NJ Registration Fees? Quote from dealer seems way off

Ask the Hackrs
1

Hi,

On a 2 year lease for an SUV, I received the following breakout of NJ Registration related fees. (These are separate from the required Sales Tax)

The fees for Jersey are as follows:

Online reg fee: 15.15

Doc fee: 141 (Dealer)

Title fee: 60

Registration fee: 369

Lien fee: 25

Temp tag: 28

Total: 638.15

The registration fee seems wrong. It is my understanding it should run the length of the lease; in this case $84 x 2 years or $168.

Am I missing something?

Thanks for any and all feedback.

2

Yes it sounds high. I leased in PA and the dealer refunded $111 after the fact.

3

There’s also a title fee. So it’s more than $168. It was $252 for our Equinox for 3 years in Cotober

4

For new cars in NJ, NJ requires a min of a 4yr Reg, which is around the $369 fee you mentioned.

I think NJ figured they could make a lot more Reg money up front, and basically tax lease holders more for the luxury of Registration in NJ.

5

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/vehicles/reginitial.htm

New Jersey Four-year Accelerated Registration Program
The MVC implemented the Four-Year Accelerated Registration Program on October 1, 2004, requiring all owners of new passenger vehicles to pay the registration fee in full for the four-year period.

If you have a new leased vehicle you must pay the registration fee for the term of your lease. If your lease agreement extends beyond the normal calendar year expiration period (38-month leases as opposed to 36 months), you are also required to pay for the next full year’s registration period (48 months).

Refunds will not be given for any unused portion of the four-year registration The Four-Year Accelerated Registration Program includes all vehicles purchased for business use unless the equity in an unexpired registration is transferred.

6

Dealer came back and corrected the registration fee to $168 from $369.

NJ requires new vehicles sold to be registered for 4 years and those leased to be registered for the term of the lease as was my understanding (and posted by @CaptQ )

Thanks everyone!

7

I think it varies a little bit by class/weight. Eg. a 3yr reg on a Sienna was $239 plus $60 title, IIRC.

Also tire tax of $1.50 per

And luxury surcharge tax of 0.4% of gross selling price if 45,000+ or sub 19 mpg combined.