Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

• No statutes or acts will be found at this website.

The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 53 Pa.B. 8238 (December 30, 2023).

Pennsylvania Code



CHAPTER 51. TRANSFER, EXCHANGE AND
RECLASSIFICATION OF REGISTRATION

Sec.


51.1.    Purpose.
51.2.    Definitions.
51.3.    Rules.
51.4.    Fees at time of transfer.

Authority

   The provisions of this Chapter 51 issued under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. §  6103, unless otherwise noted.

Source

   The provisions of this Chapter 51 adopted June 9, 1978, effective June 10, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1579, unless otherwise noted.

§ 51.1. Purpose.

 The purpose of this chapter is to establish administrative procedures relating to the transfer, exchange and reclassification of vehicle registration under 75 Pa.C.S. §  1314 (relating to transfer of registration).

Source

   The provisions of this §  51.1 adopted June 9, 1978, effective June 10, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1579.

§ 51.2. Definitions.

 The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   Extension fee—The portion of the fee mandated by 75 Pa.C.S. §  1314(d) (relating to transfer of registration) that is attributable to extending the expiration date. The extension fee shall be equal to the number of months from the previous expiration date to the new expiration date times the prorated monthly fee for the vehicle class.

   Increase fee—The portion of the fee mandated by 75 Pa.C.S. §  1314(d) that is attributable to the upgrade in class of the vehicle. The increase fee shall be equal to the number of months from the issuance of the transfer to the expiration date of the registration times the difference in prorated monthly fees from the former class to the new class.

   Transfer fee—The fee prescribed by 75 Pa.C.S. §  1927 (relating to transfer of registration).

Source

   The provisions of this §  51.2 adopted June 9, 1978, effective June 10, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1579; amended August 16, 1991, effective August 17, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 3706. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (90222).

§ 51.3. Rules.

 (a)  Transfer. A registration plate may be transferred from one vehicle to another vehicle for which that registration plate is valid.

 (b)  Exchange transfer. If the registration plate to be transferred is not valid on the new vehicle, an exchange transfer will take place—that is, a new registration plate will be issued, upon the receipt of which the registrant shall immediately return the old plate to the Department.

 (c)  Expiration date. The expiration date of the registration after transfer or reclassification may be any expiration date for which the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is currently issuing a registration, provided that all of the appropriate fees are paid.

 (d)  Reclassification. In the case of reclassification of a vehicle registration due to a change in type of body or use of the vehicle or registered gross weight, an increase fee shall be due in the manner prescribed in §  51.4 (relating to fees at time of transfer), except that no transfer fee is required unless registration is being transferred from one vehicle to another.

Source

   The provisions of this §  51.3 adopted June 9, 1978, effective June 10, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1579; amended August 16, 1991, effective August 17, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 3706. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (90222) to (90223).

§ 51.4. Fees at time of transfer.

 (a)  Straight transfer. When the class of vehicle and the expiration date are unchanged, only the payment of the transfer fee is required.

 (b)  Downgrade in class. When the class of vehicle is changed to a lower class and the expiration date is unchanged, only the payment of the transfer fee is required. A refund will not be made.

 (c)  Upgrade in class. When the class of vehicle is changed to a higher class and the expiration date is unchanged, the payment of both the transfer fee and the increase fee is required.

 (d)  Shortened downgrade. If the class of vehicle is changed to a lower class and the expiration date is changed to an earlier date, the payment of the transfer fee is required. A refund will not be made.

 (e)  Shortened upgrade. If the class is changed to a higher class and the expiration date is changed to an earlier date, the payment of both the transfer fee and the increase fee is required. A credit will not be allowed or refund payable on account of the shortened expiration date.

 (f)  Extended downgrade. If the class of vehicle is changed to a lower class and the expiration date is changed to a later date, the payment of both the transfer fee and the extension fee is required. A credit will not be allowed or refund payable on account of the change to a lower class of vehicle.

 (g)  Extended upgrade. If the class of vehicle is changed to a higher class and the expiration date is changed to a later date, the payment of the transfer fee, the increase fee and the extension fee is required.

 (h)  Title fee. In addition to each of the fees set forth in this section, a certificate of title fee is required except when the registration is transferred to a vehicle already titled to the registrant and the vehicle is not to be reclassified.

Source

   The provisions of this §  51.4 adopted June 9, 1978, effective June 10, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1579; amended August 16, 1991, effective August 17, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 3706. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (90223) to (90224).

Cross References

   This section cited in 67 Pa. Code §  51.3 (relating to rules).



No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.


This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.