New Jersey DMV: The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) is the equivalent of DMV in other states. It is responsible for vehicle registration, driver licensing, and the issuance of license plates and titles in the state. or customer inquiries and assistance, the MVC operates a Customer Advocacy Office located at P.O. Box 403, Trenton, NJ 08666-0403. They can be contacted via phone with dedicated numbers for various topics, available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. New Jersey License Plate Design and Format: NJ license plates feature a unique combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, prominently displaying the state’s name along with a slogan or graphic representing New Jersey’s heritage or landmarks. The standard serial format for New Jersey license plates is A12-BCD, which helps in identifying and tracking vehicles registered in the state.

Display Requirements: New Jersey state law mandates that all motor vehicles display license plates issued by the MVC. When you title and register a vehicle, you will receive two license plates that must be affixed to both the front and rear of the vehicle. Motorcycles and trailers receive only one rear plate. The plates must display the unique alphanumeric code assigned to the vehicle.

Types of License Plates: The MVC offers a variety of license plate types, including standard plates and specialty plates that support specific causes or organizations. Available options include personalized plates, dedicated plates for special interests (e.g., Organ Donor, Law Enforcement Memorial, Animal Friendly), various organizational plates, and sports plates (MLB, NASCAR®, NHL®, NBA, NFL). Special vehicle plates for historic/hot rod vehicles and disability plates are also available.

New Jersey Vehicle Registration and Renewal: If you purchase a vehicle from a dealership in New Jersey, they will handle the registration and title work. Registration at the NJ MVC is required for used vehicles bought from individuals, dealerships, or auctions, or transferred into the state. Annual renewal is required, with updated validation stickers needed to ensure the vehicle remains legally registered. Renewal can be conveniently done at MVC agencies or online through the MVC’s website.

Transferring a New Jersey License Plate: When acquiring a new vehicle, you can transfer your current plates to the new vehicle if the same name is used for both registrations, and the registration code remains unchanged. If you sell a vehicle and do not wish to transfer its plates, you must surrender the old plates to the MVC.

Replacing New Jersey License Plates: If your license plates are lost, stolen, or damaged, you can apply for replacement plates at a motor vehicle agency. For stolen plates, you must file a police report in the municipality where the plates were stolen. If plates are damaged, surrender the old plates when receiving the new ones. Plates must also be returned to the MVC if the vehicle insurance is terminated.