28-2269. Proportional registration or alternative procedure agreements; transfer of license plates

A. Notwithstanding section 28-2263, beginning no later than January 1, 1998 a registrant may transfer license plates issued pursuant to this article to another vehicle registered in the registrant's name if the vehicle requires license plates of the same format and if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The registrant makes proper application to the director, the director's agent pursuant to section 28-2002 or a third party authorized pursuant to chapter 13, article 1 of this title.

2. The registrant pays any fees and taxes required to register the vehicle less any amount credited pursuant to subsection C of this section.

B. If the other vehicle requires license plates of a different format than the license plates that the registrant wishes to transfer, the registrant shall either surrender the license plates to the department or an authorized third party or submit an affidavit of license plate destruction as prescribed by the director. On surrender of the license plates or submission of an affidavit of license plate destruction, the department shall furnish new license plates of the proper format to the registrant under the same conditions set forth in subsection A of this section.

C. A registrant who transfers license plates pursuant to subsection A of this section or who surrenders license plates or submits an affidavit of license plate destruction pursuant to subsection B of this section is entitled to a credit in accordance with the following conditions:

1. The credit is equal to the unexpended vehicle license tax, gross weight fees, commercial registration fees, highway use fees, special plate fees and motor carrier fees for the current registration year of the vehicle to which the plates were last assigned.

2. The unexpended portion of the fees and taxes is equal to one-twelfth of the annual fees and taxes for the current registration year of the vehicle to which the plates were last assigned multiplied by the number of full months left in the registration year on the effective date of the replacement vehicle's registration period.

3. The credit for each fee or tax shall be applied only to the similar fee or tax owed on the vehicle to which license plates are transferred or assigned pursuant to this section.

D. It is unlawful for a registrant to knowingly permit license plates to be displayed on a vehicle except as authorized by the department.

E. The director may accept donations from affected registrants to defray the cost of implementation of this section. The director shall deposit any donations received pursuant to this subsection in the state highway fund established by section 28-6991.