance policy, valid for at least one week beyond your drop-off date.
- A passing emissions test result, if you live or work in Bernalillo County and the vehicle is four or more model years old.
- Lienholder name, mailing address, and loan maturity date if you financed the purchase.
For a gift, replace the bill of sale with a notarized Affidavit of Gift of Motor Vehicle or Boat (MVD-10018), signed by both the donor and the recipient under oath.5New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
Filling Out the Form
MVD-10049 has two sections plus a documentation checklist on the side.
Applicant Information
Enter the full legal name of each buyer. If two people will be on the title, choose whether the names are joined by “and” or “or.” The choice has real consequences later: “and” means both owners must sign to sell or transfer the vehicle, while “or” lets either owner act alone.
Fill in your phone number, email, mailing address, and physical address if it is different. The email field is mandatory. MVD will reject the form without one.3New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division. MVD-10049 Request for New Mexico Title Transfer
Vehicle Information
Enter the VIN and the vehicle color. Pick a license plate style (yellow, turquoise, or chile) and a registration period (one year or two). That is all the vehicle detail this form asks for. The make, model, body type, fuel type, and odometer reading come from the title and bill of sale you submit with it.6Justia. New Mexico Code 66-3-4 – Application for Registration and Certificate of Title
Sign and date at the bottom. A second buyer, if any, signs too.
Where to Submit
You have two places to turn in the completed package:
- State MVD field offices, which operate by appointment only. Schedule through the MVD website or by calling the office you plan to visit.1Motor Vehicle Division NM. Motor Vehicle Division NM Homepage
- Authorized partner offices, sometimes branded as MVD Express or MVD Now, which handle title transfers under contract with the state. Wait times are often shorter, but partners charge their own convenience fees on top of state costs.
At the counter, the clerk cross-checks your title, bill of sale, insurance, and ID. If the VIN on the bill of sale doesn’t match the title, or a signature is missing, you’ll have to fix it before the transfer clears.
Taxes, Fees, and the 90-Day Deadline
New Mexico charges a 4% motor vehicle excise tax on the purchase price, less any trade-in credit.2New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Motor Vehicle Excise Tax If the price you declare is less than 80% of the vehicle’s NADA average trade-in or wholesale value, MVD calculates the tax on the NADA value instead.
Registration fees for passenger vehicles depend on weight and model year: roughly $27 to $62 for one year, or $54 to $124 for two years. Newer and heavier vehicles fall at the higher end.7Motor Vehicle Division NM. What Is the Fee for Registering My Vehicle?
You have 90 days from the date of sale, or from the date you brought an out-of-state vehicle into New Mexico, to apply for the title. Miss that window and the state adds a penalty equal to 50% of the excise tax, effectively raising the tax from 4% to 6%. On a $15,000 vehicle, that’s the difference between $600 and $900.2New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
Insurance You Must Have in Place
You cannot register the vehicle without active New Mexico liability coverage. The minimums are:8Motor Vehicle Division NM. Insurance
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people
- $10,000 for property damage in one accident
Your card or declarations page has to show at least these limits.
Gifts, Out-of-State Titles, and Existing Liens
A genuine gift with no money exchanged is exempt from the excise tax. Both donor and recipient must complete and notarize the Affidavit of Gift (MVD-10018), swearing under penalty of perjury that nothing was paid.5New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Registration fees still apply.
A vehicle last titled in another state also needs a VIN inspection. Not all field offices perform them, and some require a separate appointment, so call ahead. A certified VIN inspector at a partner office is an alternative.9Motor Vehicle Division NM. Register Your Vehicle
If the title still shows an active lien from the seller’s loan, that lien must be released before the transfer can go through. The lienholder can sign the release area on the title itself, complete MVD Form 10041, or provide a notarized release on company letterhead.4Motor Vehicle Division NM. Chapter 4 – Title and Registration – Used Vehicles If you are financing your own purchase, list the new lienholder’s name, address, and maturity date on MVD-10049 so the new lien is recorded on the new title.
Odometer Disclosure
Federal law requires the seller to give you a written odometer disclosure at the time of sale.10eCFR. Odometer Disclosure Requirements The reading goes on the back of the New Mexico title (MVD-10030) or on a separate disclosure, and the seller certifies whether the mileage is accurate, in doubt, or has rolled past the odometer’s limit. Vehicles 20 or more model years old are exempt, which for 2026 means model year 2006 and older. Everything from 2007 forward still needs a mileage statement, and falsifying one is a federal offense.
After You Submit
Once the clerk accepts your paperwork and payment, you receive temporary registration so you can drive the vehicle right away. MVD typically processes and mails the physical title within one to two business days. It goes to the mailing address on the MVD-10049, so verify that address before you hand the form in.
If you financed the purchase, expect the title to be sent to your lienholder rather than to you. You will not receive the physical document until the loan is paid off and the lien is released.