Okla. Admin. Code § 670:20-13-17

Current through Vol. 41, No. 24, September 3, 2024

Section 670:20-13-17 - License plate remains with owners

(a)General provisions. Effective July 1, 2019, Oklahoma no longer allows a motor vehicle license plate to remain with the vehicle when the vehicle is sold, traded, or transferred. The registration license plate and certificate of registration shall be issued to, and remain in the name of, the owner of the vehicle registered and the license plate shall not be transferable between motor vehicle owners.

(b)Registration procedures. When a vehicle is sold or transferred in the state, the following registration procedures apply:

(1)Vehicle owner. Any vehicle owner who sells, trades, or transfers a vehicle must remove the license plate from the vehicle and either:

(A) Retain the plate,

(B) Transfer the plate to a newly acquired vehicle of the same registration classification for which no additional registration fee is due for the remainder of the current registration period pursuant to authorization of Service Oklahoma or a licensed operator, or

(C) Transfer the plate to a newly acquired vehicle of the same registration classification but different registration year requiring payment of additional registration fees.

(2)Vehicle buyer. In the event the owner of a license plate purchases, trades, exchanges, or otherwise acquires a vehicle for which a license plate has been issued during the current registration period, and the license plate has not been removed by the previous owner in accordance with this Section, the new owner of the vehicle shall remove and return the license plate to Service Oklahoma or a licensed operator. If the license plate has expired, the new owner may surrender the license plate to Service Oklahoma or licensed operator.

(c)Calculation of registration fee. The registration fee due for the newly acquired vehicle to which a plate is transferred will be prorated based on the full registration months remaining on the transferred plate at the time of assignment.

(d)Refund ineligibility. The plate owner shall not be entitled to a refund under the following circumstances:

(1) When the registration fee for the vehicle to which the plate is transferred is less than the registration fee for that vehicle to which the license plate was last assigned, or

(2) When the owner does not have or does not acquire another vehicle to which the license plate may be transferred.

(e)Title, registration and tax/fee payment requirements. The new owner of a motor vehicle must within two months from the date of vehicle purchase or acquisition make application to title and register the vehicle by the transfer to, or purchase of, a license plate for the newly acquired vehicle with Service Oklahoma or licensed operator and pay excise and sales taxes and applicable title and registrations fees in addition to any delinquent taxes, fees, interest and penalty associated with the plate as provided by law.

(f)Penalty. Delinquent registration penalty begins to apply in two months plus one day following assignment of ownership accruing at $1.00 per day, to a maximum penalty assessment of $100.00 (100 days).

(g)Vehicle operation. A vehicle purchased with the license plate having been removed may be lawfully operated on the streets and roadways without number plates for a maximum of fifteen (15) days from the date of acquisition or purchase if a dated notarized bill of sale is carried, for possible presentation to law enforcement, in the vehicle during the fifteen (15) days. Vehicles purchased from a licensed motor vehicle or used motor vehicle dealer may be operated for two months from the date of acquisition pursuant to issuance of a temporary license tag by the licensed dealer. See OAC 670:20-17-7. Persons who purchase vehicles from someone other than licensed Oklahoma new or used motor vehicle dealers which are subject to a lien may obtain a 30-day temporary license plate from a licensed operator.

(h)Vehicle transferring from deceased spouse. A surviving spouse, desiring to operate a vehicle devolving from a deceased spouse, shall present an application for certificate of title to Service Oklahoma or licensed operator in his or her name within thirty (30) days of obtaining ownership. Service Oklahoma or licensed operator shall then transfer the license plate to the surviving spouse.

(i)Repossessed vehicles. When a lender or lender's agent repossesses a vehicle for which a license plate has not been removed, the lender or lender's agent is not required to remove and return the plate to Service Oklahoma or a licensed operator.

Okla. Admin. Code § 670:20-13-17

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 23, August 15, 2024, eff. 8/25/2024