Residents of New Mexico must register their vehicles with the Motor Vehicle Department. Upon registration, vehicle owners can apply for specialty, disability, or personalized license plates.

Sample New Mexico License Plate

Applying for License Plates in New Mexico

All vehicles owned by residents of New Mexico must be registered with the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD).

If you have recently purchased a new or used vehicle, you have 30 days to register your vehicle. If you have recently moved to New Mexico and own an out-of-state vehicle, you also have 30 days to register your vehicle.

To apply for a license plate in New Mexico, you are required to provide the following to an MVD office:

Completed application forms
Vehicle title documents
Proof of insurance
Valid ID (i.e., New Mexico driver’s license)
Payment for registration fees

Once you have successfully registered your vehicle, you may receive standard license plates right away or you may have to wait until they are mailed to you.

Types of License Plates in New Mexico

The standard license plate in New Mexico will be issued when you complete your vehicle’s registration. It has a yellow background with dark red lettering.

You can apply for one of the many decorative (specialty) license plates. Some may require proof of enrollment to an organization or service to be eligible (e.g., special military license plates).

If you have a disability, you may be eligible for disability plates and placards. These license plates are issued if you have a permanent or temporary disability with medical proof.

Most of the license plates issued in New Mexico can be personalized to have a custom plate number.

Temporary License Plates in New Mexico

Before purchasing a new or used vehicle, you must pick up a temporary license plate from an MVD office.

A temporary license plate permits you to drive legally while you register your vehicle and wait for your license plates.

Temporary license plates are valid for 30 days. This gives you ample time to register and receive your new plates.

Specialty License Plates Available in New Mexico

These are some of the specialty license plates available in New Mexico:

Adopt a Child License Plate
Children’s Trust Fund License Plate
Breast Cancer Awareness License Plate
Eastern New Mexico University License Plate
New Mexico Tech License Plate
University of New Mexico License Plate
Organ Donor License Plate
Air Force License Plate
Ex-POW License Plate
Navy License Plate
Female Veteran License Plate
Horseless Carriage License Plate
Classic Car License Plate
Street Rod License Plate
Fraternal Order of Police License Plate
Firefighter License Plate
EMT License Plate

These specialty license plates have an additional fee in addition to the standard registration fee you are expected to pay. For example, any of the emergency responder plates will require you to provide proof of service (e.g., firefighter license) and a registration fee of $27.

There may also be additional fees when it's time to renew your specialty license plates.

Personalizing License Plates in New Mexico

Personalized plates can be registered only if the plate number is available.

When applying for a personalized plate, you are required to follow the guidelines provided by the MVD. Personalized license plates must:

Have up to 7 characters for vehicles
Have up to 6 characters for trailers and motorcycles
Use a combination of letters and numbers
Not use profanity or indecent suggestions
Be available to register and not appear like another plate that's already registered (e.g., “H1P P1E” vs. “HIP P1E”)

You may be able to submit several choices for personalized plates if your first choice is not accepted. To search for available plate numbers, use the search bar above.

Personalized license plates in New Mexico will cost $17 in addition to the standard registration fee required for your vehicle.

License Plate Renewal in New Mexico

You are permitted to register your vehicle for 1 or 2 years at a time. When the expiration date arrives, you should renew your vehicles license plates in advance to avoid any late fees.

License plate renewals can be made in person, online, or by mail.

After you receive your new registration stickers, you can apply them to your rear plate. They remain valid for the next 1 or 2 years.

Transfer or Surrender License Plates in New Mexico

Your license plates can only be registered to vehicles titled in your name. You are not permitted to transfer your license plates to a new owner if you sell your car.

The exception is for vintage license plates, which must remain with the registered vehicle when being sold or traded.

If you do not require your license plates after selling, trading, or auctioning your vehicle, you may be required to surrender them to a local MVD office.

Replacement License Plates in New Mexico

If your license plates have been damaged, lost, or stolen, you must go to the MVD office in person to apply for replacement license plates.

The MVD in New Mexico may require you to file a police report before replacing your plates. Be sure to bring the police report to the MVD office when you submit your replacement application.

In the case of damaged license plates, you may be requested to surrender your damaged plates.

It is possible to apply for the same plate number under some circumstances. Please contact your MVD office in New Mexico for more details about replacement plates.

Looking Up License Plates for Free

You can look up license plates in New Mexico and any other state for free using the search bar on FindByPlate.

When you look up a license plate, be sure to enter the plate number accurately and choose the correct state.

You will receive results that indicate whether a plate name is available. If a plate number is already registered to a vehicle, you may be able to obtain additional information about that vehicle’s history.

Car Ownership in New Mexico

New Mexico ranks 18th on the list of states with the 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.
94.20% of households in New Mexico have at least one vehicle. In Idaho and Wyoming, the states with the highest car ownership rates, 96.20% of households have at least one vehicle. The vehicle ownership rate in the District of Columbia is the lowest in the US at 64.30%.
New Mexico ranks 29th for electric vehicle ownership in the US. Approximately 0.22% of all registered vehicles in New Mexico 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%).
New Mexico ranks 8 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 Mexico is $2,104.
The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in New Mexico is $392.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are standard license plates in New Mexico?

You can obtain the standard New Mexico license plates for no fee. No application form is required either. You can request the traditional NM license plate which is yellow with red lettering or the centennial plate which is turquoise with yellow lettering. When your vehicle’s registration expires (check the validation sticker for dates), you will have to pay a renewal fee.

Why does New Mexico have USA on their license plate?

The standard license plate says New Mexico USA to avoid confusion with the neighboring country of Mexico. It is the only state that specifies USA on its license plates.

Does New Mexico have 2 license plates?

No, New Mexico has only one license plate. You are required to display the license plate on the rear of your vehicle.

Can I renew my vehicle’s registration online in New Mexico?

You can renew your vehicle registration online in Mexico. In fact, you can get a 5% discount on the renewal fee if you do it online. However, there are credit card charges. The other option is to mail in a Registration Renewal Form to the MVD along with a check for the fees (for 1-year or 2-year renewal). You can also visit an MVD field office to pay by cash or check.

What is the late fee for vehicle registration renewal New Mexico?

If you fail to renew your vehicle’s registration in time, you will have to pay a late fee of $10 (if you are less than 31 days late). This late fee will be in addition to the standard renewal fee for your vehicle. If you are more than 30 days late in renewing your vehicle’s registration, the late fee will be equal to 75% of the registration renewal fee for your vehicle.

Does New Mexico have vehicle inspections?

There are no mandatory vehicle safety inspections in New Mexico. However, vehicles registered in or commuting in Bernalillo County are required to undergo vehicle emission inspections every two years and when ownership changes. Diesel vehicles and dedicated electric vehicles are exempt from emission testing in NM. Brand new vehicles are exempt for 4 years after the original registration. When you attempt to renew your vehicle’s registration online or in a field office, the database will be checked for compliance with emission testing.

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