New Mexico License Plate Lookup

License plate searches provide a wealth of information for individuals looking to do their due diligence on a vehicle. These searches provide information on whether the vehicle has experienced previous damage, specifications, and more. That is provided the vehicle has been registered within the state, though lookups can be performed on vehicles of other states as well. In New Mexico, vehicle records can be accessed by visiting a Motor Vehicle Division branch or website.

Government-based lookups only offer a small part of the vehicle information available through GoodCar. The platform combines information from reputable public and private databases to provide a comprehensive report. Vehicle records on the site may be accessed by License Plate or VIN searches.

New Mexico license plate searches are conducted for the requester's peace of mind because they verify or disprove a seller's claims. Sometimes, unscrupulous sellers try to falsely advertise a vehicle by claiming features or lack of damage when that is not true. Rather than spending money getting a mechanic to assess these assertions, GoodCar provides reports on all pertinent areas. The title brands section lets you see if the vehicle previously experienced flood, hail, fire damage, collisions, or junk classification.

Vehicle specifications show engine, transmission types, exterior, interior, and safety features. Interested parties may determine if the features available on the report are what is represented upon a visual of the vehicle. License plate searches also provide pricing information. Requesters can check these against the seller’s proposal to ensure they are not being exploited. Vehicle records also offer titling checks to registration and odometer records.

New Mexico’s license checks provide all parties with a comprehensive publicly available report. Driving records and registration information are typically available from the Motor Vehicle Division branch, though GoodCar offers an extensive presentation on other segments. These reports are sourced from various databases. GoodCar is also an accredited NMVTIS data provider.

New Mexico first began issuing license plates to its residents in 1912. The first plates had a greyish-white background, black serials, and the NM state abbreviation. Later, in the early 1930s, the plates became green and then yellow. Serials were white or red, respectively. The state name was illustrated at the bottom.

Until the late 1930s, most states accepted license plates from other jurisdictions. New Mexico required that their visitors purchase license plates after 60 days, but in 1932, the grace period was extended to six months. More details were added to the plates going into the 1950s. They had embossed red serials with the Zia sun symbol on a white background. The state name was at the bottom. The plate color changed to yellow in the 1980s before finally settling at light blue.

A hundred years after the initial New Mexico plates were issued, the Motor Vehicle Division rolled out the turquoise Centennial plate. One misconception that many have is this is a retro design following some of the state’s earlier license plates. The only time that New Mexico plates were slightly blue was in 1937. New Mexico did retain the Zia sun symbol on its current plates.

NM License Plate Renewal

Vehicle owners in New Mexico typically get a registration renewal notice 65 days before it is due. There are three ways to renew a vehicle registration. The first is to take your registration information to the Motor Vehicle Division field office and provide payment for a one—or two-year renewal. The registration renewal may also be done via mail via the MVD, which entails a check for either a one- or two-year renewal period.

Checks made are payable to the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division Registration Renewal Section. It is not advisable to send cash or credit card information. Thirdly, requesters may use the online approach. You can also get a discount on the registration renewal fees by renewing online. Provide the control number, license plate information, and VIN. You may pay registration renewal via Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. This approach will give you a 5% discount on the base registration fee.

However, because of current contractual obligations with the credit card vendor, the MVD has to charge a fee of $1.55 if under $275 and $1.99 if it is over. The total net discount may be less than 5%, depending on the cost of the vehicle registration renewal.

1. Can I Look Up NM License Plates for Free?

   You can search for a New Mexico license plate for free, but only to view basic vehicle specifications. Interested parties can pay as little as $2.95 to access the full report.

2. Can I Use New Mexico License Plate Lookup Services To Find Out About a Vehicle's Accident History?

   You can use the New Mexico license plate lookup to discover a vehicle’s accident history. Under the title brands section on the platform, you can view collision records, rebuilding, reconstruction, or whether the vehicle has previously been recalled. You can also determine if the vehicle was used as a taxi.

3. How Do I Register a Vanity License Plate in New Mexico?

   Motor vehicle owners can register for a vanity license plate by visiting the MVD branches, using the online platform, and clicking on the Personalized Plate application. The fee is initially $17 and upon each regular registration renewal.