New Jersey VIN Lookup

Buying a used vehicle, either from any of the 586 used car dealerships in New Jersey or private sellers, is often an uneasy, anxious experience for shoppers. Typically, the process involves a lot of paperwork, and in many cases, sellers are not likely to reveal some information to prospective buyers. This can make the entire process a harrowing experience. Considering the average cost of pre-owned vehicles in New Jersey, which is approximately $33,900, conducting a VIN lookup before purchasing a used vehicle in the state is recommended.

While New Jersey has a lemon law that protects people who purchase used cars, the law does not cover certain vehicles in the state. These include vehicles that insurance companies have declared a total loss, cars sold for less than $3,000, vehicles that are not bought from a dealership, and those with over 100,000 miles odometer readings. Vehicles more than 7 model years old are also not covered by the state’s lemon law. As a result, used vehicle shoppers must protect themselves by performing VIN lookups before buying pre-owned cars.

Generally, VIN checks should never be overlooked when purchasing used vehicles as they primarily summarize used vehicles’ history. Typically, conducting a VIN lookup reveals a vehicle specification, maintenance history, accident history, outstanding safety recall, and other important information.

Why Performing a New Jersey VIN Check Is Important

The importance of conducting VIN checks in New Jersey cannot be overemphasized. A typical VIN lookup discloses a vehicle’s complete history, thereby allowing used vehicle shoppers to uncover certain details or issues that dealers may not reveal at the time of purchasing pre-owned vehicles. The last thing anyone wants is to purchase a defective vehicle or a used car with undisclosed issues. This highlights the importance of performing VIN lookups.

The following are some of the importance of conducting a New Jersey VIN check, especially when purchasing a used vehicle:

• Determining a Vehicle’s Actual Mileage - With the spate of odometer fraud across the United States, it is essential to perform a VIN check on a preowned vehicle in New Jersey before making any payment. Knowing a car’s actual mileage can save you from purchasing a used vehicle from a private seller or dealership that engages in rolling back vehicles’ mileage to rip off used car shoppers.
• Checking if a Vehicle Has Been Reported Stolen - Performing a VIN lookup can help you determine if your potential new car has ever been reported stolen. At 190.7 vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents, New Jersey ranks as one of the states with the lowest auto theft rate. However, it is imperative to ascertain that you are not purchasing a stolen vehicle by conducting a VIN check. Otherwise, you risk legal issues and financial loss.
• Determining the Status of a Vehicle’s Registration and Title - A VIN check can reveal a vehicle’s full history, including registration and title details, which may prevent you from purchasing a used car that is not duly registered. Operating a vehicle not duly registered in the state is a violation of Section 39:3-4 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes, which mandates the registration of motor vehicles. Similarly, a VIN lookup will reveal a vehicle’s title history and help you determine its brand (rebuilt, salvaged, or flooded).
• Determining Outstanding Safety Recalls and Defects - With a VIN check, you can find out if there are manufacturer’s safety recalls on any vehicle that has not been resolved. This can save you from the risk of purchasing and driving an unsafe vehicle.

How To Perform a New Jersey VIN Check

Depending on the information being sought, the following agencies offer VIN check resources to help anyone conduct a New Jersey VIN lookup:

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC):

Although the NJMVC does not offer an online VIN lookup tool, it provides resources to check vehicle registration records and title status. You will generally need a vehicle’s VIN and/or driver’s license/ID number to perform these checks.

The NICB VINCheck:

The NICB VINCheck allows users to perform a VIN lookup to determine if a vehicle has ever been reported stolen or declared salvaged. Enter the full VIN in the designated field and click the “Search VIN” button.

The NHTSA VIN Decoder:

The NHTSA VIN Decoder can be used to retrieve specific information encoded in a vehicle's VIN, such as its manufacturing plant. The decoder also provides details about safety features and systems in the vehicle.

Free vs. Paid VIN Check Services in New Jersey

While free VIN check services may reveal basic details about New Jersey-registered vehicles, they will not provide deep insights into a car’s history. In other words, they can only give a limited picture of a vehicle’s past. Only with paid VIN lookup services offered by reliable third-party sites like GoodCar, CarFax, AutoCheck, and Carmat, will anyone be able to retrieve comprehensive vehicle history. These services are generally offered for small and affordable fees.

Typically, a vehicle history report obtained using premium services on paid VIN check services in New Jersey will include the following information:

• Title history/records and brands
• Ownership history
• Vehicle specification
• Sales history
• Market value
• Accident reports/history, including the extent of damage and repairs
• Outstanding safety recalls
• Odometer readings
• Salvage/junk records
• Theft reports
• Maintenance history
• Safety ratings, and much more!

What Used Car Scams Are Common in New Jersey?

One of the major risks of purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is the fear of falling victim to used car scams. Many used car dealerships engage in shady practices to rip off potential vehicle buyers and maximize profit.

In recent news, a New Jersey used car dealership, Auto Emporium, in Hudson County, was accused of selling pre-owned vehicles without titles. One of the victims of this scam who purchased a used 2016 BMW after finding it for sale online, Erika Hester, claims the dealership never produced its title. As a result, she filed a lawsuit against Auto Emporium, claiming she lost $8,000 and could not register or drive the vehicle.

When looking to purchase a used vehicle in New Jersey, it would help to be cautious of falling victim to the following prevalent used car scams in the state:

Escrow Services Scam:

In this scam scheme, the scammer will be introduced and pose as an escrow service provider between the buyer and seller and claim to hold payment until the buyer and seller are satisfied. The scammer will then vanish with the money once payment is made.

Title Washing:

This primarily involves manipulating a vehicle’s title to conceal its damage history, which may include flood damage or accident records.

Curbstoning:

This is a used car scam in which fraudulent car dealers pose as private sellers in a bid to get around industry regulations to sell defective vehicles to unsuspecting car shoppers.

VIN Cloning:

This is what happens when a scammer removes the VIN of a vehicle (usually that of a stolen or damaged car) replaces it with the VIN from another legally registered vehicle and sells it to an unsuspecting purchaser.

Odometer Fraud:

This involves rolling back a vehicle’s odometer readings (thereby giving it a false mileage to hide wear and tear) and selling it to a used car shopper to maximize profit.

Fake Online Listings:

This involves creating fake listings of used cars on popular sites, luring unsuspecting shoppers with extremely low prices, and asking them for full payment or deposit upfront. The scammers would promise to deliver the vehicles to the buyers’ locations but they never arrive.

When a used car deal in New Jersey looks too good to be true, it is probably a scam, and you should be cautious not to fall victim. Generally, conducting your due diligence and research through a VIN check on reputable sites like GoodCar can help you avoid used car scams.

After obtaining the vehicle’s comprehensive history report, get a certified mechanic to help you inspect the vehicle for signs of flood damage or structural damage. In addition, check the paperwork to ascertain that the VIN and other vital details on a vehicle’s documents match those on the vehicle before making payment.

How Do I Check the Status of My Vehicle's Title in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, you can check the status of a vehicle’s title by conducting a certified title search. This can be done in the following ways:

• Mail Request - To request a certified title search by mail, follow these steps:

  • Complete the Title/Lien Search Request Form (DO-22) and provide your VIN and driver’s license number.
  • Prepare a copy of your driver’s license.
  • Attach a money order or check for $15, payable to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC).
  • Submit the completed Form DO-22 and other required documents to the NJMVC at:

  New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
  Certified Information Unit
  225 East State Street
  P.O. Box 146
  Trenton, NJ 08666-014

• Online Request - Visit the NJMVC Online Driver Record Request Service, provide the required information, including your driver’s license number/ID number, and follow the screen prompts. This service allows you to request a certified copy of your vehicle’s title and verify its status.

In addition to verifying the status of a vehicle in New Jersey, conducting a certified title search can help ensure the accuracy of lienholder information. If you are purchasing a used vehicle, a title search can help confirm the car’s ownership and uncover any issues that may affect ownership transfer.

How To Register a Brand New Car in New Jersey

Anyone who purchases a car in New Jersey is required to register it with the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) through a motor vehicle agency. Generally, the registrations and title work of new vehicles purchased from dealerships in New Jersey are handled by the dealerships.

The following steps are typically required to register a new vehicle in New Jersey:

• Gather all the required documents and have all the necessary information handy.
• Locate a New Jersey motor vehicle agency and schedule an appointment: Walk-ins are no longer allowed.
• Determine the appropriate costs: Including tax, title, and registrations, which generally depend on the class and weight of the vehicle being registered. The NJMVC accepts cash, checks, credit cards, and money orders for payments.
• Take all the required documents to the motor vehicle agency on the appointed date.
• Complete a Vehicle Registration Application Form (Form BA-49): Ensure to provide accurate details to avoid the cancellation of the registration process.
• Submit the completed application form and all other required documents and then pay the relevant fees.
• The MVC will process the application and assign the vehicle registration documents.

What Are the Requirements for Registering a New Car in New Jersey?

New Jersey currently has approximately 7.3 million registered vehicles on its roads. These include vehicles running on various fuel types, like diesel, gasoline, biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), and Ethanol/Flex (E85). Others are Electric vehicles (EVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV), and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV).

Regardless of the fuel type, the following are the major requirements for registering and titling a new vehicle in New Jersey:

• Original bill of sale
• Completed Vehicle Registration Application Form (BA-49)
• Valid driver’s license or ID
• Entity Identification Number (EIN) (for vehicle being registered under a business name)
• Financing statement and lienholder information (if the vehicle is financed or leased)
• Power of attorney (if a person other than the vehicle buyer is signing the documents)
• New Jersey insurance card or insurance policy number
• Completed, original, Universal Title Application Form (Form OS/SS-UTA)
• Completed, original, Buyer’s Declaration Form (Form OS/SS-150)
• Payment:
  • Registration fee - Depends on the type of vehicle. Generally, new vehicles receive a four-year registration
  • Titling fee - $60 standard, $85 for financed vehicles with one lien, and $110 for financed vehicles with two liens
  • Sales tax fee - Contact the New Jersey Division of Taxation at (609) 984-6206 for assistance in calculating tax
  • Some new vehicles may be subject to the state’s Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Surcharge. In this case, a payment of an extra 0.4% of the vehicle’s gross sales/lease price.

New Jersey vehicle registrations are renewed annually, and the NJMVC typically mails a registration renewal notice to vehicle owners three months before their current registration expires.

A New Jersey vehicle registration can be renewed in any of the following ways:

• Online Renewal - Open the NJMVC Registration Renewal Portal and follow the screen prompts. You need your valid insurance company ID, insurance policy number, registration renewal form, and a valid credit card (for payment) to initiate the process. Once the process is concluded, your vehicle’s registration renewal becomes effective immediately.
• Renewal By Mail - Complete the Registration Renewal Notice and mail it to the NJMVC alongside payment for the amount due (usually stipulated in the renewal notice) in a return envelope received along with the notice.
• In-Person Renewal - Make an appointment with any New Jersey motor vehicle agency location and submit/present the following in person on the assigned date:
  • License plate number
  • Insurance card or policy number
  • Proof of ID (driver’s license or any other valid primary ID document)
  • Completed Form BA-49
  • Vehicle identification number (VIN) or Registration Renewal Notice
  • Payment of the amount due specified in the renewal notice

Does New Jersey Mandate Vehicle Inspection?

While some vehicles are exempt from inspection in New Jersey, most non-commercial motor vehicles in the state require inspection once every two years. On the other hand, new vehicles need a five-year inspection. Requirements for vehicle inspection in New Jersey include vehicle registration, driver’s license, and proof of insurance.

Generally, diesel vehicles and gas vehicles model 1996 or newer that weigh less than 8,500 pounds are subjected to emissions tests in New Jersey. Inspection due dates are typically written on the inspection sticker on a vehicle’s windshield. Vehicle owners may choose to have their motor vehicles inspected at any inspection facility up to two months before the expiration date.

How Do I Get a Replacement VIN in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, you may seek a replacement VIN for reasons such as missing or damaged VIN plates. Similarly, a vehicle rebuilt from salvage or any homemade motor vehicle requires a replacement VIN. To replace a lost VIN in New Jersey, you may contact the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission.

Does New Jersey Require a VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles?

Yes. When an out-of-state vehicle is moved to New Jersey, it is important to subject it to a VIN inspection. This check is required to ensure that the VIN on the motor vehicle is the same as the one on the vehicle title before it can be registered in the state.