Selling or junking a car in New Mexico

How do I sign over a car title in New Mexico?

The seller completes and signs the assignment on the back of the title; photocopies are not accepted. If that section is incomplete or full, use Bill of Sale MVD-10009, which shows the vehicle, the sale price, and both parties' names, addresses and signatures. The seller must state the odometer reading at transfer, on the title assignment, MVD-10009 or the Odometer Mileage Statement (MVD-10187). The buyer must title the vehicle within 30 days or pay a penalty.

How do I get a duplicate title in New Mexico?

Use Form MVD-10901, Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title. The vehicle title fee is $5.00. Apply at an MVD field office, or by mail to the Vehicle Services Bureau, P.O. Box 1028, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1028 with a check or money order (no cash). Show your driver's license and most recent registration certificate (photocopies by mail). If the old title shows an unreleased lien, provide a lien release or the duplicate goes to the lienholder.

Do I need to file a release of liability in New Mexico?

Send MVD a Notice of Vehicle Sold (MVD-10048), as required by Section 66-3-101(A) NMSA 1978. It records the VIN, plate number, sale date, odometer reading, the buyer's name and address, and whether the plate was removed. Mail it to Motor Vehicle Division, Attn: Sold Unit, P.O. Box 1028, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1028.

What do I do with the plates after selling a car in New Mexico?

New Mexico plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle. The seller removes the plate before handing over the vehicle. Within 30 days the seller must either put it on another vehicle of the same class or take it to MVD to be cancelled. Out-of-state plates should be taken to an MVD office or returned to the issuing state.

What happens to the title when a car is junked or salvaged in New Mexico?

The owner of a nonrepairable vehicle may sell or give it only to a licensed wrecker, or to a buyer licensed elsewhere to dismantle or process vehicles. If no insurance settlement is involved, the owner sends the endorsed title to MVD with the fee within 20 days of the loss to get a nonrepairable certificate. It is unlawful to sell a salvage or nonrepairable vehicle unless its title is branded. A vehicle bought from a dismantler is titled as 'Salvage' using the New Mexico Dismantler Notification Form (18.19.3.51-53 NMAC).

What can I do about an abandoned vehicle on my property in New Mexico?

A vehicle counts as abandoned when a New Mexico law enforcement agency determines it was left unattended on public or private property for at least 30 days. The property owner usually goes through MVD's abandoned-vehicle lien process, and a vehicle sold at auction must be titled within 30 days of the auction or penalty fees apply. If the vehicle is 8 years old or older and the claimant disposes of it to a licensed dismantler, the claimant only needs to give the dismantler an NCIC clearance. Property owners can't use a surety bond to get around the lien process.

Official sources

1. NM MVD - Notice of Vehicle Sold (MVD-10048)
2. NM MVD - Bill of Sale (MVD-10009)
3. NM MVD - Vehicle Registration
4. NM MVD Vehicle Procedures Manual - Chapter 4 (Used Vehicles)
5. NM MVD - Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title (MVD-10901)
6. NM MVD Vehicle Procedures Manual - Chapter 9 (Salvage and Nonrepairable)
7. NM MVD Vehicle Procedures Manual - Chapter 10 (Bonds and Liens)

This guide summarizes public rules and is not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), Taxation and Revenue Department before you sell.