In New Mexico, the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), which falls under the state's Taxation and Revenue Department, manages vehicle registrations, titling, and license plate applications. Notably, New Mexico is among the few states that require only a rear license plate to be displayed.
If you're considering purchasing a used car in New Mexico, take advantage of VinFreeCheck's complimentary lookup service. Simply enter the vehicle's license plate number, select New Mexico as the registration state, and you'll quickly receive a detailed report. This report includes odometer records, technical specifications, and accident history, among other essential information.
Bet You Didn't Know 🌶️
The state issues a unique "Chile" license plate that celebrates New Mexico's status as a major chile pepper producer. This specialty plate, which features the iconic red and green chile peppers, was voted the best license plate in the United States in a 2017 poll conducted by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. This distinctive plate not only showcases state pride but also highlights one of New Mexico's most famous exports.
Where is the New Mexico License Plate Number?
You’ll find your vehicle's license plate mounted on the rear of the vehicle. This information can also be found on your vehicle registration receipt or other sources, such as the car's insurance documentation or renewal slip.
Getting New Mexico License Plates
If you're relocating to the state, you have 30 days from the date you establish residency to register your vehicle. Should you bring your own car, it will need a VIN inspection at your nearest MVD field office. It's important to note that appointments may be required at some locations, while others might not offer this service at all. Alternatively, you can have the inspection carried out at any state-approved partner office.
For all first-time registrations, which must be completed in person, you will need to provide the following at your local MVD field office:
- A filled-out application form
- The original Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO)
- The original or certified Purchase Agreement or Dealer’s Invoice
- An odometer statement
- Proof of insurance (minimum auto liability insurance required)
- Proof of identification
- Payment of all applicable fees, including a state sales tax of 4.225 percent plus local sales tax (use the sales tax calculator provided by the MVD)
- Any additional documentation as necessary
Typically, a vehicle is titled and registered simultaneously. If you only need to obtain the certificate of title without registering the vehicle, you can follow the specific steps on the MVD website.
For registering a used vehicle, you will also need:
- The vehicle's certificate of title
- A completed Application for Vehicle Title and Registration form
- A completed Certificate of Title Bill of Sale (including the Assignment of Title section on the back)
- A bill of sale (if applicable)
- Lienholder details (if applicable)
- An odometer disclosure statement (signed by both the buyer and seller)
- Payment of all relevant fees
- Any additional documentation as required
In Bernalillo County, emissions testing might be required for vehicles that are either registered or commute within the county.
Once all documents are submitted and fees are paid, your new license plates will be sent to you through the mail.
You'll also need to submit the following items to the nearest MVD field office (all first-time registrations must be done in person):
- A completed application form
- Original Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO)
- Original/certified Purchase Agreement or Dealer’s InvoiceÂ
- An odometer statement
- Proof of insurance (Minimum auto liability insurance)
- Proof of identification
- Payment of all relevant fees (including a state sales tax of 4.225 percent and the local sales tax; use their sales tax calculator)
- Additional documentation where needed
A vehicle is usually titled and registered at the same time. If you need to get the certificate of title without a vehicle registration, simply follow the steps outlined on the MVD website.
If you're registering a used vehicle, you'll also need these items:
- Vehicle certificate of title
- Completed Application for Vehicle Title and Registration form
- Completed Certificate of Title Bill of Sale (including Assignment of Title section on the back)
- Bill of sale (if applicable)
- Lienholder details (if applicable)
- Odometer disclosure statement (signed by both buyer and seller)
- Payment of all relevant fees
- Additional documentation where needed
Emissions testing may also be needed for "vehicles registered or commuting in Bernalillo County."
You'll receive your new license plates through the mail once all documents and payment of fees are processed.
What License Plates are Available?
Standard New Mexico license plates are available in three designs: the Centennial plate, a classic yellow plate with red lettering, and the Chile plate. No additional fees or special applications are required to obtain these plates. For renewals, a validation sticker is placed at the bottom right corner of the plate to indicate current registration.
The previous balloon plate design is no longer offered, but is still valid.
Vanity plates: Vanity, or prestige, plates can be used on all three standard plates. Reservations for personalized plates can be made online and come with free shipping.
There are specific stipulations to a personalized plate. For the centennial plate, you can have up to 8 alphanumeric characters printed on it. Yellow plates may have up to 7 characters, while Chile plates may have up to 6. Characters can also include any combination of letters and numbers, as long as they aren't offensive, obscene, or misleading.
Veteran plates: These are issued to former serving, or active duty, members of any US military outfit and their family members. There are also veteran-designation decals available to active duty/former/veteran members for a variety of reasons, such as medal recipients, distinguished military service in any past military campaign, etc.
Disabled plates: Those with significant mobility limitation" may apply for disabled plates. A licensed physician must certify the person's condition on the application form before submission. No fees are required to apply for one.
Special plates: This refers to unique plates for organizations, charitable groups, and so forth. These organizations or groups may have a unique style or design of plates, and the criteria for this style may vary from state to state.
Special plates that are available include:
- Las Cruces plates (for citizens of the city of Las Cruces)
- Vintage/historical plates
- Collegiate plates
- Autism Awareness
- Wildlife Artwork
- Boy Scouts Centennial
- Firefighter plates
- Patriotic plates
Some of these plates may have additional fees that you need to pay, which go to various organizations or for the provision of services, and so forth.
What's Inside a License Plate Lookup Report?
A license plate lookup provides comprehensive details about a specific car, helping you gather essential information before making a purchase. Here’s what you can learn:
Previous Owners: Understand the vehicle's history by learning how many people have owned it and how it was used by each owner.
Vehicle Specifications: Access a detailed list of the car’s features, including transmission type, engine specifications, cargo capacity, and technological attributes.
Market Value: Ascertain the current market value of the car’s model to ensure you are paying a fair price for a used vehicle.
Accident Records: Review any accidents the vehicle may have been involved in, which could reveal unseen mechanical or technical issues. This is crucial for assessing the car’s condition in combination with an independent safety inspection.
Junk/Salvage Title Check: Check if the car has been declared a total loss, indicating severe damage from an accident or that it has been dismantled for parts, making repairs costly and possibly impractical for road use.
Odometer Records: Identify potential odometer fraud, where the mileage may be misrepresented to suggest less wear and tear. Accurate odometer records help you verify the car’s usage history.
Lien Records: Find out if the car has been leased, used as debt collateral, or as a rental. It’s crucial that all liens are cleared by the dealership before the sale; this report can confirm that for you.
Flood Records: Determine if the vehicle has suffered flood damage, which can cause significant long-term issues to vital components like the engine. This information helps you avoid buying a car with potentially concealed damage.
Utilizing a license plate lookup can significantly enhance your understanding of a car’s history and condition, ensuring you make a well-informed decision when purchasing a used vehicle.
What's the Deal with the Report?
According to the state's 2020 edition of its Traffic Crash Annual Report, there were 36,555 traffic crashes reported on "public roadways" involving 85,742 people and 63,276 motorized vehicles; a total of 398 casualties were recorded.
It's entirely plausible that many damaged vehicles may have been refurbished and put up for sale, but many of these might still have underlying faults left unaddressed. To the unsuspecting buyer, you might not know if the used car you've been looking at might have various problems crop up in time. Having a vehicle history report will protect you from such instances, as you'll be well-informed of whatever issues might have been left unresolved.
The report's importance can't be understated, since it gives you all the relevant information of a particular car - allowing you to tell if you're being duped into buying a fake/lemon vehicle. The report might just reveal that a prior accident caused numerous mechanical faults - all of which were never properly taken care of since it was written off as a total loss. It could mean the difference between avoiding a costly expense for a problematic vehicle, or losing your peace of mind from making such a purchase.
VinFreeCheck's license plate lookup provides users like yourself with extensive, verifiable information from reputable sources like the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). Every information you receive comes from the most recent data from these databases.
Why Would I Look Up a License Plate?
The advantages of having a vehicle lookup performed outweigh the cost of not having one - and then walking into a fraudulent deal none the wiser. Plus, VinFreeCheck complies with the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), where any and all personal/private information of any previous or current car owners is never disclosed. Only relevant information unrelated to a person's identity or background will be shared, such as its overall use and current condition. Moreover, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants individuals the right to access information collected by the government.
There are no restrictions to how many lookup reports you'd like to run to help you with your used car search. You can even use it to check the details of a suspicious vehicle you see on the road. All the information you need is freely available from our services, so don't be shy!