A. Effective July 1, 2019, the registration license plate and certificate of registration shall be issued to, and remain in the name of, the owner of the vehicle registered and the license plates shall not be transferable between motor vehicle owners. When a vehicle is sold or transferred in the state, the following registration procedures shall apply:

1. When a current and valid Oklahoma motor vehicle license plate has been obtained for use on a motor vehicle and the vehicle has been sold or otherwise transferred to a new owner, the license plate shall be removed from the vehicle and retained by the original plate owner.

2. In the event an owner purchases, trades, exchanges, or otherwise acquires another vehicle of the same license registration classification, the Oklahoma Tax Commission shall authorize the transfer of the current and valid license plate previously obtained by the owner to the replacement vehicle for the remainder of the current registration period. In the event the owner acquires a vehicle requiring payment of additional registration fees, the owner shall request a transfer of the license plate to the newly acquired vehicle and pay the difference in registration fees. The fee shall be calculated on a monthly prorated basis. The owner shall not be entitled to a refund:

a.when the registration fee for the vehicle to which the plate(s) is to be assigned is less than the registration fee for that vehicle to which the license plate(s) was last assigned, or

b.if the owner does not have or does not acquire another vehicle to which the license plate may be transferred.

3. In the event the owner of a license plate purchases, trades, exchanges or otherwise acquires a vehicle for which a license plate has been issued during the current registration period, and the license plate has not been removed by the previous owner in accordance with this section, the new owner of the vehicle shall remove and return the license plate to the Tax Commission or a motor license agent. However, if the license plate has expired, the new owner shall not be required to surrender the license plate.

4. If a person purchases a motor vehicle from which the number plates have been removed pursuant to this section, the person may operate the motor vehicle for five (5) days from the date of purchase without number plates if a dated notarized bill of sale is carried in the motor vehicle.

B. 1. The new owner of a motor vehicle shall, within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of vehicle purchase or acquisition, make application to record the registration of the vehicle by the transfer to, or purchase of, a license plate for the newly acquired vehicle with the Tax Commission or motor license agent and shall pay all taxes and fees provided by law.

2. Any person failing to register a motor vehicle by timely transferring the license plate as provided by this section shall pay the penalty levied in Section 1132 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

C. A surviving spouse, desiring to operate a vehicle devolving from a deceased spouse, shall present an application for certificate of title to the Tax Commission or motor license agent in his or her name within thirty (30) days of obtaining ownership. The Tax Commission or motor license agent shall then transfer the license plate to the surviving spouse.

D. The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall be authorized to promulgate such rules as may be required to implement the license plate transfers authorized by this section; including, but not limited to, such rules as may be required for a system under which the license plate is registered to an individual and not a vehicle for all license plates issued on or after July 1, 2019.

Added by Laws 2018, c. 208, § 2, eff. July 1, 2019.