New Mexico Vehicle Power of Attorney

Q: Which form is the New Mexico vehicle power of attorney?

Form MVD-11020, printed as the Limited Durable Power of Attorney and issued by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division. It is a single page. The revision line reads REV. 10/10. One line appoints the attorney in fact, a Type of transaction line records what the appointment is for, and a vehicle block records make, model, model year and the vehicle identification number before any signature is made.

Q: Does a New Mexico vehicle power of attorney have to be notarized?

Yes, and twice. MVD-11020 prints a notary block under the vehicle owner's signature reading that the signature was subscribed and sworn before the notary, with the notary signature and commission expiry lines beneath. It then prints a second, identical block under the affidavit signed by the person being appointed. Plan for both signers to see a notary, which may mean two appointments if the owner and the attorney in fact are not in the same place.

Q: How long does a New Mexico vehicle power of attorney last?

Thirty days. The form states that the power of attorney shall not be affected by the owner's incapacity but will expire within 30 days or upon the owner's death unless revoked before then. That is short, so date it close to the transaction. If the paperwork slips past the month, the MVD is holding an expired authority and the attorney in fact will need a freshly signed and notarized MVD-11020.

Q: Which affidavit must the person appointed in New Mexico sign?

An affidavit printed on the same page. It reads that the signer declares under penalty of perjury that they are the person authorized to act under the power of attorney, that they are not aware the power of attorney has been revoked or that the grantor has died, and that they acknowledge personal liability for any loss to the owner or any other person caused by misuse of the power. That affidavit is then subscribed and sworn before a notary in its own block.

Q: How much authority does a New Mexico MVD-11020 actually give?

Within its limits, a lot. The appointment language says the attorney in fact may take all actions the owner would be required to take, or sign all documents the owner would be required to sign, to complete any transactions, including a sale, of the vehicle described on the form. The limits are the two the form imposes: the single vehicle identified by make, model, model year and VIN, and the transaction written on the Type of transaction line.

Q: Which vehicle details go on the New Mexico form?

Make, model, model year and the vehicle identification number. The VIN field is printed as seventeen separate boxes, one character each, which is a deliberate design: it forces the number to be copied character by character from the title rather than written in a hurry. Copy it from the certificate of title, not from an insurance card or a dealer document, and check it against the title before anyone signs.

Q: Can a photocopy of a New Mexico power of attorney be used?

We could not confirm that from an MVD source, so treat the original as the safe assumption and take it with you. Nothing printed on MVD-11020 says a copy is acceptable, and nothing on it says a copy is refused. If the owner is out of state and only a scan can be sent, ask the MVD office handling the transaction before relying on it, because a rejected document means starting the notarization over.

Q: What happens if someone signs a false New Mexico MVD-11020?

The form carries the warning in plain terms. Any person who makes a false affidavit, or knowingly swears or affirms falsely to any matter required by the Motor Vehicle Code, is guilty of perjury, which is a fourth degree felony, citing Sections 66-5-38 and 30-25-1 NMSA 1978. That warning is why both signatures are sworn and why the person appointed is made to acknowledge personal liability for misuse on the face of the document.

New Mexico uses MVD-11020, the Limited Durable Power of Attorney, published by the Taxation and Revenue Department Motor Vehicle Division. It carries two notary blocks and expires within 30 days. Attorney review available.

Find out where you stand in New Mexico

What do you need the other person to be able to do with the vehicle?

DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.

Introduction

The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division publishes its own one page power of attorney for vehicle work, numbered MVD-11020, and the thing to notice about it is that it carries two notary blocks rather than one. The printed title is Limited Durable Power of Attorney. The first notary block sits under the vehicle owner's signature. The second sits under an affidavit the person you appoint has to sign, declaring under penalty of perjury that they are authorized to act, that they are not aware the power has been revoked or that the grantor has died, and that they accept personal liability for any loss caused by misusing it. Both of those signatures are subscribed and sworn before a notary. The form also puts a clock on the authority. It says the power of attorney is not affected by the owner's incapacity but will expire within 30 days or on the owner's death, unless revoked sooner. Above the signatures the form narrows the job twice over: there is a Type of transaction line, and a vehicle block asking for make, model, model year and a vehicle identification number laid out as seventeen separate character boxes. The authority itself is written broadly inside those limits. The person appointed may take all actions the owner would be required to take, and sign all documents the owner would be required to sign, to complete any transaction, including a sale, of the vehicle described on the form. At the foot is a warning that a false affidavit on a matter required by the Motor Vehicle Code is perjury, a fourth degree felony, citing Sections 66-5-38 and 30-25-1 NMSA 1978. DocDraft builds your New Mexico vehicle power of attorney from your facts, with attorney review available before you sign.

Key Things to Know

1
The New Mexico vehicle power of attorney is MVD form MVD-11020, printed as the Limited Durable Power of Attorney, on which an owner appoints an attorney in fact to complete a named transaction for one described vehicle.
2
Two notary blocks have to be completed, not one. The owner's signature is subscribed and sworn before a notary, and so is the separate affidavit signed by the person appointed.
3
The authority expires within 30 days, or on the owner's death, unless the owner revokes it earlier. The form says it is not affected by the owner's incapacity.
4
The person appointed swears that they are authorized to act, that they are not aware the power has been revoked or that the grantor has died, and that they accept personal liability for any loss caused by misusing the power.
5
A Type of transaction line appears above the vehicle block, so the document is limited to the transaction the owner writes in as well as to the one vehicle.
6
The vehicle block asks for make, model, model year and the vehicle identification number, which the form lays out as seventeen separate character boxes so the VIN is copied one character at a time.
7
The revision posted by the MVD is dated 10/10, and the perjury warning at the foot cites Sections 66-5-38 and 30-25-1 NMSA 1978, making a false affidavit a fourth degree felony.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Vehicle Power of Attorney in New Mexico, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Vehicle Power of Attorney guide walks through them.

Open the Vehicle Power of Attorney guide

Customize your Vehicle Power of Attorney Template with DocDraft

NEW MEXICO LIMITED DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY (MVD FORM MVD-11020)

Use this worksheet to assemble every entry MVD-11020 asks for, in the order the form asks for it, then copy the entries onto the MVD form itself. Two notary blocks have to be completed on that form, so arrange the notary before anyone signs.

APPOINTMENT I, [PRINT OWNER FULL LEGAL NAME, as shown on the New Mexico title] hereby appoint: [PRINT FULL NAME OF THE PERSON APPOINTED] as my attorney in fact to take all actions I would be required to take or to sign all documents I would be required to sign to complete any transactions, including a sale, of the vehicle described herein.

TYPE OF TRANSACTION [WRITE THE TRANSACTION, for example: transfer of ownership / application for title / registration]

VEHICLE Vehicle make: [MAKE] Model: [MODEL] Model Year: [YEAR] Vehicle identification number (VIN), copied one character at a time from the title into the seventeen boxes: [VIN]

TERM PRINTED ON THE FORM This Power of Attorney shall not be affected by my incapacity but will expire within 30 days or upon my death unless I have revoked it prior to my death. Date you intend to sign: [DATE] Expires on or before: [DATE PLUS 30 DAYS]

OWNER SIGNATURE BLOCK Printed name of vehicle owner: [PRINT NAME] Signature of vehicle owner: _______________________________ Date: [DATE]

FIRST NOTARY BLOCK (OWNER) Subscribed and sworn before a notary, who completes the day, month and year, the signer's name, the notary signature and the commission expiry.

AFFIDAVIT OF THE PERSON APPOINTED I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that I am the person authorized to act under this Power of Attorney and that I am not aware the Power of Attorney has been revoked or that the Grantor of the Power of Attorney has died. And I acknowledge my personal liability for any loss to the owner or any other person by my mis-use of this power of attorney. Signature of person submitting affidavit: _______________________________ Date: [DATE]

SECOND NOTARY BLOCK (PERSON APPOINTED) Subscribed and sworn before a notary, same four lines again.

WARNING PRINTED AT THE FOOT Any person who makes any false affidavit, or knowingly swears or affirms falsely to any matter required by the Motor Vehicle Code is guilty of perjury, which is a fourth degree felony (Sections 66-5-38 and 30-25-1 NMSA 1978).

CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU HAND IT IN

The VIN on the form matches the certificate of title, character for character.
The Type of transaction line is filled in, not left blank.
Both signature blocks are signed.
Both notary blocks are completed, dated, signed and sealed.
The transaction is happening inside the 30 day window that starts on the signing date.
The person appointed has read the affidavit they are swearing to, including the personal liability sentence.

Note: this worksheet mirrors MVD form MVD-11020 (REV. 10/10) as published by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division. New Mexico sets the form, the double notarization and the 30 day term. For the generic template and other states, see the Vehicle Power of Attorney hub.

Once your Vehicle Power of Attorney is ready, you can check whether it needs to be notarized in New Mexico in about a minute, and notarize it online through DocDraft if it does.

New Mexico Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

MVD Form MVD-11020, Limited Durable Power of Attorney
New Mexico uses form MVD-11020, printed as the Limited Durable Power of Attorney and issued by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division. The posted revision is dated 10/10. It is one page covering the appointment, the transaction, the vehicle, two signatures and two notary blocks.
Two Notary Blocks, Not One
MVD-11020 prints a subscribed and sworn notary block under the vehicle owner's signature and a second one under the affidavit signed by the person appointed. Each block carries the day, month and year, the signer's name, the notary public signature and the commission expiry, so both signers must appear before a notary.
Thirty Day Expiry Printed on the Form
The form states that the power of attorney shall not be affected by the owner's incapacity but will expire within 30 days or upon the owner's death unless revoked before then. Date the signature close to the transaction, because an expired MVD-11020 is no authority at all.
Affidavit and Personal Liability of the Person Appointed
The person appointed signs a declaration under penalty of perjury that they are authorized to act, that they are not aware the power has been revoked or that the grantor has died, and that they acknowledge personal liability for any loss to the owner or any other person caused by misusing the power.
Type of Transaction Line
Above the vehicle block the form carries a Type of transaction line, so the authority is limited to the transaction the owner writes in as well as to the single vehicle described. Leaving that line blank leaves the clerk without the scope the form is built to record.
Make, Model, Model Year and a Seventeen Box VIN
The vehicle block asks for make, model and model year, then prints the vehicle identification number as seventeen separate character boxes. Copy the VIN from the certificate of title one character at a time and check it against the title before anyone signs.
Scope of Authority Granted
The appointment language lets the attorney in fact take all actions the owner would be required to take, or sign all documents the owner would be required to sign, to complete any transactions, including a sale, of the vehicle described on the form.
Perjury Warning Under the Motor Vehicle Code
The foot of the form warns that any person who makes a false affidavit, or knowingly swears or affirms falsely to any matter required by the Motor Vehicle Code, is guilty of perjury, a fourth degree felony, citing Sections 66-5-38 and 30-25-1 NMSA 1978.

Does your Vehicle Power of Attorney need to be notarized in New Mexico?

Whether a Vehicle Power of Attorney needs to be notarized depends on your state. Upload yours, pick your state, and get the current rule with the official source behind it, free and with no account. If yours does need a notary, online notarization is part of your DocDraft plan.

Check my Vehicle Power of Attorney

Frequently Asked Questions

Which form is the New Mexico vehicle power of attorney?

Does a New Mexico vehicle power of attorney have to be notarized?

How long does a New Mexico vehicle power of attorney last?

Which affidavit must the person appointed in New Mexico sign?

How much authority does a New Mexico MVD-11020 actually give?

Which vehicle details go on the New Mexico form?

Can a photocopy of a New Mexico power of attorney be used?

What happens if someone signs a false New Mexico MVD-11020?

Find out where you stand in New Mexico

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Vehicle Power of Attorney Template with DocDraft

New Mexico Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

MVD Form MVD-11020, Limited Durable Power of Attorney

Two Notary Blocks, Not One

Thirty Day Expiry Printed on the Form

Affidavit and Personal Liability of the Person Appointed

Type of Transaction Line

Make, Model, Model Year and a Seventeen Box VIN

Scope of Authority Granted

Perjury Warning Under the Motor Vehicle Code

Does your Vehicle Power of Attorney need to be notarized in New Mexico?

Frequently Asked Questions