New Brunswick handbook · chapter 2 · 5 min read

Registration of Vehicles

Part 2: Registration of vehicles

2.1 Certificate of Registration

The owner of every motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer, who intends to operate that vehicle upon any highway in New Brunswick, must obtain registration for that vehicle by applying to Service New Brunswick. The registration certificate or a photocopy must be carried by the driver while operating the vehicle.

2.2 Licence plates are property of the Crown

Licence plates are the property of the Crown and must be surrendered upon demand. Found plates should be delivered to Service New Brunswick or forwarded to Motor Vehicle Branch, P. O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1

2.3 Plates must be legible

Licence plates must be securely fastened to the vehicle in such a position and condition as to be clearly legible. The rear plate must be lighted at night.

2.4 Owner responsible for plates

You are responsible for the custody of licence plates or validation stickers issued to you for the current year and must immediately notify Service New Brunswick when they are no longer in your possession. There is a nominal fee for replacing lost plates and stickers.

2.5 Transfer of plates

Licence plates are assigned to a vehicle and cannot be transferred to another. Exceptions are made for the owners of personalized, conservation, and specialty plates (i.e. : fire-fighter, amateur radio and veteran’s plates).

2.6 Offence to alter numbers

It is an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act to alter or deface any of the identify- ing serial/vehicle identification numbers of a motor vehicle. Changes in chassis or body of a motor vehicle must be recorded with the Motor Vehicle Branch.

2.7 Non-Residents

A passenger vehicle owned by a visitor may be operated for personal, non-busi- ness purposes for a period of six months in New Brunswick without being registered in the province. This six month period is determined from the date on which the passenger motor vehicle was first operated in New Brunswick in any registration year.

A person who becomes a resident of New Brunswick must register their vehicle with Service New Brunswick immediately.

2.8 Transfer of ownership

Transfer of ownership is by process of law. The signature of the registered owner is required on the certificate of registration. The purchaser’s name, address and date of birth are required on the transfer document. The registration certificate is required to be surrendered and transferred to the purchaser’s name at any issuing office. The collection of sales tax and motor vehicle fees are required at time of transfer. The vehicle cannot be driven or permitted to be driven until the registration certificate is recorded in the new purchaser’s name.

2.9 Transit Markers

This is a temporary permit to move an unregistered vehicle from one place to another and is valid for 24 hours. This permit is also issued to move a vehicle, on which the inspection sticker has expired, to an inspection station. Proof of insurance is required to obtain a transit marker.

2.10 Expiry dates

• Type of vehicle Expiry date

Passenger vehicles and light Staggered expiry dates – these registrations commercial vehicles expire on various days

Large commercial vehicles Registrations expire on the last day of the month

Commercial prorate plates Staggered expiry dates – expire on the last day of the month

All-terrain vehicles December 31st of any year

All other registrations March 31st of any year

2.11 Persons with disabilities rise To Face Windshield / Côté pare-b Placards must be hung on the rear-view mirror when the vehicle is parked in a designated space. It is important to remember to remove the placard before driving.

The person, for whom the placard was issued, must be getting in or out of the vehicle, at that stop, or the reserved parking space may not be used. An application form must be completed for the person with a disability to receive a placard. Applicants are required to present a form completed by a medical professional before a placard can be issued. Expires/ Expire J F M A M J J A S O N D Parking

• Stationnement DP60001 A placard is valid for a period of up to five years. A permit is Expiry Year/Anneé d'expiration 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 provided to the disabled person when the placard is issued. This permit must be carried by the placard holder. Placards and permits must be surrendered when no longer needed. Placards are issued only for the use of the designated person and may not be loaned to anyone else, for any reason.

Drivers who do not hold placards must respect the proper use of the designat- ed parking spaces. A person who parks in a designated parking space without displaying a valid placard can be charged under the Motor Vehicle Act, and may be subject to a fine and a loss of points.

2.12 Cancellation of Registration

The Registrar of Motor Vehicles may cancel any registration whenever it is deemed necessary.

Motor vehicle registration may be revoked or suspended:

• When the branch determines that the vehicle is unsafe or unfit to be operated or is not equipped as required by law.
• When the vehicle is used for any unlawful purpose or when the owner permits it to be used by a person not entitled to use it.

2.13 Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection

Your vehicle must be inspected to make sure it meets safety standards. Inspections must be done at an official inspection station by an authorized inspection mechanic.

Any police officer, or government inspector, can inspect your vehicle at any time. If your vehicle is found to be dangerous, the inspector can order it off the road until the problem is fixed. In more serious situations, you may be charged with failing to meet the requirements outlined in the Motor Vehicle Act.

Just because your vehicle passes inspection does NOT mean that it will con- tinue to work safely. You still need to check your vehicle and maintain it in safe working condition.

An out-of-province vehicle being registered in New Brunswick is granted a period of 14 days to obtain an inspection. There is a reciprocal agreement with Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island whereby an inspection from either province will be honoured until the expiry indicated on the inspection certificate.

The owner or operator of a “rejected vehicle” has 14 days from the date of rejec- tion to have defects corrected and the vehicle re-inspected. However, this does not permit the operation of an unsafe vehicle during this time.