To register a car in New Jersey, you book a “New title or registration” appointment at one of the MVC’s 22 vehicle centers and bring the title, your ID, proof of New Jersey insurance and a completed Vehicle Registration Application (Form BA-49). Walk-ins aren’t accepted. Transferring the title costs $60, or $85 with a lien; registration for most passenger cars costs $46.50 to $84 a year; and private sales are taxed at 6.625%. New residents have 60 days to switch over.
New Jersey Car Registration at a Glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Where | Any of the MVC’s 22 vehicle centers, by appointment only |
| Appointment type | “New title or registration”; new residents can also handle it at a “Transfer from out of state” license appointment |
| Forms | Vehicle Registration Application (BA-49); Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA) for an out-of-state title |
| Title fee | $60; $85 with one lien; $110 with two liens |
| Registration fee | $46.50–$84 a year for most passenger vehicles, based on age and weight; $7 less for drivers 65 and older and people with disabilities |
| Electric vehicles | An extra annual fee that started at $250 on July 1, 2024, and rises $10 a year for four years |
| Sales tax | 6.625% of the purchase price |
| Deadlines | Private sale: 10 working days ($25 penalty after that). New residents: 60 days, or before your current registration expires if that’s sooner |
| Inspection | New cars from New Jersey dealers come with an inspection decal; out-of-state vehicles must be inspected within 14 days |
Documents You Need to Register a Car in New Jersey
Bring originals to your appointment:
- The title, signed over to you if you bought the car; new residents bring their original out-of-state title
- Your driver’s license or other ID
- Proof of New Jersey insurance: your insurance card, or the company name and policy number
- A completed Form BA-49, the Vehicle Registration Application
- A completed Form OS/SS-UTA if you’re transferring an out-of-state title
- Lienholder information if the car is financed or leased; lienholders and leasing companies need an Entity Identification Number (EIN)
- A power of attorney if someone else is signing for the owner
- Payment for the title, registration and sales tax
Registering a vehicle to a business also requires the business’s EIN and Form BA-8.
How to Register a Car in New Jersey, Step by Step
- Insure the car with a New Jersey policy.
- Get the title in order. For a private sale, the seller signs the back and gives you a bill of sale; for a move, find your original out-of-state title.
- Fill out the forms: BA-49, plus OS/SS-UTA for an out-of-state title.
- Book a “New title or registration” appointment at a vehicle center. Our NJ MVC appointment guide explains how.
- Pay and pick up your plates. At the appointment, you pay the title fee, registration fee and any sales tax and leave with your registration and license plates.
- Get the car inspected if required. Out-of-state vehicles get a temporary Green Card and have 14 days to visit a state inspection station.
Registering a Car You Just Bought
From a New Jersey Dealer
When you buy from a New Jersey dealership, the dealer handles the title and registration work for you. New cars from in-state dealers also get the dealer’s inspection decal, so you don’t need to visit an inspection station, and new vehicles can be registered for four years at a time.
From a Private Seller
New Jersey splits the paperwork between buyer and seller:
| The seller | The buyer |
|---|---|
| Signs the seller’s section on the back of the title | Signs the buyer’s section on the back of the title and adds a driver’s license number or EIN |
| Gives the buyer a bill of sale with the buyer’s name and address, the date, the odometer reading and the sale price | Completes Form BA-49 and transfers the title at a vehicle center within 10 working days, or pays a $25 penalty |
| Removes the plates and surrenders them at an MVC agency, unless moving them to another vehicle | Pays sales tax and gets new plates at the appointment |
As a Gift
A vehicle you’re given is exempt from sales tax only if the purchase price line on the title is marked as a gift. Otherwise, the transfer is taxed like a sale.
From an Out-of-State Dealer
Out-of-state dealers can’t issue New Jersey inspection decals, but they can complete your registration paperwork through any MVC agency. You’ll get a Green Card (Form SS-19) to place in the lower left corner of the windshield, and you’ll have 14 days to take the car to a state-run inspection station for its decal.
Registering an Out-of-State Vehicle as a New Resident
After you move to New Jersey, you have 60 days to transfer your license, title and registration, or less if your current registration expires sooner. Bring your ID, the original title, your insurance information and completed Forms OS/SS-UTA and BA-49. If you book a “Transfer from out of state” appointment for your license, you can transfer your title and registration during the same visit.
If a lender or leasing company holds your title, the new New Jersey title is mailed to them, and you leave with a title receipt, registration, plates and a temporary inspection card. Either way, the car must be inspected at a state inspection station within 14 days; our guide to New Jersey car inspection explains what to bring.
Registration Fees and Taxes
Title Fees
A title transfer costs $60. It’s $85 if the vehicle has one lien and $110 with two.
Registration Fees for Passenger Vehicles
| Vehicle | Under 3,500 lbs. | Over 3,500 lbs. |
|---|---|---|
| 2 years old or newer | $59.00 | $84.00 |
| More than 2 years old (1980 and later) | $46.50 | $71.50 |
Older vehicles have their own rates: $35.50 to $65.50 for 1970 and older models and $38.50 to $72.50 for 1971 to 1979 models, depending on weight. Drivers 65 and older and people with disabilities pay $7 less in every passenger category. Motorcycles cost $65, mopeds $15, and moving your registration to a replacement vehicle costs $4.50 plus any increase for a heavier weight class.
Electric Vehicle Fee
Zero-emission vehicles pay an annual fee on top of the registration fee. It started at $250 on July 1, 2024, and rises $10 a year for four years. When you register a new electric vehicle for the first time, you pay four years of the fee up front.
Sales Tax
New Jersey’s sales tax is 6.625% of the purchase price. Electric vehicles are no longer exempt; they’ve paid the full rate since July 1, 2025. Gifts marked on the title are exempt. For sales tax questions, call the Division of Taxation at (609) 984-6206.
Insurance Requirements
You need a New Jersey insurance policy before you register. For a standard policy, the minimum liability limits rose on January 1, 2026, to $35,000 per person and $70,000 per accident for bodily injury, with $25,000 for property damage. Bring your insurance card, or the company name and policy number, to the appointment.
Inspection After You Register
New vehicles go five years before their first inspection, and New Jersey dealers apply the decal when you buy. Vehicles registered from out of state, whether you moved here or bought from an out-of-state dealer, need an inspection within 14 days, using the temporary Green Card from your registration packet. After that, most vehicles are inspected every two years.
Renewing Your New Jersey Registration
The MVC mails a renewal notice three months before your registration expires. You can renew on the MVC’s online services page using your registration PIN, and the renewal takes effect right away. You can also mail the notice back with a check or money order payable to NJMVC.
You’ll need a registration renewal appointment if you can’t renew online, your registration has been expired six months or more, it was suspended and the suspension has been satisfied, or there’s a title stop on your record. Bring your renewal notice or VIN, your insurance information, your plate number, 6 points of ID, a completed BA-49 and payment.
Where to Register a Car in New Jersey
Titles and registrations are handled at these 22 vehicle centers, open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.:
North Jersey
| Vehicle center | County | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Newton | Sussex | 51 Sparta Ave, Newton |
| Washington | Warren | 404 E. Washington Ave, Washington |
| Randolph | Morris | 160 Canfield Ave, Randolph |
| Wayne | Passaic | 481 Route 46 West, Wayne |
| Wallington | Bergen | 450 Main Ave, Wallington |
| Jersey City | Hudson | 438 Summit Ave, Jersey City |
| East Orange | Essex | 183 S. 18th St, East Orange |
| Springfield | Union | 271 U.S. Route 22, Springfield |
Central Jersey
| Vehicle center | County | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Flemington | Hunterdon | 181-B Routes 31 & 202, Ringoes |
| Somerville | Somerset | 10 Roosevelt Pl, Somerville |
| South Brunswick | Middlesex | 2236 Route 130 North, Dayton |
| Trenton | Mercer | 120 S. Stockton St, Trenton |
Monmouth and Ocean Counties
| Vehicle center | County | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Hazlet | Monmouth | 1374 Highway 36, Hazlet |
| Lakewood | Ocean | 1195 Route 70, Lakewood |
| Manahawkin | Ocean | 712 E. Bay Ave, Manahawkin |
South Jersey
| Vehicle center | County | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Medford | Burlington | 175 Route 70, Medford |
| Cherry Hill | Camden | 1 Executive Campus, Route 70, Cherry Hill |
| Runnemede | Camden | 835 E. Clements Bridge Rd, Runnemede |
| Turnersville | Gloucester | 5200 Route 42 North, Turnersville |
| Salem | Salem | Finlaw Building, 199 E. Broadway, Salem (enter on Hires Ave) |
| Cardiff | Atlantic | 6725 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township |
| Rio Grande | Cape May | 3305 Bay Shore Rd, North Cape May |
For licensing centers, inspection stations and road test sites, see our full list of New Jersey MVC offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
60 days from your move, or before your current registration expires if that comes first. The same deadline applies to transferring your license.
No. Titles and registrations are handled by appointment only at the MVC’s vehicle centers, and walk-ins aren’t accepted for them.
A title transfer costs $60, or $85 with a lien, and registration for most passenger cars costs $46.50 to $84 a year, depending on the vehicle’s age and weight. You’ll also pay 6.625% sales tax on a purchase, and electric vehicles pay an extra annual fee.
Yes. The 6.625% sales tax is due when you transfer the title, unless the purchase price line on the title is marked as a gift.
The plates stay with the seller. The seller removes them and surrenders them at an MVC agency or moves them to another vehicle, and the buyer gets new plates when registering.
If it came from out of state, yes: you have 14 days to take it to a state inspection station, using the temporary Green Card from your registration packet. New cars from New Jersey dealers already have their inspection decal.
Conclusion
To register a car in New Jersey, insure it with a New Jersey policy, gather the title, your ID and Form BA-49 (plus OS/SS-UTA for an out-of-state title), and book a “New title or registration” appointment at a vehicle center. Budget $60 for the title, $46.50 to $84 a year for registration and 6.625% sales tax on a purchase, and remember the deadlines: 10 working days after a private sale and 60 days after a move.
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