Paper Vehicle Registration No Longer Required For NJ Drivers

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey drivers can now show police a digital version of their motor vehicle registration if they're pulled over or appear in court, the state Motor Vehicle Commission announced.

The state MVC is implementing legislation that Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law in 2021 to offer electronic proof of vehicle registration that drivers can use. As of Friday, the state MVC started providing PDF files with proof of registration that can be printed out or downloaded for display as an electronic image on a phone, computer, or tablet.

The MVC will continue mailing a paper copy of the vehicle registration card, but that won't be the only option for someone needing to show their vehicle registration.

“Paper registrations will still be issued and recognized as valid, but they are no longer the only option for drivers when they need to provide proof of registration," said acting NJMVC administrator Latrecia Littles-Floyd.

The document is a valid registration by law and can be displayed or given to law enforcement, the courts, or any other entity that requires the presentation of a New Jersey vehicle registration.

A separate provision of the law enables those with leased vehicles to directly renew their registrations in New Jersey. The MVC will begin sending registration renewal applications directly to lessees of the vehicles, rather than to the lessor or owner.

"These changes will greatly assist more than 820,000 drivers of leased vehicles in New Jersey, who often struggled to secure the proper documentation from lessors to ensure a smooth, timely renewal of registrations each year," said the MVC.