Registering an expired out of state car in NJ (car insurance, inspection)

[sparkletoad]

My cars registration has recently expired as of yesterday (April 1st), and I'm planning on it getting registered in Jersey asap. I've put off registering it for quite a while, I don't know if that's a factor. I've got a NJ license and have had it for a year now, and I'm still covered by my parents car insurance in my previous state. I also don't know if that's a negative factor. Could anyone help me out with this? I'm paranoid I may get in trouble or fined. I've been told the cost should be around 70 to register a vehicle here. Thank you for your help.

[nybbler]

If you get caught driving the unregistered car you can be fined. It can also be towed if you park it in a public place. But you won't get a fine for registering it.

[captne76]

As long as it's parked off the street no problem. You need the title for the car to register it. And I think the insurance has to be in the name of whomever the car is registered in. Oh and all the NJ MVC agencies are closed on Good Friday too.

I would not ever drive it unregistered. It would be towed and you would be paying daily storage fees until all the paperwork is done and the cops release it.
I think they are open Saturday until 12 noon.

[sparkletoad]

This is probably a stupid question, but how long does the registration take? Will I have to wait several months, or do I get it immediately? This is my first time registering a car on my own.

[captne76]

Registration is immediate, meaning like within 15 minutes or so it takes, often less. They give you the plates and registration handed to you while you're standing there at the counter.

The title if it's from out of state often gets mailed to you later but you don't need that to drive.

In NJ they give you a pink card you put on your dashboard which gives you 14 days to go to inspection. Inspection only checks the emissions so usually if your check engine light is not on you should pass. They just hook up their computer/scanner to the plug under your dashboard for that. if the car is new or newer you get a 5 year sticker but otherwise it costs nothing to go to the state run inspection stations.

[captne76]

Oh one word, don't mess up the title by erasing or crossing anything out. That will mess up the whole process and you would have to go back to whichever state its from and get a new duplicate title.