§ 31-2-201 — Registration required; timelines

(a) Except as provided in W.S. 31-2-224 and subsection (q)
of this section, every owner, or if applicable, operator or
lessee, of a vehicle which will be operated or driven upon any
highway in Wyoming, shall be required to obtain registration at
the following times:
(i) Annually not later than the last day of the
annual registration month. Applications may be by mail;
(ii) Upon transfer of ownership of a vehicle:
(A) Within sixty (60) days if transferred and
temporary license permits issued by a licensed dealer;
(B) Within sixty (60) days if transferred by an
out-of-state dealer, regardless of when the out-of-state
temporary permit expires;
(C) Within sixty (60) days if transferred under
the provisions of W.S. 31-2-104(h). Vehicles may be operated by
the transferee during this sixty (60) day period when
accompanied by a signed bill of sale that substantially conforms
with the form provided in W.S. 31-2-104(h)(ii);
(D) Within forty-five (45) days for other
transfer. Vehicles may be operated by the transferee during this
forty-five (45) day period when accompanied by a properly
executed title for the vehicle transferring interest in the
vehicle to the transferee.
(iii) Upon becoming a resident in the case of a
previous nonresident owner;
(iv) Notwithstanding paragraph (iii) of this
subsection, immediately when the vehicle is being operated by a
person not from this state for transportation to or from, or for
the purpose of gainful employment or any trade, profession or
occupation within this state.
(A) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(B) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(C) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(b) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(c) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(d) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(e) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(f) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(g) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(h) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 16, § 4.
(j) Any nonresident owner, lessee or operator of a vehicle
that is not a commercial vehicle, who is employed in this state
on a temporary or full-time basis may choose to purchase a
temporary worker registration permit from the county treasurer
in lieu of registering the vehicle pursuant to paragraph (a)(iv)
of this section and paying the fees pursuant to W.S. 31-3-101,
provided the vehicle displays a valid registration and license
plate from another jurisdiction and is properly insured.
Application for the temporary worker registration permit shall
be made to the county treasurer in the manner and form
prescribed by the department and shall be submitted with proof
of valid insurance. The temporary worker registration permit
shall bear a distinctive number assigned to the vehicle, an
expiration date and at all times be prominently displayed and
clearly visible on the vehicle in a manner prescribed by the
department. Fees collected under this subsection shall be
deposited in the county general fund. The fee for a temporary
worker registration permit shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) per
each month of required registration, and shall not exceed one
hundred eighty (180) days per vehicle.
(k) W.S. 31-2-225 notwithstanding, upon compliance with
W.S. 39-15-107(b) and 39-16-107(b), if applicable, an owner of a
commercial vehicle that is not a Wyoming based commercial
vehicle as defined by W.S. 31-18-201(a)(vi), a nonresident owner
of a vehicle not employed in this state, or any owner upon
transfer of ownership or lease, may, as an alternative to
registration, obtain one (1) temporary registration permit in a
twelve (12) month period authorizing operation of the vehicle on
the highways of this state for a period not to exceed ninety
(90) days from the date of issuance of the temporary
registration permit. Any registration issued under this section
shall bear a distinctive number assigned to the vehicle, an
expiration date and at all times be prominently displayed and
clearly visible on the vehicle in the manner prescribed by the
department. Application for a temporary registration permit
shall be made to the county treasurer in the manner and form
prescribed by the department. A temporary registration permit
under this subsection shall be considered an initial
registration under W.S. 31-1-101(a)(xxx). The fee for the
temporary registration permit shall be an amount equal to the
following fractions of the annual registration fees for the
vehicle required under W.S. 31-3-101:
(i) Up to thirty (30) days at one-tenth (.10);
(ii) Up to sixty (60) days at two-tenths (.20);
(iii) Up to ninety (90) days at three-tenths (.30).
(m) A one time "in transit" permit may also be purchased
for a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) per vehicle, which entitles
a person who obtains a vehicle from any person, other than a
licensed Wyoming vehicle dealer, to operate the vehicle on the
highways of Wyoming without registration, only for the purpose
of removing the vehicle from the state within a period of forty-
eight (48) hours from the date of the permit. The applicant for
this permit shall be required to provide any documentation
necessary, including proof of insurance, to satisfy the county
treasurer that the applicant has the lawful right to the
vehicle. The permit shall expire forty-eight (48) hours after
issuance, or upon leaving the state. The permit shall bear a
distinctive number assigned to the vehicle, an expiration date
and shall at all times be prominently displayed and clearly
visible on the vehicle in a manner prescribed by the department.
(n) A vehicle which is not included as part of a licensed
dealer's inventory, is not currently registered in this state or
any other jurisdiction and is required to be registered if
operated on the public highways of this state may be operated
for demonstration purposes, without a load, on the public
highways of this state while displaying a demonstration permit.
The permit shall be obtained from the department, agent or any
authorized person by the department, upon application,
presentation of a valid certificate of title and payment of the
prescribed fee. The permit shall indicate the dates of
demonstration, not exceeding ninety-six (96) hours, and such
other information as the department prescribes. The department
shall prescribe the manner in which the permit shall be
displayed.
(o) A resident found to be in control of a vehicle
operated or driven upon any highway for which Wyoming vehicle
registration is required shall be rebuttably presumed to be the
actual owner of the vehicle, subject to the following:
(i) The department, in consultation with the
department of revenue, a county treasurer or a Wyoming peace
officer, is authorized to determine that a resident is in
control of a vehicle operated or driven upon any highway in
Wyoming for which Wyoming vehicle registration is required.
Factors that indicate a resident is in control of a vehicle
include, but are not limited to the following:
(A) The resident was a purchaser of the vehicle;
(B) The resident operated or stored the vehicle
in Wyoming for any period of time;
(C) The resident is a partner, member or
shareholder of the business entity that purports to be the owner
of the vehicle;
(D) The resident is insured to drive the
vehicle.
(ii) Upon a determination that a resident is in
control of a vehicle operated or driven upon any highway in
Wyoming for which Wyoming vehicle registration is required, the
department shall notify the resident in writing that the
resident is required to register the vehicle and to pay any
sales or use taxes due on the purchase or use of the vehicle in
accordance with W.S. 39-15-107(b)(i) or 39-16-107(b)(ii) within
thirty (30) days from the date of the notice;
(iii) The department shall promulgate rules necessary
to implement this subsection, including rules to provide the
resident an opportunity for a hearing and appeal in accordance
with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act. Following a final
determination in the appeal in favor of the department, the
resident shall owe the taxes and fees determined to be due.
(p) If a resident found to be in control of a vehicle
operated or driven upon any highway for which Wyoming vehicle
registration is required under subsection (o) of this section
fails to pay registration fees or applicable sales or use taxes
due within thirty (30) days from the date of the notice required
under subsection (o) of this section or within thirty (30) days
following a final determination in favor of the department, the
person shall be charged a penalty equal to seventy-five percent
(75%) of the unpaid registration fees.
(q) Members of the armed forces who register their
vehicles in Wyoming, are deployed outside the continental United
States for ninety (90) days or more and whose vehicle
registrations expire during their term of deployment shall be
permitted to register their vehicles no later than fourteen (14)
days after returning to Wyoming after deployment. The annual
registration month of a vehicle registered under this subsection
shall be the month in which the vehicle is registered after
deployment. No fees or penalties shall be charged as a result of
registration under this subsection and the registration fees
charged shall be the same as otherwise provided in this article.
Members who register under this subsection shall:
(i) Provide to the county treasurer proper
documentation of the deployment; and
(ii) Attest that the vehicle to be registered was not
driven between the date the vehicle registration expired and the
date of registration under this subsection.