To complete a New Jersey vehicle registration, book an appointment at a Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) agency and bring 6-point identification, the signed title, a bill of sale, proof of New Jersey insurance, and a completed Application for Vehicle Registration (Form BA-49). At the window you’ll pay 6.625% sales tax on the purchase price, a weight- and age-based registration fee, and a title fee, and you’ll walk out with plates, a decal, and a paper registration certificate.1New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Vehicle Registration Walk-ins are not accepted, so schedule online before you go.
Documents to Bring
New Jersey uses a 6-point identification system. Every accepted document carries a point value, and your combination has to total at least six points, with at least one primary document, a verifiable Social Security number or ITIN, and proof of your current address.2New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. 6 Point ID Verification Brochure
- 4 points (primary): U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport (current or expired less than three years), certificate of naturalization, or a current NJ digital driver license.
- 3 points: Marriage certificate from the municipality or state where the ceremony occurred, court-ordered legal name change, or a current U.S. military dependent card.
- 2 points: U.S. school photo ID with transcript, FAA pilot license, or a government employee photo ID.
- 1 point: Social Security card, bank statement, current health insurance card, or an out-of-state photo driver license. You may use no more than two 1-point documents.
A common six-point set is a U.S. passport, a Social Security card, and a bank statement. Bring originals; the MVC does not accept photocopies.3New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. 6 Points of ID
For the vehicle itself, bring the original title signed by the seller and a bill of sale listing the buyer’s name and address, sale date, odometer reading, and purchase price.4New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Transferring Vehicle Ownership If the vehicle is financed, include your lender’s information so the MVC can record the security interest on the title. You also need a valid New Jersey insurance identification card showing at least the state’s minimum liability coverage, which is $35,000 per person and $70,000 per accident for bodily injury on policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.5Justia. New Jersey Code 17:28-1.1 – Required Coverages
Fill out Form BA-49 in advance. It captures your legal name, address, driver license number, and the vehicle identification number (VIN), and you can download it from the MVC website or pick one up at any agency.6New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Application for Vehicle Registration Form BA-49E The odometer reading goes on the title and bill of sale, not on the BA-49; federal law requires the seller to provide a written mileage disclosure at transfer, and the state records that figure on the new title.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 U.S. Code 32705 – Disclosure Requirements on Transfer of Motor Vehicles
What It Costs
Sales Tax
New Jersey charges 6.625% sales tax on the purchase price of any new or used vehicle. If a dealership didn’t already collect it, the MVC collects it at registration.8New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Motor Vehicle Casual Sales Frequently Asked Questions A few transfers are exempt: genuine gifts (the title must show the sale price as “GIFT”), transfers between spouses, and vehicles on which sales tax was already paid in another state with a reciprocal agreement.9New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Vehicles Exempt From Sales Tax Bring documentation for any exemption; without it, the full tax applies automatically.
Registration Fees
For standard passenger vehicles, annual registration fees depend on weight and model year:10New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Registration and Title Fees
- Under 3,500 lbs., older than two model years: $46.50
- Under 3,500 lbs., within two model years: $59.00
- Over 3,500 lbs., older than two model years: $71.50
- Over 3,500 lbs., within two model years: $84.00
Vehicles from 1979 and earlier fall into separate, lower-cost categories starting at $35.50. Commercial vehicles, trucks, and trailers follow different schedules.
Title Fee
The title fee is $60 for a standard title, or $85 if the vehicle has a lienholder on record.11Justia. New Jersey Code 39:10-11 – Certificate of Ownership; Fees
Electric Vehicle Surcharge
Zero-emission vehicles carry an additional annual surcharge that rises $10 each year: $260 from July 2025 through June 2026, and $270 from July 2026 through June 2027.10New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Registration and Title Fees
Payment
MVC agencies accept cash, checks and money orders payable to NJMVC, and Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.12New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Discover Card Now Accepted at MVC Add up your numbers before you go. On a $25,000 vehicle, sales tax alone is about $1,656; with a $59.00 registration fee and a $60 title fee, plan on roughly $1,775.
The Appointment
Schedule your appointment through the MVC’s online system and select the service for a new title or registration.1New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Vehicle Registration Slots fill quickly at busier agencies, so book as soon as you have your paperwork together.
At the agency, check in with staff, then bring your full packet to the window: the completed BA-49, your 6-point identity documents, the signed title, the bill of sale, and your insurance card. The clerk reviews everything, processes tax and fees, generates your registration certificate, and issues plates on the spot if the file is clean.
You receive two plates, front and rear.13New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Standard Issue Plates Motorcycles, trailers, and motorized bicycles get one. You also get an expiration decal for the plate and a paper registration certificate. Keep that certificate in the vehicle; failing to produce it during a stop carries a fine of $150.14Justia. New Jersey Code 39:3-29 – License Exhibited on Demand
Moving From Another State
New residents have 60 days to register an out-of-state vehicle in New Jersey and can drive on the existing out-of-state registration during that window. The MVC process is the same as any initial registration: 6-point ID, the out-of-state title, proof of New Jersey insurance, and payment for all applicable fees and taxes. When the title is still held by a lender, the MVC can issue temporary tags valid for 30 days while you wait for the release, with a possible 30-day extension.15New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Temporary Tag Law Change
The state also runs your vehicle through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), which flags salvage titles, odometer discrepancies, and lien issues across state lines before a new title issues.16eCFR. 28 CFR Part 25 Subpart B – National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) If you already paid sales tax in a state with a reciprocal agreement, bring proof and you won’t be taxed twice.
Transferring Plates From a Vehicle You Already Own
Plates transfer between vehicles you own but never between owners. When you replace one car with another, you can move your existing plates to the new vehicle at registration. When you sell a car, you must either move the plates to a replacement vehicle or surrender them to an MVC agency.4New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Transferring Vehicle Ownership
Inspection Is Separate
You do not need to pass inspection before your initial registration appointment. New vehicles have a five-year window before the first inspection, and inspections are required every two years after that.17Environmental Protection Agency. Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I/M): General Information and Regulations Once registered, the vehicle has to stay on that schedule; driving on a failed or expired sticker leads to fines and creates problems when you renew.
Renewing Later
The MVC mails a renewal notice before your registration expires. You can renew online (fastest, effective immediately, only for eligible registration codes), in person by appointment if you’re not eligible for online renewal, or by mail using the return envelope and a check or money order payable to NJMVC for the amount shown on the notice.18New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Vehicle Registration Renewal Don’t let it lapse: driving an unregistered vehicle carries a fine of up to $100 under N.J.S.A. 39:3-4,19Justia. New Jersey Code 39:3-4 – Registration of Motor Vehicles on top of the $150 penalty for not producing a valid registration certificate at a stop.