A. It is unlawful for a person to sell or otherwise convey ownership of a salvage or nonrepairable vehicle unless the certificate of title or ownership is branded or a comparable title, certificate or ownership document has been issued by another state or jurisdiction.
B. An owner of a nonrepairable vehicle shall sell or otherwise convey that vehicle only to a licensed wrecker of vehicles or a person licensed by a jurisdiction outside of this state to process vehicles by dismantling, wrecking, shredding, crushing or selling motor vehicle parts or scrap material or otherwise disposing of motor vehicles.
C. A nonrepairable vehicle shall not be repaired, reconstructed or restored for operation on the roads or highways of this state.
D. This section does not apply to:
(1) a person whose motor vehicle has been stolen or taken without that person's consent unless, if the motor vehicle is recovered, it is a salvage or nonrepairable vehicle; or
(2) a person conveying ownership of a motor vehicle to an insurance company as a result of a total loss insurance settlement. For the purpose of this paragraph, "total loss insurance settlement" means the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle by a person to an insurance company as a result of a settlement in which the motor vehicle is determined to be salvage or nonrepairable.
History: 1978 Comp., § 66-3-10.1, enacted by Laws 1990, ch. 120, § 24; 2005, ch. 324, § 8.
ANNOTATIONSRepeal and reenactments. — Laws 2005, ch. 324, § 8, effective January 1, 2006, repealed former 66-3-10.1 NMSA 1978 as enacted by Laws 1990, ch. 120, § 24, and enacted the section set forth above.
Pursuant to 12-2A-14 NMSA 1978, it has been considered a continuation of the former section relating to salvage vehicle certificates of title.