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The Motor Vehicle Commission of New Jersey handles vehicle registration and renewals.
If you’re a new resident, you must register your vehicle as soon as possible. If you have purchased a new vehicle, you may require temporary plates to drive legally until your registration is processed.
There are various types of license plates available in New Jersey. For example, personalized license plates allow you to create your own plate number.
Sample New Jersey License Plate
Types of License Plates in New Jersey
If you have purchased a new vehicle or have become a resident of New Jersey, you are required to go to the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) for license plates.
The standard license plate provided by the state of New Jersey has a yellow background with black lettering.
If you have a disability, you can apply for disability plates or placards as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.
There are also various decorative license plates available for an additional fee.
You can personalize any license plate by selecting your own plate number. You must follow the MVC’s guidelines to be granted permission for these plates.
Temporary License Plates in New Jersey
If you purchase a vehicle from a dealership, the dealer may process your vehicle’s registration. They may be able to issue you temporary plates until your registration is completed.
Alternatively, you can go to your county’s MVC office to pick up temporary plates if you’re purchasing a vehicle from a private seller.
Temporary license plates allow you to drive legally and remain valid for 10 days after purchasing from a licensed provider.
Disability License Plates in New Jersey
Drivers with a disability may be eligible for disability license plates or placards. These plates are issued only to those with a medical disability.
If you receive a disability placard, you are required to display it on your rearview mirror and it must be visible at all times.
Having disability plates or placards permits vehicles to park in designated parking spaces throughout the state.
Specialty License Plates in New Jersey
New Jersey offers a range of decorative and commemorative license plates. The following is a brief list of available license plates that you can choose from:
Charitable / Local Causes License Plates. These plates are dedicated to special causes in New Jersey; for example:
o Liberty Skate Park
o Organ Donor
o Olympic Spirit
Alumni / Collegiate License Plates. These plates are for university students, faculty, staff, and alumni to show school spirit; for example:
o Notre Dame
o Rutgers University
o Penn State
Military / Veteran License Plates. These plates are only for people who were registered with the U.S. Military to recognize their service, awards, and experience; for example:
o Ex-Prisoner of War
o USAF Retiree
o Navy Cross
Vintage / Classic License Plates. These plates are issued to historical and classic vehicles over 25 years old; for example:
o Street Rods
o Classic Cars
When you apply for specialty license plates, you’ll be required to pay fees in addition to the standard registration fee. Contact the MVC for complete details.
Personalized License Plates in New Jersey
Personalized license plates allow you to design a custom plate number for your vehicle.
The following guidelines from the MVC in New Jersey must be met to be eligible for personalized license plates:
Choose up to 7 characters (i.e., letters, numbers, and up to 1 space)
Must choose a minimum of 3 characters
Do not choose profanity or indecent suggestions or imply something (e.g., you cannot imply that you are with the police, with a plate like: POL 1CE)
Submit a proposal / reasoning for your personalized plate
Pay the personalization fee: $50
You can look up available license plate numbers in New Jersey online.
Transferring License Plates in New Jersey
You can transfer your license plates if you purchase a new vehicle in New Jersey. The cost of transferring license plates is $4.50 in addition to any registration fees for the new vehicle.
You are not permitted to transfer your license plates to another person.
Surrendering License Plates in New Jersey
You may have to surrender your license plates if:
You move out of state
You cancel your vehicle’s insurance
You no longer need your plates after selling your vehicle
You can surrender your license plates either in person or by mailing them to an MVC office in your county.
Renewing License Plates in New Jersey
Before your license plates expire, you must renew your registration with the MVC. You can renew your vehicle either in person, by mail, or online.
When you receive your new decal stickers, place them directly over the old ones.
Summary of Costs for License Plates in New Jersey
The state of New Jersey requires you to pay property taxes, service fees, and other registration fees when registering your vehicle with the MVC. Here is a summary of some of the costs you may be required to pay:
Registration + Renewals: Determined by your vehicle’s weight, type, year, etc. (Contact the MVC for details relevant to your vehicle)
Replacement Fee: $6
Duplicate Plate Fee: $11
Transfer Fee: $4.50
Specialty Plates:
o Ex-POW: Free
o National Guard Plate: $15
Personalization: $50
Remember, if you obtain specialty or personalized plates, you may have to pay additional fees at registration and renewal.
Looking Up License Plates in New Jersey
Wondering if the plate number you want is available in New Jersey? Use FindByPlate to look up license plates in New Jersey or any state in the U.S.
All you need is the license plate number and the state to find information for a license plate registered to a vehicle or an available plate number to personalize your vehicle.
Car Ownership in New Jersey
New Jersey is 4th on the list of states with the fewest vehicles. There are 956 motor vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers in the state. Delaware has the fewest vehicles (547 per 1,000 drivers). Montana has the most vehicles (2,492 per 1,000 drivers).
New Jersey ranks 48th on the list of highest rates of car ownership. The top spots go to Idaho and Wyoming (tied). The District of Columbia and New York have the lowest rates of car ownership.
88.70% of households in New Jersey have at least one vehicle. In Idaho and Wyoming, the states tied for the number one spot, 96.20% of households have at least one vehicle. The vehicle ownership rate is the lowest at 64.30% in the District of Columbia.
New Jersey ranks 8th for electric vehicle ownership in the US. Approximately 0.68% of all registered vehicles in New Jersey are electric vehicles. California and Hawaii have the most electric vehicles (1.61% and 1.32% respectively). Mississippi and North Dakota have the fewest (0.05%).
The New York-Newark-Jersey City area in New York and New Jersey has the lowest vehicle ownership rate in the US with only 69.63% of households having at least one vehicle. The Atlantic City-Hammonton NJ area is the second lowest with 87% of households having at least one car. The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area of New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Delaware is the fourth lowest (87.54%). The metro area with the highest car ownership rate is the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley area in Alabama (97.56% of households own at least one vehicle here).
New Jersey ranks 20 on the list of most expensive states to own a car in the US. California and Nevada are tied for the most expensive states to own a car. Ohio is the least expensive state to own a car.
The average cost of annual full coverage car insurance in New Jersey is $2,240.
The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in New Jersey is $399.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many license plates are required in NJ?
You are required to display two license plates on your vehicle in New Jersey, one on the front and one on the rear of the vehicle. The exception is trailers, motorcycles, and motorized bicycles which only require one license plate.How much is it to get a personalized plate in New Jersey?
Personalized plates in New Jersey cost $50. This is a one-time fee. However, if your registration expires for more than 2 years, you will need to pay a $50 reactivation fee for personalized plates.What are the options for disability plates in New Jersey?
People who are eligible for disability plates in New Jersey can obtain one set of disability license plates with the wheelchair symbol, one disability placard, or one set of plates and one placard. The vehicle can be registered to either the person with a disability or a family member who provides transportation to them. The placard allows the driver to park in a parking space with a wheelchair space as long as the qualified person who has the disability is driving or is in the car with the driver and has their ID card.Does New Jersey require vehicle inspection?
Yes, New Jersey requires vehicle inspections. Non-commercial passenger vehicles are required to undergo a vehicle inspection in New Jersey every 2 years with some exceptions. For example, certain gas-powered vehicles based on vehicle weight and model year, 100% electric vehicles, motorcycles, historic vehicles at least 25 years old, and farm tractors are exempt from inspections. New passenger vehicles require an inspection after 5 years of the original registration date. A valid inspection sticker must be displayed on your vehicle’s windshield. You can complete the inspection up to 2 months before your sticker expires. Bring your vehicle registration, driver’s license, and proof of New Jersey insurance to the inspection station.