Skip to Content
March 19, 2024 Clouds | 34°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS.

Whereas , The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to affect forthwith the transfer of registrations of certain motor vehicles, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:


SECTION 1. The fifth paragraph of section 2 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1996 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second, third and fourth sentences and inserting in place thereof the following two sentences:- A person who has attained 18 years of age and who transfers the ownership of a registered motor vehicle or trailer owned by him to another or who loses possession thereof and who intends to transfer the registration of such motor vehicle or trailer to a newly acquired new motor vehicle or newly acquired used motor vehicle of the same type and having the same number of wheels may, subject to other provisions of this chapter, operate such newly acquired new motor vehicle or trailer or newly acquired used motor vehicle or trailer for a period beginning from the date of transfer until five o'clock post meridian of the seventh calendar day following the date of transfer within the period for which the transferred vehicle was registered; provided, however, that the number plates issued upon registration of the transferred motor vehicle or trailer shall be attached to the newly acquired vehicle. During such period any operator of the newly acquired vehicle shall carry an original copy of the bill of sale reciting the registration number to be transferred from the former vehicle to the newly acquired vehicle or the certificate of transfer issued by the dealer on a form approved by the registrar in place of the certificate of registration.

SECTION 2. Section 113A of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second and third paragraphs and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a policy covering a registered motor vehicle or trailer which is being transferred as provided in section 2 of chapter 90 shall continue in force and cover a newly acquired new motor vehicle or trailer or a newly acquired used motor vehicle or trailer for a period beginning from the date of transfer of the registered motor vehicle or trailer until five o'clock post meridian of the seventh calendar day following the date of transfer within the period for which the transferred motor vehicle or trailer was registered; provided, however, that the number plates issued upon registration of the transferred motor vehicle or trailer shall be attached to the newly acquired vehicle.

Approved June 25, 1998.