It is our understanding that you would receive a fine for driving without registration in New Jersey and the car could also be impounded.
As noted in New Jersey Statute 39:3-4, every resident of this State and every nonresident whose automobile or motorcycle shall be driven in this State shall, before using such vehicle on the public highways, register the same, and no automobile or motorcycle shall be driven unless so registered.
Later in this NJ Statute it states that no person owning or having control over any unregistered vehicle shall permit the same to be parked or to stand on a public highway.
Any police officer is authorized to remove any unregistered vehicle from the public highway to a storage space or garage, and the expense involved in such removal and storing of the vehicle shall be borne by the owner of the vehicle, except that the expense shall be borne by the lessee of a leased vehicle.
[Let CarInsurance.com help you find affordable auto insurance now.] The end of the statute notes that any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $100. So it appears that a fine should be what your penalty will turn out to be for your unregistered car. There of course may be court costs, fees, surcharges, etc added on by the court or state that makes the ticket higher than $100.
If you however are a new resident and fail to register your vehicle in NJ within the 60 days allotted than you may receive a higher fine. NJ Statute 39:3-17 notes in subsection c that any person who does not register their vehicle within 60 days of becoming a NJ resident is subject to a fine of not more than $250 for a first offense and not more than $500 for a second or subsequent offense.
Subsection d goes on to say that any person who violates this part of NJ law for a third or subsequent time shall have the vehicle impounded by the law enforcing agency for not less than 96 hours. The vehicle shall only be released to the registered owner upon proof of registration and insurance and payment of all reasonable towing and storage fees.
If the owner of an impounded vehicle fails to claim the impounded vehicle by midnight of the 30th day following the day on which the vehicle was impounded, that vehicle may be sold at auction. Notice of the sale shall be given by the impounding entity by certified mail to the owner of the vehicle, if the owner's name and address are known, and to the lien holder, if the lien holder's name and address are known, and by publication in a form prescribed by the chief administrator by one insertion, at least five days before the date of the sale, in one or more newspapers published in this State and circulating in the municipality in which the vehicle is impounded.
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If you were ticketed for having an unregistered vehicle in New Jersey you should contact the court listed on the citation to find out more about the consequences you will face in court. You can also contact the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to find out how to register your car so you will not be ticketed again for this violation of NJ law.
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