New Mexico License PlateA New Mexico license plate is a metallic plate attached to a vehicle registered in the state that shows a set of alphanumeric characters identifying the vehicle. It is also referred to as a vehicle registration plate, as it is proof of official registration and permission to operate a vehicle legally. License plates are mandatory for all vehicles registered in the state. Per Section 66-3-18 of the New Mexico Statute, all vehicles registered in the state must have their registration plates attached to the rear of the vehicles. The only exceptions are road tractors and truck tractors, whose license plates must be attached to the front. As of early 2024, New Mexico remains one of the states that does not require a front license plate, except for truck tractors and road tractors.
New Mexicans have a variety of license plate categories from which they can choose. The Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) of the state's Taxation and Revenue Department issues the following types of license plates:
Per state law, New Mexico license plates must be securely attached to vehicles in a horizontal position at all times. They must be affixed in clear and visible positions at least 12 inches high from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the license plate.
New Mexico License Plate Design and FormatsNew Mexico license plates contain no more than six alphanumeric plate numbers (except for personalized plates), and the plates come in various license plate designs and formats depending on the plate type. Even the state's traditional or standard license plates exist in three formats. For instance, the standard centennial plate has a blue plate background, a large Zia symbol at the center, and uses yellow lettering as the license plate number. On the other hand, the standard red and yellow plate takes its color scheme from the state's flag. It has a yellow plate background with plate numbers in red lettering and a design representing the state flower, the Yucca, in the middle of the plate. The Chile plate comes in a black background with yellow license plate numbers and has an overlapping green and red pepper logo on the left-hand side of the plate. It also has "CHILE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD" in yellow lettering on the top of the plate.
Generally, most New Mexico license plates, including specialty plates, have "NEW MEXICO" or "NEW MEXICO USA" and "LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" written on the bottom in different font styles and colors, depending on the plate category. Many Military and Veteran license plates carry inscriptions specifying the license type on the top with "NEW MEXICO USA" or "NEW MEXICO" inscriptions on the bottom. Below are some pictorial descriptions of some license plates issued in the state:
Standard License Plates
Specialty License Plates
New Mexico Vanity License PlateNew Mexico vanity license plates allow vehicle owners to choose personalized/favored plate numbers subject to the MVD's approval. Also called prestige license plates, vanity plates are typically issued in standard centennial plates, Chile plates, and red and yellow plates for most motor vehicles, including motorcycles. Anyone applying for a New Mexico vanity license plate can only use alphanumeric characters in any combination as the plate numbers in the format outlined below:
A New Mexico prestige license plate cannot contain special characters like a hashtag, dash, the Zia symbol, space, underscore, or asterisk. Before you apply for a New Mexico vanity license plate, it is important to check the availability of your preferred plate number. One way to do that is by looking up the characters online to determine whether it is already in use. The state's Motor Vehicle Division will reject any request for a vanity plate duplicating an existing plate. Similarly, the MVD will not approve any proposed characters it finds obscene and derogatory or anyone falsely implying a representation of a government agency or official.
If your preferred plate number is available, you can order your New Mexico vanity license plate online through the MVD eservices Portal. Select the "Request a Personalized Plate" tab and complete the application form. You will need your current license plate number and the last six characters of your VIN, full VIN, or the control number on your vehicle registration renewal postcard to complete this application. Once the application is approved, the MVD will ship your license plate directly to you. It costs $17 to obtain a vanity license plate in New Mexico.
Most Popular New Mexico Special Plate NumbersCommonly ordered special license plate numbers in New Mexico include the following:
New Mexico License Plate LookupLicense plate lookup in New Mexico involves finding information about the vehicle linked to a license plate. Residents of the state can look up license plates for personal reasons. For example, individuals who intend to purchase used cars should consider conducting license plate searches to gather essential information on the background of such vehicles. In this instance, you may be able to find if the car has been reported stolen or already illegally modified. Also, approved state authorities can look up the license plate of vehicles involved in crimes or accidents and use the information found to contact the owners of such vehicles. Law enforcement can equally find the owners or drivers of hit-and-run vehicles by looking up their license plates.
The following are some of the information you may find when you look up a New Mexico license plate:
You may get certain information about a New Mexico-registered vehicle when you look up its license plate by calling the MVD at (888) 683-4636. However, the information disclosed to you will be limited to basic details about the vehicle. No personal or identifying information about the vehicle owner will be disclosed to any unauthorized third party in compliance with the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). This also applies to license plate lookups conducted on third-party websites. The New Mexico MVD does not offer free license plate lookup services.
At Recordsfinder, any authorized person or entity can look up a New Mexico license plate to find basic information about the vehicle registered to that plate using the correct plate number and the state's name. They may also request a more comprehensive report from a lookup conducted on this site, especially if you are buying a used vehicle and need to find as many details as possible to make an informed decision about purchasing it.
While a New Mexico reverse license plate number search can reveal information about a vehicle and its owner, the disclosure of records maintained in the state's Driver History Records is heavily regulated by the DPPA. In order words, you need to have a DPPA-allowable reason to be able to conduct a reverse license plate number search in New Mexico. With plate numbers and legitimate reasons to find vehicles' information, Recordsfinder offers authorized persons and entities a reliable means of conducting reverse license plate number lookups on vehicles registered in New Mexico.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in New Mexico?The first step to obtaining a New Mexico license plate is registering the vehicle on which you intend to affix the plate with the state's Motor Vehicle Division at any of its Field Offices. The requirements for registering new and used vehicles in the state differ slightly.
To register a used vehicle for the first time in New Mexico, you must visit an MVD Field Office with the following documents:
You must provide the MVD with the following documents the first time you register a new vehicle in New Mexico:
Depending on the condition, there are other special requirements for vehicle registration in New Mexico. For instance, emission testing is needed for certain vehicles in Bernalillo County. Others include an Affidavit of Gift of Motor Vehicle or Boat (MVD Form 10018), proof of trade-in-vehicle, lienholder information, and the Release of Lien (MVD Form 10041).
In New Mexico, the registration fee for passenger vehicles is determined by the model year and weight of the vehicle. It typically costs between $27 and $62 to register a passenger vehicle for a one-year registration and between $54 and $124 for a two-year registration. Similarly, the registration fee for trucks weighing 26,000 lbs or less (declared gross vehicle weight) depends on the weight and mode year of the truck. It ranges between $38 and $207 for a one-year registration and anywhere from $76 to $414 for a two-year registration.
If your vehicle is titled and registered in New Mexico, you do not need any special application or form to obtain any of the state's standard license plates. You can request the plates at the time of initial vehicle registration. However, acquiring a specialty license plate in New Mexico costs a small fee. The MVD provides the application forms for each license plate type on its License Plates page.
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and Commercial License Plate in New MexicoPassenger license plates are typically issued for vehicles operated for personal use, while commercial license plates are issued for vehicles used for commercial or business purposes. The main differences between both license plates in New Mexico are outlined in the table below:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Type | Issued for vehicles weighing less than 10,000 lbs (gross vehicle weight) used for personal, household, or family purposes. They include motorcycles, pickup trucks, vans, and automobiles | Issued for vehicles used in commerce to transport property and passengers. Such vehicles are usually designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver. They have a gross weight combination rating of over 26,000 lbs, and/or including a towed unit weighing more than 10,000 lbs. Vehicles used to transport hazardous materials are also eligible for commercial license plates in New Mexico |
| Registration Fees | Vehicle owners pay lesser vehicle registration fees before acquiring license plates | Vehicle owners pay more to register commercial vehicles before they can obtain commercial license plates |
The requirements for registering a commercial vehicle and a passenger vehicle and obtaining the appropriate license plates in New Mexico are largely the same. However, you may be required to provide additional documents to register a commercial vehicle. These may include a Weight Certificate (where the title does not indicate the empty weight of the vehicle), NCIC check, and proof of VIN inspection.
How To Renew License Plate in New MexicoIn New Mexico, you renew your license plate when you renew your vehicle registration, and this can be done in a few ways are listed below:
While you are not required to pay a standard license plate fee during the initial registration, they are validated by sticker when you pay the applicable renewal registration fees ($17). The renewal fees for New Mexico specialty license plates are the same as the initial applications.
How To Transfer a License Plate in New MexicoLicense plates are owned by vehicle owners in New Mexico. Hence, they are expected to remove the plates on their vehicles when such motor vehicles are given as gifts, sold, or traded in. However, under state law, an individual has 30 days from the time another person takes possession of their vehicle to visit any MVD Field Office and apply to have the license plate assigned to another vehicle of the same class. Otherwise, they must surrender the plate to the MVD to destroy it.
New Mexico License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Under state law, it is illegal to look up the owner of a license plate in New Mexico unless authorized by law. Nonetheless, the state does not prohibit anyone from searching a license plate for non-personal or non-identifying information. Per Section 66-2-7.1 of the New Mexico Statutes, it is illegal to disclose any personal information obtained about a person in connection with their driver's license or vehicle registration to an unauthorized individual or entity. This closely aligns with the federal DPPA. The New Mexico Driver's Privacy Protection Agreement forbids obtaining any information from vehicle records for purposes prohibited by Section 66-2-7.1 of the state's Statutes.
If you need to find a vehicle owner through their license plate in New Mexico, it is best to contact the police or any other authorized law enforcement agency. Unless authorized, looking up a person's private information through their license plate violates New Mexico's laws and the DPPA rules. You can search for information associated with a license plate in the state by using services provided by Recordsfinder. Typically, all license plates are linked to their VINs in public records in the United States, and you can look up certain records of at least 269 million registered vehicles.
Yes, you can get a replacement license plate in New Mexico if you lose the current one. While it is not mandated, you can report the circumstance to the police and obtain a police report. Afterward, take the police report to any MVD Field Office to receive a set of duplicate license plates. Expect to pay $15 to obtain a replacement license plate at the MVD Field office.
Police can see the following information when they run your license plate in New Mexico:
You can search New Mexico license plates for free on some online public records portal. Generally, license plates of several millions of registered vehicles in the United States are linked to their VINs and are available in public records. However, you can only find basic information about a vehicle when you conduct a free license plate lookup in New Mexico, which can be useful for many reasons. For instance, the information uncovered from a license plate number search can help you make an informed decision if you are considering buying a used car. The search result may reveal the vehicle history and indicate if it is being sold with a cloned VIN.
You can look up New Mexico license plates using Recordsfinder, a legitimate and reliable online public records database. With a license plate number and the state's name as search parameters, you will find a vehicle's basic information, such as the specification, make, model, engine capacity, and year of manufacture. Others include the VIN, market price, body style, and tank size.
The validity period of a New Mexico license plate depends on the vehicle registration renewal period a vehicle owner selected during the initial registration. This can either be one or two years. If you choose a one-year vehicle registration renewal period, renewing your license plate validation stickers once a year is mandatory. Similarly, a person who selected a two-year registration renewal period must renew their validation stickers once every two years.
New Mexico offers a 30-day grace period for vehicles with expired vehicle registrations and, by extension, license plates. However, a vehicle owner who is less than 31 days late in renewing their license plate in the state must pay a $10 penalty in addition to the vehicle registration renewal fee when caught driving with an expired license plate. Also, a person who waited for 31 days or more after the expiration of their license plate risks paying 75% of the registration renewal fee in addition to the renewal fee as a penalty. Operating a vehicle with an expired license plate in New Mexico is considered a non-moving violation.
No state law mandates vehicle owners to return their license plates to the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) when relocating outside New Mexico. However, the MVD encourages vehicle owners moving permanently to another state to surrender their license plates so they can be recycled. Such plates can be returned in person at any MVD Field Office or mailed to the Division at:
Motor Vehicle Division Plate ReturnsYou can also return your license plate to the MVD if you sold, traded, or gave your old vehicle as a gift and do not intend to transfer the plate to a new vehicle.
Yes. You will not be penalized if you permanently move to another state with your New Mexico license plate. Vehicle license plates issued in the state are owned by vehicle owners and are not required to be returned. However, the MVD appeals to individuals leaving New Mexico for another state to return their license plates by mail or in person at any of its offices. Besides, such license plates will become invalid in other states once vehicle owners establish residency and obtain new vehicle registrations/license plates in the new state. Surrendering the plates enables the MVD to either destroy or recycle them.
Regardless of the license plate type, the standard measurement of New Mexico license plates is 12" high x 6" wide.
You may only operate a vehicle for 30 days with a temporary license plate in New Mexico without violating state law. Temporary license plate permits issued in the state are only valid for this period. Generally, you will need a temporary license plate in New Mexico if you acquire a new vehicle from a dealer or recently moved to the state. Typically, the DMV will issue a temporary license plate when you file an application to register your vehicle. Available temporary license plate permits in New Mexico include transportation permits, retail permits, demonstration permits, out-of-state transportation permits, and temporary commercial vehicle permits.
The three ways to renew a vehicle license plate in New Mexico are listed below: