A. Whenever the title or interest of an owner in or to a registered vehicle shall pass to another by operation of law, as upon inheritance, bequest, order in bankruptcy or insolvency, execution sale, repossession upon default in performance in the terms of a lease or executory sales contract, or otherwise than by voluntary transfer, the transferee shall be subject to the provisions of this section.
B. Notice of transfer by operation of law shall be signed by the executor, administrator, receiver, trustee, sheriff or other representative or successor in interest of the owner of the vehicle. The registration certificate and plate shall be delivered to the registered owner upon such notification or shall be removed by the transferee upon repossession, and submitted to the division for cancellation.
C. The transferee, except as provided in Subsection D of this section, shall secure a transfer of registration to himself and a new certificate of title upon proper application and upon presentation of the last certificate of title, if available, and such instruments or documents of authority, or certified copies thereof, as may be sufficient or required by law to evidence or effect a transfer of title or interest in or to chattels in such case.
D. When the transferee does not operate or permit the operation of such vehicle upon the highways, or when the transferee operates such vehicle only for the purposes of immediate delivery, demonstration or resale to another person, the transferee shall display upon such vehicle a temporary permit issued to such vehicle by the division. The transferee shall not be required to secure a transfer of registration or a new certificate of title, but upon his transfer of title or interest to another person, he shall execute an assignment and warranty of title upon the certificate of title previously issued, if available, and deliver the same, along with the documents of authority or certified copies thereof as may be sufficient or required by law to evidence the rights of such person, to the person to whom such transfer is made.
History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-105, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 52.
ANNOTATIONSCross references. — For temporary permits, see 66-3-6 NMSA 1978.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — Gift of motor vehicle as affected by failure to comply with regulatory statute upon sale or transfer of motor vehicle, 100 A.L.R.2d 1219.
Law reviews. — For article, "Attachment in New Mexico - Part II," see 2 Nat. Resources J. 75 (1962).