Registration Renewal in New Mexico

1) Determine the Status of Your Registration

The Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) gives you the choice of registering your vehicle in the state for one or two years.

Renew NM Registration

Vehicle registration is mandatory if you want to drive or park your car on public roads. The state also requires all vehicle owners to maintain a minimum amount of liability coverage on their cars. Visit our online Insurance Center to make sure you're adequately covered. While there, you can also compare companies and quotes.

For full details on registration renewal, scroll down to the section titled "Check Your Renewal Notice."

Register a Vehicle in NM for the First Time

You typically need a first-time registration when you purchase a car or move to the state. Vehicle buyers and new residents have 30 days to register their vehicles. Get all the details about the process in our section on Car Registration.

Register a Non-Operational Vehicle

If you no longer drive your vehicle on public roads, you don't need to renew the existing registration. You do, however, need to notify the MVD and the state's Insurance Identification Database (IIDB). Complete an Affidavit of Non-Use and make two copies. Keep a copy for yourself, and send one copy to the MVD at:

• Motor Vehicle Division

• Joseph Montoya Building

• P.O. Box 1028

• 1100 S. St. Francis Drive

• Santa Fe, NM 87504-1028

Send the original form to the IIDB at:

• New Mexico Insurance Identification Database

• P.O. Box 9700

• Albuquerque, NM 87119-9700

The affidavit will prevent the MVD from adding late fees to your registration record after it expires, and also notify the IIDB that you no longer need insurance coverage on the vehicle.

2) Check Your Renewal Notice

The MVD will typically send you a notice as your renewal deadline approaches. If you don't receive a notice, or you've misplaced it, you can use your current registration certificate as your renewal application.

Your renewal notice contains all the information you need to register your car, including the total taxes and fees you owe and identification information for your vehicle.

Depending on your situation and where in the state you live, your renewal notice may also include information about emissions inspections. Learn more at Smog & Emission Checks.

3) Calculate Your Fees

The first thing you'll need to decide is whether you want a registration for one year or two years. The state calculates registration fees based on the weight and model year of your vehicle. Rates can range anywhere from $27-$207 for a one-year registration and from $54-$402 for a two-year registration.

Your renewal notice will detail the registration fees you owe. If you have not received a renewal notice in the mail, you can use your current registration certificate to renew. To find out your registration fees beforehand, contact your local MVD office.

Even beyond your registration fees, you have other financial obligations to keep your vehicle legal, such as license plate fees and insurance coverage.

Avoid Late Fees and Penalties

The renewal deadline is printed on your renewal notice and your current registration certificate, and renewing past your deadline can cost you. You'll have to pay a late fee of $10 during the first month, and then 75% of your total registration fees each month thereafter.

4) Renew Online, In Person, By Mail or By Phone

Renew Online

1. Before you renew online, your vehicle should already have passed an emissions test, if applicable.
2. Have your renewal notice handy. If you didn't receive a renewal notice, you can use your current registration certificate.
3. Be ready to pay applicable fees with a Visa or MasterCard credit card. All online renewals are subject to an additional service charge of $1.75.
4. Sign on to the online registration page and follow the steps as directed.
5. Expect the MVD to mail your updated registration certificate and tabs to the address on the renewal notice in three to five business days.

In Person

1. If applicable, make sure your vehicle passes an emissions inspection first.
2. Have your renewal notice or registration certificate handy.
3. Have the appropriate fees in the form of a personal check, a money order, cash, or a Visa or MasterCard credit card.
4. Visit your local MVD office with everything above. No appointment is necessary.

By Mail

1. Meet any applicable emissions inspection requirements.
2. Check your renewal notice to ensure the correct address is included. If you want your registration and tabs sent to a different address, please write that on the notice and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. If you didn't receive a renewal notice, you can use your current registration certificate instead.
3. Mail your renewal notice and a check or money order for applicable fees to:
   • Motor Vehicle Division
   • Joseph Montoya Building
   • P.O. Box 1028
   • 1100 S. St. Francis Drive
   • Santa Fe, NM 87504-1028

By Phone

1. Take care of any required emissions inspection.
2. Locate your renewal notice or current registration certificate.
3. Have a Visa or MasterCard ready to pay your fees.
4. Call the 24-hour automated service at (888) MVD-INFO to begin.

5) Affix Your Stickers

When you receive your tabs, refer to the instructions they came with for correct placement on your rear license plate.

6) Get a Tax Deduction

Registration fees don't currently qualify for a tax deduction based on the personal property tax statutes from the IRS. The IRS allows a deduction for taxes that are calculated based on the property's value. Because registration fees in the state aren't based on the car's value, the tax deduction allowance does not apply.

If you have questions about vehicle fees and tax deductions, consult a reputable tax attorney to find out everything you need to know.

7) Do Your Part to Keep Our Roadways Safe

Maintaining your car and keeping it in good repair can help you avoid some of life's unexpected troubles on the road. Get regular tune ups, oil changes, and tire rotation and replacement to keep your vehicle running like new and your passengers safe.

Plan for future possibilities and find a good mechanic and a reputable roadside assistance program well ahead of when you actually need them. And finally, take the sting out of those inevitable repair bills by investing in an after-market auto warranty to supplement or replace your existing warranty.

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