61-3-311. Registration -- annual renewal -- time periods. (1) Registration must be renewed annually, and registration fees must be paid annually. Except as provided in 61-3-313 through 61-3-316, 61-3-318, 61-3-526, and 61-3-721, all registrations expire on December 31 of the year in which they are issued and must be renewed annually upon payment of all required fees to the county treasurer or the department's agent not later than February 15 of each year. If the ownership of a motor vehicle is transferred during the registration year, the new owner shall apply for a certificate of title and register the motor vehicle as provided by this chapter.
     (2) The department, its authorized agent, or a county treasurer may not renew the registration of a vehicle whose ownership has been transferred and that was originally registered under the provisions of 61-3-342(3) unless:
     (a) the previously issued certificate of title has been surrendered to the department, its authorized agent, or the county treasurer and the process for issuing a certificate of title has been completed; or
     (b) the person to whom ownership of the vehicle has been transferred presents an affidavit and bond in support of the application for a certificate of title as permitted in 61-3-208.

     History: En. Subd. 2, Sec. 1, Ch. 158, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1759.1, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 51, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 127, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 74, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 53-115; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 146, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 42, L. 1995; amd. Secs. 29, 47(2)(b), Ch. 592, L. 2003.