Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are there times I won’t be allowed to renew registration?
There are times that a driver would not be able to complete their car registration renewal. Having a suspended drivers license or incomplete registration documentation would not meet the requirements for renewing vehicle registrations. For additional details, contact the local New Mexico DMV office.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Can somebody else renew my registration for me?
Someone else could go through the process of renewing car registration for you. You will need to pay the renewal fee with your debit or credit card, and then hand all your personal information to the person that will finish with the car registration renewal process for you. For more details on whether someone else can renew your car registration, contact your local New Mexico DMV office.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Do boats need to be registered?
Residents of New Mexico who wonder whether they are supposed to register boats, need to know that all motorboats within the state must be registered. A motorboat under 10 feet is not considered a boat, must be registered as a regular boat, but it is not required to be titled.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

Do I need to file a police report if my registration was lost or stolen?
Residents of New Mexico whose car registration has been lost or stolen must file a police report. Applicants for duplicate car registrations should report the loss/theft to local law enforcement officials before they begin the application process. You will be given a copy of the police report to bring with you to a local New Mexico DMV field office. Law enforcement officials will add the report to the driver s file in order to help prevent identity theft.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Do I need to return my license plate if I move out of the state?
New Mexico residents who plan to move out-of-state, may or may not have to return their license plates. If you want to sell or give your car as a gift, you will be required to remove the license plates and return them to your local New Mexico DMV office within 30 days.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

Do I need to turn in my damaged registration?
You are required by the state of New Mexico to submit the damaged registration card or certificate to a local New Mexico DMV field office when applying for a duplicate car registration.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Does a motorized scooter need to be registered?
In New Mexico, scooters are considered to be motorcycles, mopeds or bicycles, depending on the size and speed of the engine. All motorized scooters that are classed as a motorcycle, must be registered within the state. For further details, you could contact your local New Mexico DMV office.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

Does my vehicle qualify for a smog inspection?
Smog inspections are also known as emissions tests and are mandatory in New Mexico. If you are registering cars from another state, you are required to submit it to a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection prior to registering it. You should contact a New Mexico DMV office in order to find out whether they offer VIN inspections and can schedule appointments. Cars being registered for the first time in New Mexico are required to pass an emission test. This test is required every two years from residents and people who work a minimum of 60 days in Bernalillo County.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

How can I renew my vehicle registration?
Renewing car registrations in New Mexico can be done in four different ways:
  • In person at any local New Mexico DMV office
  • Online
  • Using the Integrated Voice Response (IVR) System by calling Toll-free: 1-888-683-4636 (1-888-MVD-INFO)
  • By mail at the following address:

Registration Renewal Section Motor Vehicle Division PO BOX 25129 Santa Fe, NM 87504-5129

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

How can I transfer my registration to another state?
Each state has different regulations when it comes to car registrations. New Mexico residents are advised to contact the destination state s DMV to find out the steps of the transfer process of your vehicle registration.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

How do I apply for a disabled person parking placard or plates?
You can apply for a disability parking placard in New Mexico at any New Mexico DMV office. You should complete a Certificate of Eligibility for Parking Placard for Mobility Impaired Individuals and bring it to the DMV along with the required fee.

If you want to apply for disability license plates, you should complete an Application for Mobility limitation (HP) License Plate, which must be certified by a licensed doctor. You can submit this application by mail to the following address:

New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division

MVD Vehicle Services Bureau

P.O. Box 1028

Santa Fe, NM 87504

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

How do I file a police report if my car registration was stolen?
If you are a resident of New Mexico and your car registration has been stolen, you must immediately contact a local law enforcement agency to file a police report. Once the law enforcement officials take your statement they will give you a copy of the police report. You can take this police report to your local New Mexico DMV field office when applying for car registration replacement, so that the DMV can have it on file.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

How do I obtain a duplicate car registration?
New Mexico residents dealing with stolen, damaged or lost vehicle registration, may apply for a duplicate vehicle registration. You may apply online or in person at a local New Mexico DMV field office. Only the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and the license plate number are required for a duplicate vehicle registration application. You will need a credit or a debit card in order to pay for the replacement fee.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

How do I obtain car registration?
In order to get car registration the driver must insure the motor vehicle. Once you have your car insured, you can visit the New Mexico DMV office and complete the following:

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

If I do not renew on time, will there be an additional fee?
If you renew auto registration within 30 days of expiration, you will be required to pay an additional fee of $10. If you are more than 31 days late in renewing car registration, you will have to pay a penalty which is equal to 75 percent of the registration fee.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Is there a different process I must follow if I lost personalized plates?
Drivers with lost personalized plates should immediately contact a local New Mexico DMV field office or call them at (888) 683-4636 (888-MVD-INFO) and get all the necessary information for ordering replacement plates. If the license plates were damaged, submit them to the MVD. You must file a police report with local or state law enforcement for lost personalized plates or decals.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Should I carry the registration on me or in the car?
New Mexico requires car registration documents to be carried in the motor vehicle at all times.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

What are the most common reasons why I would need to replace my registration?
The most common reasons to replace vehicle registration In New Mexico are:
  • Registration certificate was lost, stolen or damaged
  • License plates were lost, stolen or damaged
  • Registration stickers or decals were lost, stolen or damaged

New Mexico drivers must apply for a duplicate vehicle registration at any local New Mexico DMV field office if their registration or license plates have been lost, stolen, or damaged

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

What are the required fees for my vehicle registration?
The fees for vehicle registration in New Mexico differ according to the type of vehicle and the length of validity of the car registration. Those fees are listed below:
  • Passenger vehicles:

â—¦ One-year registration: $27 to $62

â—¦ Two-year registration: $54 to $124

  • Trucks that weigh 26,000 lbs. or less:

â—¦ One-year registration: $38 to $207

â—¦ Two-year registration: $76 to $414

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

What are the required fees to get replacement registration?
New Mexico residents will be required to pay a $5 fee for the car registration replacement. When making an online duplicate registration request, you will be required to pay an additional $1.25 transaction fee.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

What are the required fees to renew my registration?
Car registration renewal fees in New Mexico are different depending on the duration of the car registration:
  • One-year car registration renewal: $33
  • Two-year car registration renewal: $54

If you renew car registration online or by phone it will cost $5 less.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

What documents do I need to present to get a replacement car registration?
Drivers in New Mexico who want to get a car registration replacement, can either request one online or in person at a local New Mexico DMV field office. No forms or applications are needed, only the following:
  • Your vehicle information:

â—¦ Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

â—¦ License plate number

  • A credit or debit card to pay the duplicate car registration fee.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

What documents do I need to present to get new registration?
In order to get car registration, you need to visit any local New Mexico DMV office and submit the following documentation:

â—¦ Current auto insurance card

â—¦ Copy of the current auto insurance policy

â—¦ A letter from the auto insurance company, verifying your insurance

  • Submit a Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement, if registering previously used vehicle
  • Submit a release of lien, if applicable
  • Power of Attorney, if other person applies instead of you
  • Pay the required fees

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in New Mexico

What documents do I need to present to renew my car registration?
The documents that residents of New Mexico need in order to renew car registrations are different according to the way the renewal is made. Each way of renewing car registrations are listed below along with the required documentation:

In person

  • Registration renewal notice
  • Payment

Online

  • Control number or license plate number and VIN number
  • Vehicle model year and owner’s name
  • Credit card information for the renewal fee

By phone

Using the Integrated Voice Response (IVR) System by calling Toll-free: 1-888-683-4636 (1-888-MVD-INFO) which is available 24 hours a day. When you call the number, you will be supposed to enter:

  • Control number or license plate number
  • Credit card information

By mail

You can also mail the registration renewal notice and the payment for the required fee to the following address:

Registration Renewal Section Motor Vehicle Division PO BOX 25129 Santa Fe, NM 87504-5129

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

What should I do if I have not received my registration tags or stickers?
Drivers of New Mexico who have an expired car registration for their vehicle, can renew car registrations online, by phone, in person or by mail. The instructions for the process of renewing car registration are written on the renewal registration notice. If you have followed the registration instructions correctly, but have not received your registration tags or stickers, you must contact your local New Mexico DMV office.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

When does my car registration expire?
New Mexico has two types of car registration which vary according to the length of the registration period:
  • One-year car registration
  • Two-year car registration

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Where can I find a local tax county collector office?
New Mexico has DMV field offices that are also known as County Treasurer’s offices. They are located throughout the state, so you may begin the process of vehicle registration replacement.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Will I need to fill out an application to replace my car registration?
New Mexico residents do not complete any applications or forms when applying for a car registration replacement. You will only be required to provide your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and license plate number.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Will I receive a renewal registration notice in the mail?
New Mexico will send a renewal registration notice in the mail around 65 days before the expiration date of your car registration. This notice has the control number written on it, which is needed when renewing car registration online and by phone. When renewing in person or by mail, you are required to take the renewal registration notice to any local New Mexico DMV office or mail it to the following address:

Registration Renewal Section Motor Vehicle Division PO BOX 25129 Santa Fe, NM 87504-5129

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico

Will my registration expire on my birthday or birth month?
Vehicle registration in New Mexico will expire one year or two years from the date of registration, depending on the type and fee paid. This does not correspond to a drivers birthday or birth-month. Around 65 days prior to the expiration date, you should receive a registration renewal notice reminding you that you should start preparing the needed documentation for a vehicle registration renewal. You can apply for a vehicle registration renewal online, in person, by phone or by mail.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in New Mexico