§ 29-A §954-A — Temporary registration plates (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 29-A, SECTION 462)

1.
Temporary plate attachment.
Except a transporter licensee or loaner licensee, a person licensed as a dealer may, on the sale or exchange of a motor vehicle or trailer, attach to its rear a temporary registration plate. For the purposes of this subsection, "loaner licensee" means a person to whom the Secretary of State has granted permission to use loaner plates on vehicles owned by that person for the purpose of loaning those vehicles to customers whose vehicles are being repaired at the licensee's business location.
1-A.
Electronic temporary registration plate program.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Secretary of State may use, but may not require the use of, an electronic temporary registration plate program. If the Secretary of State uses an electronic temporary registration plate program under this subsection, the Secretary of State may adopt rules to implement and administer the program. Rules adopted under this subsection must include, but are not limited to, rules governing the process by which a dealer elects to participate in or stop participating in the electronic temporary registration plate program. Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
2.
(TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1/01/26) Payment of fee for temporary registration plate.
The fee for a temporary registration plate is $1 per plate. A purchaser may operate the motor vehicle or trailer with a temporary registration plate for a period of 30 consecutive days without payment of a regular fee. At the end of this initial period, a resident who is unable to comply with the requirements of chapter 7 or a nonresident who has applied for but has not yet received a registration certificate from a home state may request the Secretary of State to extend this period without charge for an additional 20 days.
2.
(TEXT EFFECTIVE 1/01/26) Payment of fee for temporary registration plate.
The fee for a temporary registration plate is $2.00 per plate, $1.00 of which must be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Services Fund established under section 159 to establish and maintain an electronic temporary registration plate program. A purchaser may operate the motor vehicle or trailer with a temporary registration plate for a period of 30 consecutive days without payment of a regular fee. At the end of this initial period, a resident who is unable to comply with the requirements of chapter 7 or a nonresident who has applied for but has not yet received a registration certificate from a home state may request the Secretary of State to extend this period without charge for an additional 20 days.
3.
Trucks.
A temporary registration plate may not be used on a loaded truck without a written permit from the Secretary of State.
4.
Mobile homes.
A temporary registration plate may not be used on a house trailer or mobile home unless the operator of the vehicle possesses the written certificate from the tax collector required by section 1002, subsection 9.
5.
Motorcycle.
A temporary registration plate for a motorcycle must be the same size as the regular motorcycle plate.
6.
Notice of date of expiration.
A person attaching a temporary registration plate to a vehicle sold or exchanged by that person, shall mark on the plate the date of expiration and immediately notify the Secretary of State of the sale or exchange, giving the name and address of the purchaser, the number of the temporary plate and other information as the Secretary of State may require. The date may not be less than one inch in height and must be written with indelible or waterproof ink.
7.
Temporary registration certificate.
When a temporary registration plate is attached to a vehicle, the Secretary of State must furnish the purchaser a certificate of temporary registration.
8.
Trailer transit plate.
9.
Unavailability.
The Secretary of State, if unable to furnish immediately a plate or marker, may issue a temporary certificate with temporary plates. The certificate must be carried and plates displayed in the same manner as regular certificates and plates.
10.
Prohibition.
A person issued temporary registration plates may not:
11.
Records.
A person issued temporary registration plates by the Secretary of State shall maintain a written record on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State of the use or disposal of every plate. The record must be available for inspection by the Secretary of State at the person's place of business and must be submitted annually upon application for renewal of a dealer license. A person who violates this subsection commits a traffic infraction.

Legislative History

PL 1993, c. 663, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 149, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 132, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §§4, 5 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 397, §§6, 7 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 126, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 257, §7 (RAL). PL 2025, c. 119, §§7, 8 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 119, §9 (AFF).