New jersey bill would allow 3-day temporary registration after private car sales

Proposed law would let buyers legally drive a privately purchased vehicle for three days before completing registration and title transfer.

Trenton, NJ – A New Jersey lawmaker has introduced legislation that would allow residents who buy a vehicle through a private sale to legally drive the car for up to three days before completing registration and title transfer with the state.

Assembly Bill A541, sponsored by Assemblyman Robert Auth of Bergen County, would create a temporary registration system through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) for privately purchased passenger vehicles.

Key Points

• New Jersey bill would allow a three-day temporary registration for vehicles bought in private sales
• Buyers would apply online and receive a printable temporary license plate
• Vehicles must be insured and registered permanently after the three-day period

The proposal is intended to address a common issue faced by buyers who purchase cars from private sellers rather than dealerships. Under current practice, motorists often cannot legally drive a newly purchased vehicle until they complete registration and title transfer at the MVC.

The bill would allow purchasers to submit a temporary registration application online immediately after buying the vehicle.

Temporary plates issued online

Applicants would be required to submit information through the MVC website including their name, address, age, insurance details, the vehicle identification number, the make and model of the car, the odometer reading at the time of sale, and the seller’s name.

Once the information is submitted electronically, the MVC would immediately issue a receipt by email confirming the temporary registration.

The commission would also provide a printable temporary license plate that the buyer could display on the vehicle.

Law enforcement officers would be able to verify the temporary registration through a state database maintained by the MVC.

Insurance required to operate vehicle

Drivers using the temporary registration would be allowed to operate the vehicle on New Jersey roadways for up to three days after submitting the application.

During that period, the vehicle would still need to be insured under the state’s Motor Vehicle Security-Responsibility Law. After the three-day window expires, the vehicle could no longer be driven unless it is permanently registered with the MVC or registered in another jurisdiction.

Violations of the temporary registration rules could result in fines of up to $100.

Emergency provision included in bill

The legislation also includes a temporary provision allowing the MVC chief administrator to extend the three-day temporary registration period to as long as 10 days during a declared public health emergency.

Lawmakers added the provision after pandemic-related disruptions created significant delays at MVC offices in recent years.

The bill has been pre-filed for introduction in the 222nd New Jersey Legislature and is currently pending technical review by legislative counsel.

Tags: new jersey mvc, new jersey legislature, bergen county

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