An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 263 By: Daniels of the Senate
and
Stearman of the House
An Act relating to motor vehicle registratio n;
amending Section 2, Chapter 208, O.S.L . 2018, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 29, O.S.L. 2020 (47
O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 1112.2), which relates to
transferability of license plates; providing
exception to certain requirement to return license
plate; establishing status of certa in license plate
under specified circumstances; authorizing issuance
of certain temporary license plate under specified
circumstances and subject to the promulgation of
rules by the Oklahoma Tax Commission; and providing
an effective date.
SUBJECT: Motor vehicle registratio n
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 2, Chapter 208, O.S.L.
2018, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 29, O.S.L. 2020 (47 O.S.
Supp. 2020, Section 1112.2), is amende d to read as follows:
Section 1112.2. A. Effective July 1, 2019, the license plat e
and certificate of r egistration shall be issued to, and remain in
the name of, the owner of the vehicle registered and the license
plates shall not be transferab le between motor vehicle owners. When
a vehicle is sold or transferred in the state, the fol lowing
registration procedures shall apply:
ENR. S. B. NO. 263 Page 2
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 t o 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 th e 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. I n 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 acq uire another
vehicle to which the license plate may be transferred;
3. In Except as provided in paragraph 4 of this su bsection, in
the event the owner of a license plate purchases, trades, exchanges
or otherwise acquires a vehicle for which a license plat e has been
issued during the current reg istration period, and the l icense 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 mo tor license agent.
However, if the lice nse plate has expired, the new owner shall not
be required to surrender the license plate ; and
4. When a lender or lender's agent repossesses a vehicle and
the license plate has not been removed in accordance with this
section, the lender or lender's agent shall not be subject to the
provisions of this section and the license plate shall be considered
ENR. S. B. NO. 263 Page 3
removable personal property and may be reclaimed from the
repossessed vehicle; and
5. If a person purchases a m otor vehicle from which the number
plates have been removed pursuant to this section, the person may
operate the motor vehicle for fifteen (15) calendar days from the
date of purchase without number plates if a dated, notarized bill of
sale is carried in t he motor vehicle. If the vehicle is subject to
a lien, the person may o btain a thirty-day temporary plate issued by
a motor license agent pursuant to the promulgation of rules by t he
Oklahoma Tax Commission to impleme nt a motor license agent-issued
temporary plate pursuant to this paragraph.
B. 1. The new owner of a motor v ehicle shall, within thirty
(30) calendar days fr om the date of vehicle purchase or acquisition,
make application to rec ord the registration of th e vehicle by the
transfer to, or purch ase of, a license plate for the newly acqu ired
vehicle with the Tax Comm ission or motor license agent and shall pay
all taxes and fees provided by law.
2. Any person failing to register a mot or vehicle by timely
transferring the license plate as provided by this section shall pay
the penalty levied in Section 1132 of this tit le.
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 shal l 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 li cense
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 indiv idual and not a vehicle
for all license plates issued on or after July 1, 201 9.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
ENR. S. B. NO. 263 Page 4
Passed the Senate the 2nd day of March, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 6th day of April, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _______________________________ __
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _______________________________ __