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1. Need to renew your driver’s license or vehicle registration in New Jersey? Thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has MVC offices closed, the state's Motor Vehicle Commission has put many.
2. As a general rule, drivers are not able to get a copy of a car registration in New Jersey through the MVC’s official portal. Moreover, applicants cannot apply for a duplicate credential online, by mail or over the phone.
3. NJ New Jersey Motor Vehicle Services. Website: Driver Licensing & Title/Registration Contact Page. Motor Vehicle Commission. Customer Advocacy Office.

If your vehicle is sold, junked or destroyed and you do not intend to purchase another, you must turn in the registration and plates to the MVC for cancellation. You must follow the procedure for surrendering license plates at a motor vehicle agency or by mail. New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

• Complete the buyer, seller, and vehicle information on the back of the title.
• Visit your local DMV office.
• Pay the car title transfer fees and other applicable fees.
• Continue reading to learn more about NJ auto title transfers.

Buying & Selling a Car in NJ

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) handles car title transfers and registration.

Selling a Vehicle

To complete an auto title transfer as the seller of a vehicle, you must:

• Complete the back of the title with:
  • Your signature.
  • The buyer's information (name and address).
  • Sale date.
  • Odometer reading:
    • An accurate odometer reading is required for ALL vehicles. If the vehicle's odometer is not correct, you can estimate the vehicle's mileage.
  • Purchase price.
• Remove your license plates and surrender or transfer them.

Provide the buyer with the complete certificate of title.

Buying a Vehicle

NOTE: If you buy a vehicle at a dealership, they'll handle the DMV title transfer and registration paperwork for you.

If you've bought a vehicle, you must complete the car title transfer and vehicle registration within 10 business days or incur a $25 late fee.

To apply for the vehicle title transfer, visit your local NJ MVD office with:

• The vehicle title with the following on the back:
  • Your signature.
  • Your driver's license number.
  • See above for the information the seller must provide on the back of the title.
• Proof of your motor vehicle insurance.
• Payment for the title transfer fee:
  • $60 transfer fee for a title with no lien.
    OR
    
  • $85 transfer fee for a title with a lien.
• Sales taxUNLESS the vehicle is exempt.

You'll also register the vehicle in your name when you transfer the title. Visit our Car Registration page for additional fees and documents.

NOTE: If you buy a vehicle from a state where a title IS NOT required, you'll need additional documents for a NJ car title transfer.

Order a Vehicle History Report for information about a vehicle's past accidents, repairs, and other details.

New to New Jersey?

When you move to New Jersey, you are required to transfer your out-of-state vehicle title to a NJ title ANDregister your vehicle with the MVC within 60 days of establishing residency.

NOTE: If you're moving from a state that doesn't require titles for your vehicle type, there are additional requirements to complete a vehicle title transfer in New Jersey.

To learn about getting your New Jersey driver's license, see Applying for a New License.

Auto Title Transfers Without a Lien

If there's no lien on your vehicle, you will apply for a NJ car title transfer in person at a NJ MVC agent office with:

• Your current title.
• The Application for Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA).
• The $60 title transfer fee.

You'll also complete a sales tax stamp at the MVC office. You DO NOT have to pay NJ sales tax IF:

• You originally bought your vehicle outside of NJ.
  AND
  
• You were a resident of another state when you bought the vehicle.

Car Title Transfers With a Lien

If your out-of-state vehicle has a lien and the title is currently held by the lienholder, you'll complete a DMV title transfer in several steps.

• Check with your lienholder to be sure they have a NJ corporation code, which is required for a New Jersey car title transfer.
• Go in person to a NJ MVC office and obtain a title release application.
• Mail the completed title release application to your lienholder. Once the lienholder gives you the go ahead, visit a NJ MVC officein person to apply for an autotitle transfer AND register your vehicle. You'll need:
  • A completed Application for Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA).
  • Payment for the $85 car title transfer fee.

You'll also complete a sales tax form at the NJ MVC office when you apply for a title. You DO NOT have to pay tax if you bought your vehicle outside of NJ while you lived out of state.

The lienholder will receive the New Jersey car title.

Leased Vehicle Title Transfer

If you're leasing your vehicle, you must FIRST get power of attorney from the leasing company allowing you to apply for a vehicle title transfer.

Next, you'll go in person to a NJ MVC office to transfer the title AND register your vehicle. You'll need to take:

• The power of attorney paperwork from your leasing company.
• The Application for Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA).
• Payment for the $85 auto title transfer fee.

The leasing company will receive the NJ car title.

Auto Title Transfers Without Titles

Some states do not require titles for various types of classes of motor vehicles.

When you are transferring ownership OR moving to New Jersey from a state that doesn't require a title, the NJ MVC requires additional documentation.

NOTE: This process applies ONLY to vehicles from states that don't require titles. If a vehicle's title is missing, you or the seller must get a duplicate title.

For a vehicle that DID NOT need a title in the state it came from, you'll need to take the following to your NJ MVC office for an auto title transfer:

• The original registration document (NO copies):
  • If you bought the car, the prior owner's registration.
  • If you're moving to NJ, your registration from your home state.
• An original Bill of Sale (NO copies) IF you are a NJ resident who bought the car in another state. The Bill of Sale must:
  • Be notarized.
    AND
    
  • Include all of the following:
    • The name, address, and signature of BOTH yourself and the seller.
    • The vehicle's model year, make, vehicle identification number (VIN), AND a detailed description of the vehicle.
    • The date of sale AND purchase price.
• VIN verification, either:
  • A picture or tracing of the VIN.
    OR
  • A VIN Verification Statement (Form ISM/SS-321). Available at MVC offices.
• A copy of your driver's license.
• The Application for Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA).
• Payment for the title transfer fees.

You'll also register your vehicle in your name when you apply for a title. See our Car Registration page for additional registration requirements.

Gift, Inherit, or Donate a Vehicle

The New Jersey auto title transfer processes vary for vehicles that you inherit, give or receive as a gift, or donate.

Inherited New Jersey Vehicles

A car title must be transferred to a new owner after the owner's death. You can use the vehicle up to 30 days after the owner's death without applying for a vehicle title transfer.

NOTE: If the vehicle has a lien, contact the lienholder to determine if the lien must be paid before transferring the title or if the lien can be transferred.

Complete the vehicle title transfer in person at an NJ MVC office.

To transfer the title and registration to a surviving spouse IF the vehicle is titled in both names, submit:

• The current title.
• A copy of the death certificate.
• An Affidavit (Form BA-62) from the surviving spouse, which must be notarized.
• Payment for fees:
  • Title transfer fee: $60
  • Registration transfer fee: $4.50.

For a vehicle title transfer and registration transfer to an heir named in the decedent's will, submit:

• The current title assigned to the new owner by the executor.
• A Surrogate's Short Certificate.
• Payment for the $60 title transfer fee.
• Payment for the $4.50 registration transfer fee IF the new owner is an immediate family member.
  • Otherwise, the new owner will need to apply for vehicle registration.

If the vehicle is being transferred to the estate OR if there is no will, see the New Jersey MVC website for car title transfer guidelines and additional document requirements.

In most cases, you DO NOT have to pay sales tax on an inherited vehicle.

Gifted Vehicle Title Transfers

You transfer the title of a gifted vehicle the same way you transfer a title from seller to buyer, EXCEPT you'll use the word “GIFT' as the purchase price when filling out the back of the title.

You DO NOT have to pay sales tax on a gifted vehicle.

Donate Your Vehicle

Many charities and non-profit organizations accept motor vehicle donations.

Check with a specific organization for information about vehicle donation or learn more on our Car Donation page.

Contact the NJ MVC at (609) 292-6500 for the car title transfer process for donated vehicles.

Fees for New Jersey Title Transfers

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) charges the following title transfer fees:

• Buying and selling vehicle title transfer fees:
  • No lien: $60
  • With lien: $85.
• New to NJ car title transfer fees:
  • No lien: $60
  • With lien: $85.
  • Leased vehicle: $85.
• Title corrections fees:
  • Non-MVC error: $60
  • MVC error: Free.
• Duplicate title fee: $60

Remove a Lien from a Title

Once you pay off the lien on your motor vehicle, the lienholder will submit the required documentation to the NJ MVC.

Once the MVC processes the lien release, you'll receive:

• The title showing with a “paid' stamp or signature of release.
  OR
  
• The title and a letter of release from the lienholder.

NOTE: If the vehicle is at least 5 years old, the lienholder DOES NOT have to provide the original title and may provide only a letter of release.

To order a “clean title' with no lien showing, you will need the:

• Title showing satisfied lien OR title and lien release letter.
  NOTE: If you DID NOT get the title from the lienholder, contact the NJ MVC for more information.
  
• $85 title transfer fee.

You can submit the clean title request:

• In person at your local NJ MVC office.
• By mail to:
Motor Vehicle Commission
Special Titles Section/Duplicate Titles
P.O. Box 146
Trenton, NJ 08666

Change a NJ Vehicle Title

You can change or update a vehicle title for several reasons, including:

• Changing your personal information.
• Correcting an error.

Name and Address Changes

You should update the NJ MVC when your name changes or when you move to a new address.

See our Name Change and Address Change pages to learn about updating your driver's license and vehicle registration.

For changes to your title, contact the NJ MVC at (609) 292-6500 or visit your local MVC agent.

NOTE: Spine animation tutorial. See “Correcting Title Errors' below if you need to fix a mistake in your name or address.

Correcting Title Errors

If there is a mistake on your vehicle title, you can request a new title:

• In person at an NJ MVC office.
• By mail to:

Motor Vehicle Commission
Special Titles Section/Duplicate Titles
P.O. Box 146
Trenton, NJ 08666

Take or send:

• The incorrect title.
• Proof of the mistake.
• Payment for the $60 correction fee.
  • Free if the MVC made the error.

Renew Nj Car Registration Online

Replace a New Jersey Title

If your car title is lost or stolen, you can order a duplicate title from the New Jersey MVC by submitting:

• The Application for Duplicate Certificate of Ownership (Form OS/SS-UTA).
• A registration or insurance document:
  • Current or past registration certificate.
  • Proof of car insurance.
    OR
    
  • Certified record of registration.
• A statement from the lienholder, IF the vehicle has a lien, that includes:
  • The name of the owner.
  • The vehicle's VIN, year, and make.
  • A statement that they do not have the original title and that the vehicle is paid for.
• The $60 duplicate title fee.

You can submit your application and other documents:

• In person at an NJ MVC office.
• By mail to the address on the form.

For more information about duplicate titles, including and replacing damaged titles, see our Replacing a Lost Title page.

Forms

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