When a vehicle title or interest is transferred, the registration and plates must usually be transferred too, and the new owner must register before driving on a highway.
§509. Transfer of certain registration certificates A. Whenever the title or interest of any person in or to a vehicle (except trucks, tandem trucks, semitrailers, tandem semitrailers, trailers, and busses or passenger coaches, registered under the provisions of this Chapter) is transferred or assigned, the registration of such vehicle, together with the number plates originally assigned thereto, shall be transferred to the transferee or assignee thereof upon the surrender of the former's registration certificate, or upon proof satisfactory to the commissioner of the transfer thereof; the number plate or plates originally assigned to the vehicle must remain attached thereto until the end of the current registration year. The transferee, before operating or permitting the operation of such motor vehicle upon a highway, shall apply and obtain the registration thereof, as upon original registration, except as herein otherwise provided. In the case of a transfer or assignment of the title or interest of an owner in and to a vehicle, the registration thereof shall be suspended and the vehicle shall not be operated upon the highways unless the new owner obtains a transfer or registration in accordance with the provisions hereof. The Commissioner of the Division of State Police may issue to proper persons, under such rules and regulations as he shall provide, a temporary permit for the operation of such vehicle upon the highways. B.(1) Whenever the title or interest of any person in or to a truck, tandem truck, semitrailer, tandem semitrailer, trailer, and bus or passenger coach, registered and licensed under the provisions of this Chapter, other than as provided in Paragraphs (2) through (5) of this Subsection, is transferred or assigned, the owner shall transfer the registration certificate and license plate thereof. (2) Whenever a truck, tandem truck, semitrailer, trailer, and bus or passenger coach, registered under the provisions of this Chapter, for which a license in excess of $10.00 has been paid, is destroyed or permanently withdrawn from service and replaced by a like vehicle to be similarly used, the registered owner may transfer the registration and license plate from the vehicle destroyed or withdrawn from service to the vehicle replacing it, by complying with Paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Subsection. (3) To effect such transfer and registration the owner of the vehicle shall pay a total registration transfer fee of three dollars. Such fee shall cover only the transfer of said registration. Where applicable the transferee shall submit an affidavit showing the fact of destruction or withdrawal from service, and surrender the registration certificate therefor to the commissioner. No plate shall be used by the owner until the use thereof on a vehicle other than that for which it was originally issued has been approved by the commissioner. (4) If the weight of the replacement vehicle being registered under this Subsection exceeds the weight of the vehicle destroyed or withdrawn from service, a new license plate shall be purchased for the replacement vehicle. The commissioner shall, upon surrender of the old license plate, allow credit for the amount paid therefor, against the registration fee for the replacement vehicle. (5) Whenever the title or interest of any person in or to a truck, tandem truck, semitrailer, tandem semitrailer, trailer, vehicle used for the transport of forest products, and bus or passenger coach, registered under the provisions of this Chapter as a common or contract vehicle, is transferred or assigned, the owner shall retain the registration and license plate thereof and the same may be used as the registration certificate and licensing plate of another vehicle of the same classification or surrendered to the commissioner under such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the commissioner. No such registration certificate or license plate shall be used by the owner until the use thereof on a vehicle other than that for which it was originally issued has been approved by the commissioner. C. Repealed by Acts 1958, No. 403, §2. Amended by Acts 1952, No. 86, §1; Acts 1958, No. 403, §1; Acts 1977, No. 420, §1, eff. July 1, 1977; Acts 1985, No. 79, §1.