Last Update: September 17, 2026
Change Information on Vehicle Registration in New Jersey
A vehicle registration record in New Jersey may need to be revised after a residential move, a legal name change, inaccurate information on a document, or the purchase of a vehicle. Registration and titling are administered by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC), a single state-level agency that processes transactions at motor vehicle agencies, licensing centers, and online.
New Jersey Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action
A registration update is appropriate under any of the following circumstances:
- A residential address changes, which carries a statutory duty to notify the MVC within 1 week.
- A legal name change due to marriage, civil union, divorce, or court order.
- A registration card, certificate of ownership, or license plate is lost, stolen, damaged, or contains incorrect information.
- A vehicle is purchased or acquired, and ownership is transferred to a new owner.
- A person relocates to New Jersey from another state or country with a vehicle titled and registered elsewhere.
- A vehicle is financed or leased, which affects how the title and registration are processed.
Where to File a New Jersey Vehicle Registration Change
The NJMVC handles registration and titling directly through its motor vehicle agencies, where a new registration or title is completed in person and license plates are issued. An appointment is recommended for these transactions. Registration renewals can be completed online, by mail, or in person, and many driver-related transactions can be handled through the MVC's online services.
A new registration file uses two official documents: the Universal Title Application (Form OS/SS-UTA) and the Vehicle Registration Application (Form BA-49). Title work is distinct from registration work at the record level but is processed by the same agency.
New Jersey Address Changes on Vehicle Registration
New Jersey requires drivers to keep a current address on file with the MVC, and the address change process is conducted entirely online under N.J.S.A. 39:3-36. The address change mandates customers to use the online address change system; updated registration documents showing the new address cost $5, and a replacement driver license with the new address can be ordered after the change is processed.
Because the MVC does not rely on postal forwarding, an address change should be completed before renewal notices are mailed. The online address change covers the driver license and the vehicle registration records maintained by the commission.
New Jersey Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections
A legal name change is processed at any MVC Licensing Center on a walk-in basis. The applicant presents legal proof of the change, such as a certified marriage or civil union certificate, a divorce decree, or a court order, together with the identification documents required under the MVC's 6 Points of ID standard. All documents must be originals or certified copies, and documents not in English must be accompanied by a translation. The name change is applied to the driver record, and a duplicate registration card bearing the corrected name can be requested afterward for the $5 duplicate document fee.
Ownership changes reach the title record as well as the registration. Adding or removing an owner, transferring a vehicle between parties, or buying out a lease all require that the title be reissued in the new owner's name through the motor vehicle agency, and a financed vehicle requires the lienholder to act before the new title is issued.
Correcting Incorrect Information on a New Jersey Registration Record
Registration documents and title documents are corrected differently.
| Record | Correction procedure |
|---|---|
| Registration card | A duplicate or replacement registration document costs $5 and is obtained through the MVC's duplicate registration service, which arranges an appointment for a lost original. |
| Certificate of ownership (title) | A title error is corrected at a motor vehicle agency or by written request through the mail. The correction is free when the error was clearly caused by the MVC; otherwise, the title correction charge is $60. A mailed request includes the original document, a letter describing the correction, proof of the error, and payment made payable to the NJMVC, sent to the Database Corrections Unit at PO Box 141, 225 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08666-0141. |
| Lien error on a title | A lien block marked in error requires a letter from the seller or the person named in the lien block stating that no lien exists, along with the make, year, and full Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle, presented at a motor vehicle agency with the $60 correction fee. |
| Odometer discrepancies | An odometer replacement is corrected by mail only, using a signed statement from the mechanic who replaced the odometer, the receipt for the new or used odometer, and the original title. Payment of $60 is required and should be made payable to the NJMVC and sent to the Database Corrections Unit at PO Box 141, 225 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08666-0141. |
A title in proper form remains valid through the life of the vehicle, and a correction does not change the underlying owner unless ownership itself was misstated.
New Jersey Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes
The following deadlines apply to registration record changes in New Jersey:
- A person who moves to New Jersey must transfer the out-of-state license, vehicle title, and registration within 60 days of the move, or before the current license and registration expire, whichever occurs first (the period is 120 days during a declared Public Health Emergency), as explained in the MVC's moving to New Jersey guidance.
- A change of residence must be reported within 1 week under N.J.S.A. 39:3-36, and the address change is submitted online.
- Registration renewal may begin approximately 60 days before the expiration date on the current registration, per the MVC's frequently asked questions. Registration fees are itemized on the MVC's registration and title fees page.
- Title and registration transfers for a financed vehicle cannot be completed until the lienholder has acted, and leased vehicles are titled to the leasing company until the lease is bought out.
- Every vehicle registered or principally garaged in New Jersey must carry motor vehicle liability insurance under N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1, and proof of insurance must be presented at registration or transfer, as detailed in the MVC's insurance requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in New Jersey?
| Registration Change or Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Address change (updated duplicate registration document) | $5 for one-year passenger or commercial registrations; $11 anytime during the first three years of a four-year accelerated registration term (Registration and Title Fees) |
| Legal name change (corrected title) | $60, unless the error was clearly caused by the MVC (Title Corrections) |
| Incorrect information on the certificate of title | $60, unless the error was clearly caused by the MVC (Title Corrections) |
| Duplicate/replacement title for a lost, misplaced, or damaged title | $60 (Duplicate Title) |
| Vehicle purchase | $60 title transfer ($85 with a lien), plus registration fee that varies by vehicle weight class and model (Registration and Title Fees) |
| New state residency | $60 title transfer for a standard vehicle ($85 for a financed vehicle with one lien; $110 with two liens), plus registration fee (Moving To New Jersey) |
| License plate transfer to another vehicle | $4.50 registration transfer fee, plus any prorated increase in the registration fee due to a change in weight class (Registration and Title Fees) |
Contact Information
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
225 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08666
Phone: (609) 292-6500
Official Website: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
