39:3-18 General registration; "D" or temporary plates, use, security, fees.

39:3-18. A manufacturer of motor vehicles, motor-drawn vehicles, motor vehicle bodies, motorized bicycles, or motorcycles doing business in this State may, with regard to motor or motor-drawn vehicles, motorized bicycles, or motorcycles owned or controlled by him, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor of the style and kind provided for in this subtitle, with the letter "D" stated thereon. Such plates can be placed on any vehicle or cycle owned or controlled by such manufacturer, but only if it is operated only for shop, demonstration or delivery purposes.

A bona fide converter of commercial motor vehicles, motor-drawn vehicles or motor vehicle chassis doing business in this State may, with regard to motor or motor-drawn vehicles owned or controlled by him, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor of the style and kind provided for in this subtitle, with the letter "D" stated thereon. Such plates can be placed on any vehicles owned or controlled by such converter, but only if such vehicles are operated for shop, demonstration or delivery purposes.

A bona fide dealer in motor vehicles, motor-drawn vehicles or motorcycles doing business in this State and having a license to do business as such issued by the chief administrator may, with regard to motor or motor-drawn vehicles or cycles owned by him, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor of the style and kind provided for in this subtitle, with the letter "D" stated thereon. Such plates shall only be placed on any vehicle or cycle owned by such dealer; and provided, such vehicle is not used for hire. Such vehicles may be assigned to dealership principals or employees for product familiarization or compensation purposes, and may be used for any lawful purpose, including personal use, and personal use by persons authorized by those dealership employees or principals. Any person who shall be convicted of a violation of this paragraph shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $1000.

A bona fide dealer in motorized bicycles, as defined in R.S.39:1-1, who has an established place of business in this State, may, with regard to motorized bicycles owned by him, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor of the style and kind provided for in this subtitle, with the letter "D" stated thereon. The plates can be placed on a motorized bicycle by the dealer, but only if the motorized bicycle is operated only for shop, demonstration, or delivery purposes.

Any person engaged in the business of financing the purchase of motor or motor-drawn vehicles or motorized bicycles or lending money thereon may, with regard to motor or motor-drawn vehicles or motorized bicycles owned or controlled by him, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor of the style and kind provided for in this subtitle, with the word "temporary" stated thereon. Such plates can be placed on any such vehicle only when it is being transported from the place where it has been kept by the purchaser or borrower to the place where it is to be kept by the repossessor, or when the repossessor desires to operate it for the purpose of demonstration for sale.

Any corporation engaged in the business of insuring motor vehicles, motorized bicycles, or motor-drawn vehicles against theft may, with regard to vehicles owned or controlled by it, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor of the style and kind provided for in this subtitle, with the word "temporary" stated thereon. Such plates can be placed on any such vehicle, if ownership or control thereof has been obtained by virtue of the terms of an insurance against theft contract made by such corporation, and only when the vehicle is to be transported for delivery to the owner thereof from the place where it has been abandoned by or seized from a thief.

Any person, partnership or corporation engaged in the business of transporting motor or motor-drawn vehicles or motorized bicycles from the place of manufacture for delivery to dealers may, with regard to such vehicles, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor of the kind and style provided for in this subtitle, with the word "temporary" stated thereon, but only if the chief administrator is satisfied as to the financial responsibility of such person, partnership or corporation to meet any claim for damages arising out of any automobile accident and satisfactory evidence of such responsibility has been filed with him.

Any person engaged in the business of renting or leasing motor vehicles, motorized bicycles, or motor-drawn vehicles may, with regard to said motor vehicles, motorized bicycles, or motor-drawn vehicles owned by him, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor, provided for in this subtitle, with the word "temporary" stated thereon. Said registration plates may be placed on any motor vehicle, motorized bicycle, or motor-drawn vehicle owned by such person while said vehicle is not individually registered and not in use as a rented or leased vehicle.

A bona fide dealer in "nonconventional" type motor vehicles, as defined in R.S.39:10-2, who has an established place of business in this State, may, with regard to "nonconventional" type motor vehicles owned by him, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor of the style and kind provided for in this subtitle, with the letter "D" stated thereon. Such plates can be placed on any "nonconventional" type motor vehicle by such dealer, but only if such "nonconventional" type motor vehicle is operated only for shop, demonstration or delivery purposes.

Any person, partnership or corporation engaged in the business of conducting a wholesale automobile auction block in this State for duly licensed dealers only, at least once each week, may, with regard to vehicles controlled by it, obtain general registration and registration plates therefor of the style and kind provided for in this subtitle, with the word "temporary" stated thereon. Such plates can be placed on any vehicle controlled by the auction block, which is to be transported from the place where stored by the owner to the auction block. Such plates may not be displayed on a vehicle sold at the auction block for delivery to the purchaser. Application for such plates shall be approved only if the chief administrator is satisfied as to the financial responsibility of such person, partnership or corporation to meet any claim for damages arising out of any automobile accident and satisfactory proof of such responsibility has been filed with him.

Registration plates issued pursuant to this section shall be a single plate and shall be issued in sets of five and shall bear the letter "D" or the word "temporary" and shall bear a number corresponding to the number on the certificate of registration. The single registration plate shall be displayed in accordance with the provisions of R.S.39:3-33.

The annual fee for the issuance of a certificate of registration, four duplicates thereof and one set of five single "D" or "temporary" plates bearing a number corresponding to the number on the certificate of registration shall be $100.00; but the annual fee for the issuance of a certificate of registration for motorcycles or motorized bicycles, two duplicates thereof and one set of three single "D" plates bearing a number on the certificate of registration shall be $20.00.

Following the effective date of P.L.2007, c.335 (C.39:2A-36.1 et al.), the chief administrator may, as a condition for the issuance of general registration and registration plates, require security in an amount deemed sufficient by the chief administrator to secure the prompt return of such plates to the Motor Vehicle Commission when the use and possession of such plates by any person or entity previously entitled to the plates pursuant to this section is no longer necessary or proper in the determination of the chief administrator. Any security amount held by the Motor Vehicle Commission as security for any returned plates shall be refunded to the person or entity to whom the plates were issued.

Amended 1951, c.4; 1962, c.164, s.1; 1963, c.34, s.1; 1965, c.71; 1968, c.130, s.4; 1969, c.254; 1973, c.65; 1983, c.105, s.1; 2007, c.335, s.20.