61-3-317. New registration required for transferred vehicle -- grace period -- penalty -- display of proof of purchase. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the new owner of a transferred motor vehicle has a grace period of 20 calendar days from the date of purchase to make application for a certificate of title and pay the registration fees, fees in lieu of tax and other fees required by part 5 of this chapter, and local option taxes, if applicable, unless the fees and taxes have been paid for the year or for the 24-month period as provided in 61-3-315, as if the vehicle were being registered for the first time in that registration year.
     (2) The new owner of a vehicle described in 61-3-303(9) shall make application and pay the registration fees, fees in lieu of tax, and other fees required by part 5 of this chapter and local option taxes, if applicable, whether or not the fees and taxes have been paid previously.
     (3) If the motor vehicle was not purchased from a licensed motor vehicle dealer as provided in this chapter, it is not a violation of this chapter or any other law for the purchaser to operate the vehicle upon the streets and highways of this state without a current registration receipt or registration decal during the 20-day period if at all times during that period, a temporary registration permit, obtained from the county treasurer or a law enforcement officer as authorized by the department, is clearly displayed in the rear window of the motor vehicle or, if a durable placard has been issued for the vehicle, the placard is attached to the rear of the vehicle.
     (4) Registration fees collected under 61-3-321 are not required to be paid when a license plate is transferred under 61-3-335 and this section.
     (5) Failure to make application for a certificate of title within the time provided in this section subjects the purchaser to a penalty of $10. The penalty must be collected by the county treasurer at the time of registration and is in addition to the fees otherwise provided by law. The penalty must be deposited in the state general fund.

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 127, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 138, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 187, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 243, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 399, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 53-147; amd. Sec. 32, Ch. 421, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 712, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 614, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 529, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 515, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 13, Sp. L. August 2002; amd. Sec. 63, Ch. 477, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 32, Ch. 592, L. 2003.