§ 47:519 — Temporary registration plates issued by dealers

§519. Temporary registration plates issued by dealers
A. Issuance by commissioner to dealer. The commissioner may, subject to the
limitations and conditions hereinafter set forth, deliver temporary registration plates designed
by the commissioner, or paper or card stock approved by the commissioner for print on
demand temporary registration plates to a licensed automobile, trailer, truck, motorcycle, or
other motor driven cycle, or motorized camper dealer who applies for same and who
enclosed with such application a fee of twenty dollars per plate or piece of approved paper
or card stock for which application is made by a licensed dealer. Such application shall be
made upon a form prescribed and furnished or on a website approved by the commissioner.
Dealers subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in this Section may issue such
temporary registration plates to owners of vehicles, except apportioned trucks, provided that
such owners shall comply with the pertinent provisions of this Section.
B. Dealer's records. Every dealer who has made application for temporary
registration plates or paper or card stock approved by the commissioner for print on demand
temporary registration plates shall maintain in permanent form a record of all temporary
registration plates delivered to and issued by him, and in addition thereto, shall maintain in
permanent form a record of any other information pertaining to the receipt or the issuance
of temporary registration plates that the commissioner may require. Each record shall be
kept for a period of at least three years from the date of entry of such record. Every dealer
shall allow full and free access to such records during regular business hours, to duly
authorized representatives of the commissioner and to peace officers.
C. Copy of application sent to commissioner. Every dealer who issues temporary
registration plates or print on demand temporary registration plates on paper or card stock
approved by the commissioner shall, on the day that he issues such plates, send electronically
to the commissioner the information including but not limited to the model, model year,
make, vehicle identification number, issue date, dealer or lending institution name and
address, and the city for each temporary registration plate prior to the dealer's issuing the
temporary registration plate to the purchaser of the vehicle.
D. Permitted use. Dealers may issue temporary registration plates or print on
demand temporary registration plates on paper card or card stock approved by the
commissioner to persons who purchase motor vehicles from dealers. All other uses of
temporary registration plates are prohibited.
E. Information to be inserted by dealer. Every dealer who issues temporary plates
shall insert clearly and indelibly on the face of each temporary registration plate the date of
issuance and expiration, and the make and serial number of the vehicle for which issued.
Every dealer who issues print on demand temporary registration plates on paper or card stock
approved by the commissioner shall print on the face of each temporary registration plate the
date of issuance, the date of expiration, and the make and serial number of the vehicle for
which issued.
F. Suspension of right of dealer to issue. If the commissioner finds that the
provisions of this Section or his directions are not being complied with by the dealer, he may
issue a cease and desist order to the dealer directing the dealer to stop issuing temporary
registration plates and to surrender all unissued temporary registration plates remaining in
the dealer's possession. Thereafter, a dealer who maintains a valid dealers license may
request and the commissioner may issue a temporary registration plate on a transactional
basis provided the dealer provides copies of all documents executed by the prospective
purchaser of the vehicle. The cease and desist order shall remain in effect until the
commissioner is satisfied that the dealer will comply with the law at the commissioner's
directions, or the dealer no longer possesses a license. The commissioner shall notify the
applicable licensing commission when issuing a cease and desist order as provided for in this
Section.
G. Destruction upon receiving annual plates. Every person to whom temporary
registration plates have been issued shall permanently destroy such temporary registration
plates immediately upon receiving the annual registration plates; however, if the annual
registration plates are not received within sixty days of the issuance of the temporary
registration plates and no extension has been granted, the owner shall, notwithstanding,
immediately upon the expiration of such sixty-day period, permanently destroy the temporary
registration plates.
H. Expiration of plates. Temporary registration plates shall expire and become void
upon the receipt of the annual registration plates or upon the expiration of sixty days from
the date of issuance, depending on whichever event shall first occur. However, if a title
transfer is defective or delayed, the purchaser of a new or used motor vehicle which has been
issued a temporary registration plate may apply to the dealer for and receive one additional
sixty-day extension following the expiration of the original temporary registration plate, as
approved by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles.
Special temporary registration plates issued under the provisions of Subsection L of this
Section shall expire as provided in that Subsection. No refund or credit for fees paid by
dealers to the commissioners for temporary registration plates shall be allowed, except in the
event the issuance of temporary registration plates or markers is discontinued, in which case
the dealer may petition for a refund.
I. Rules and regulations. The commissioner of motor vehicles shall have the power
to make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent herewith, as he shall deem necessary for
the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section.
J. Penalty. Any person violating the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisonment for not
more than one year, or both. No penalty shall be imposed on any person who violates the
provisions of Subsections G and H of this Section by failing to dispose of a temporary
registration plate and retaining such temporary registration plate after the expiration of sixty
days from issuance thereof if the permanent registration plate has been applied for as
required by law but has not yet been received by the owner.
K. Fees. The fees prescribed herein shall be retained by the commissioner to defray
the cost of printing, processing, and issuing the temporary registration plates.
L. Special temporary plates. The commissioner shall issue special temporary
registration plates to truck dealers. The special temporary registration plates shall be the
same as, and shall be subject to the same requirements as, the other temporary registration
plates issued under this Section, except that:
(1) The special temporary registration plates shall be used only on trucks with a gross
vehicle weight rating of ten thousand pounds or more.
(2) Each special temporary registration plate shall be valid for sixty days from the
date the special temporary registration plate or marker is issued.
M. The commissioner may establish rules to phase out preprinted temporary
registration plates and require all persons or entities authorized to issue temporary
registration plates to issue only those print on demand temporary plates on paper or card
stock approved by the commissioner.
N. The commissioner shall ensure that the number printed on temporary registration
license plates is the same as the number printed on the permanent plate issued by the
department.
O. In lieu of issuing a temporary registration plate, the commissioner may allow a
special or personalized plate to be transferred to the customer's new vehicle from the
customer's old vehicle. In such event, the commissioner shall provide the manner in which
the transfer is electronically reported as provided for in Subsection C of this Section.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1960, No. 319, §1. Amended by Acts 1968, No. 100, §1; Acts 1969, No. 118, §1; Acts 1970, No. 97, §1; Acts 1970, No. 380, §1; Acts 1977, No. 417, §1, eff. July 1, 1977; Acts 1978, No. 493, §1; Acts 1979, No. 95, §1. Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 33, §4, eff. Jan. 19, 1983; Acts 1983, No. 225, §1; Acts 1986, No. 175, §1; Acts 1986, No. 791, §1; Acts 1991, No. 547, §1, eff. July 15, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 631, §1, eff. July 2, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 440, §1; Acts 1997, No. 787, §1; Acts 1999, No. 228, §1, eff. June 11, 1999; Acts 2012, No. 94, §1; Acts 2025, No. 509, §1, eff. July 1, 2025.