Expired Registration in New Mexico
Motor vehicle registration in New Mexico is required by law for all vehicles operated on its public roads and highways. The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), operating under the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, administers the statewide vehicle registration programs and procedures. The New Mexico Department of Public Safety, along with municipal and county law enforcement agencies, enforces compliance with motor vehicle registration laws on New Mexico roadways.
State Code Provisions in New Mexico
Motor vehicle and traffic regulations in New Mexico are governed by Chapter 66 of the New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA), which comprehensively addresses motor vehicles and traffic regulation. NMSA § 66-3-1 mandates that every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer driven or moved upon a highway is subject to registration and certificate of title provisions. NMSA § 66-3-19 governs registration renewal procedures, expiration provisions, and penalty assessments for late renewals. These statutory provisions establish application procedures, protocols for certificate issuance, registration fee requirements, expiration parameters, penalties for violations, and the law enforcement authority to enforce registration compliance throughout the state.
Registration Terms and Expiration in New Mexico
Registration Renewal System
New Mexico operates a staggered registration system based on monthly expiration dates. Under NMSA § 66-3-19, standard vehicle registrations are issued for either one-year or two-year periods, with the registration expiring on the last day of the month in which it was originally issued.
Standard Vehicle Registration:
- Registrations may be issued for one year or two years at the owner's option
- Registrations expire on the last day of the month shown on the validation sticker
- Registration certificates become void immediately upon reaching the expiration date
There is no grace period for expired vehicle registrations in New Mexico. Vehicle owners are prohibited from operating their vehicles on public highways until their registration is renewed after it expires at midnight on the final day of the expiration month. The MVD provides renewal application notices to vehicle owners, but non-receipt of renewal notices does not excuse late renewal or operation with expired registration.
Special Vehicle Categories:
- Fleet Vehicles: Owners of 10 or more vehicles under 26,001 pounds may register all fleet vehicles in the common month of December, with all registrations expiring on December 31 annually
- Off-Highway Motor Vehicles: Including all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and snowmobiles, receive three-year registration stickers with registrations valid for two years from issuance
- Permanently Registered Trailers: Freight trailers receive permanent registration that does not expire; utility trailers and travel trailers under 6,001 pounds gross vehicle weight may also be registered permanently
Penalties for Expired Registration in New Mexico
Administrative Penalties
New Mexico assesses administrative late fees for vehicle registration renewals processed after the registration expiration date.
| Days Late | Administrative Penalty |
|---|---|
| 1 to 30 days late | $10.00 penalty plus standard registration renewal fee |
| 31 days or more late | 75% of the registration fee plus standard registration renewal fee |
These administrative penalties apply specifically to the act of renewing registration after expiration and are separate from traffic violations for operating a vehicle with expired registration.
Traffic Violations
Operating a motor vehicle with expired registration constitutes a violation of NMSA § 66-3-1. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a penalty assessment misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of not more than $300 and imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
Government Agencies
New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division
Joseph Montoya Building
P.O. Box 1028
Santa Fe 87504-1028
Phone: (888) 683-4636
Official Website: New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division
New Mexico Department of Public Safety
4491 Cerrillos Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87507
Phone: (505) 827-9181
Official Website: New Mexico Department of Public Safety
