New Mexico Vehicle Registration

Registering a Vehicle in New Mexico

You must register your vehicle in person with the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).

Here is a quick checklist of items to bring when visiting your local New Mexico MVD field office.

• Proof of identity (e.g., driver’s license or ID).
• Certificate of vehicle inspection, if applicable.
• Proof of residency (e.g., utility bills, lease agreements, bank statements).
• Proof of vehicle ownership (e.g., vehicle title).
• Proof of car insurance.
• Acceptable form of payment for NM car registration fees and taxes.

Continue reading for specific details about vehicle registration in New Mexico.

Registering Vehicles Purchased from a New Mexico Dealer

When you purchase either a new or used vehicle from a licensed New Mexico car dealer, they will submit the necessary documentation to the NM MVD to transfer ownership into your name.

If you register your vehicle on your own, you must visit your local New Mexico MVD field office. Be ready to provide the following:

• The Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (if your vehicle is new).
• The original Purchase Agreement or Dealer’s Invoice.
• An odometer mileage statement.
• Proof of car insurance.
• Proof of identity (e.g., New Mexico driver’s license or ID).
• An Application for Vehicle Title and Registration (Form MVD-10002).
• Lienholder documentation, if there is a lien on your vehicle.
• Payment for all applicable NM car registration, fees, and taxes.

Vehicles Purchased from a Private Party

You can register your new or used vehicle in person at your local New Mexico MVD field office.

• Your NM driver’s license.
• The original title, signed by both the buyer and the seller including an odometer statement.
• An Application for Vehicle Title and Registration (Form MVD-10002).
• A bill of sale (only required when an assignment of title or dealer assignment is not on the back of the title).
• An emissions certificate of inspection, if applicable.
• Proof of a vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection, if you purchased the vehicle out-of-state.
• 2 documents to prove New Mexico residency (e.g., utility bills, lease agreements, bank statements).
• Proof of New Mexico car insurance.
• A completed Release of Lien (Form MVD-10041), if there is a lien on your vehicle.
  • NOTE: Include any other pertinent Lienholder documentation.
• Payment for NM car registration and title fees.

Vehicle Registration for New Residents of NM

New to New Mexico?

The New Mexico MVD requires you to apply for a New Mexico title and vehicle registration within 60 days of establishing residency.

The New Mexico MVD requires that all out-of-state vehicles have a VIN inspection. The vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection is usually done by an MVD agent at an MVD Field Office. However, not all field offices perform VIN inspections, and some require an advance appointment.

Contact your local MVD Field Office to inquire about VIN inspection availability and scheduling.

To register your vehicle in person, visit your local NM MVD office and present:

• The current certificate of title.
• Proof of identity (e.g., driver license, birth certificate, US passport).
• Two (2) proofs of residency, dated within 60 days (e.g., utility bill, bank statement, pay stub).
• Proof of emissions inspection, if applicable.
• An Application for Vehicle Title and Registration (Form MVD-10002).
• Leasing company or lienholder information, if applicable.
• Proof of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection.
• Payment for NM car registration, fees, and taxes.

Registration for Military Drivers

New Mexico military residents who currently reside in the state can register their vehicles as normal. See Registering a Vehicle in New Mexico to learn more.

The New Mexico MVD offers discounted initial registration fees for certain military members as outlined below:

• All Armed Forces Veterans may receive a discounted fee upon initial registration as well as no added fee upon registration renewal.
• Prisoners of war, or their surviving spouses, may receive a waiver on registration fees upon proof that is satisfactory to the MVD.
• The NM MVD allows all active members of the New Mexico National Guard to have their license plate and registration fees waived, upon submitting proof of their active member status.
• New Mexico MVD issues a Purple Heart plate to any purple heart medal recipient for up to 2 vehicles. Qualified recipients must submit proof of receiving the purple heart medal. The New Mexico MVD will NOT collect a fee for the plate, nor the regular registration fee.
• Diabled Veterans qualify for waiver of plate and registration fees for up to 2 vehicles upon submission of satisfactory proof of disability status.

In all of the above cases, every military veteran/member must complete an Application for Military Service Special Plate (Form MVD-10353).

Registration for NM Residents Stationed Outside New Mexico

New Mexico active duty military residents stationed out-of-state can follow the same registration instructions as civilians. See Registering a Vehicle in New Mexico to learn more.

Registration for Non-Residents

The NM MVD does NOT require non-resident military service members stationed in New Mexico to register their vehicles.

You must maintain current registration and car insurance from your home state during deployment.

If you become a resident of New Mexico, you must apply for NM car registration.

See Vehicle Registration for New Residents to learn more.

Renewing Your Registration in New Mexico

You can renew your NM vehicle registration online, by mail, by phone through the IVR (interactive voice response) system,or in person at a nearby MVD field office.

If you renew online, you will receive a 5% discount (minus a $1.55 credit card fee).

You will receive a renewal notice prior to the expiration. The NM DMV allows you to renew your registration for either 1 year or 2 years. You must renew your registration before it expires to avoid additional penalties and fees.

Even if you did NOT receive a renewal notice, you must still renew your registration before it expires. See New Mexico Renewals to learn more.

Replace a Lost or Damaged Registration

If your NM registration document or decals are lost, stolen, or damaged, you can apply for a replacement online or in person at your local New Mexico MVD office.

Replace NM Vehicle Registration In Person

To replace your NM registration card or decals in person, you’ll need to provide:

• Proof of identity (e.g., driver license, ID, passport).
• Your license plate number.
• Acceptable payment for the $3.50 duplicate registration card fee.
• The fee for a replacement plate is $15.

Replace NM Vehicle Registration Online

To replace your New Mexico registration card online, you can visit the NM MyMVD online portal and provide your:

• New Mexico license plate number.
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
• Zip code.
• Payment for the $3.50 duplicate registration card fee.

Changes to Your NM Car Registration

Name Changes on NM Registration

Before you can update your New Mexico registration, you must first change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Once you complete your name change with SSA, you can update your name with the New Mexico MVD.

To change a name on your registration in person, visit the NM MVD and be prepared to provide:

• Legal documents supporting your name change, such as a:
  • Marriage license if the name change is due to marriage.
  • Divorce decree.
  • Court-ordered name change document.
• Proof of identity.
• Your certificate of title and registration card.
• Payment for the $5 duplicate title fee and $3.50 duplicate registration fee.

Address Changes on NM Vehicle Registration

You may change your address with the NM MVD online, by mail or in person at a local NM MVD office. You must notify the MVD within 10 days of your move.

Online Address Change

To change your New Mexico address online, visit the NM MVD online MVP services portal and have the one of the following ready:

• The Last 6 characters of your VIN and license plate number.
• Your vehicle identification number (VIN).
• Your control number.
• A valid driver’s license or ID number, and the last 4 digits of your SSN.

Follow the prompts to complete your address change. If you would like to order new registration documents, follow the instructions above in Replace a Lost or Stolen Registration.

Address Changes in Person or by Mail

To change your address in person, please visit any NM MVD field office and submit a Change of Address Request (Form MVD-10284).

To change your address by mail, send your form to: