Subd. 1.

All passenger automobiles, ambulances, hearses, and pickup trucks shall be registered by the registrar according to the monthly series system of registration prescribed by this section.

Subd. 2.

There are established 12 registration periods, each to be designated by a calendar month and to start on the first day of such month and end on the last day of the 12th month from the date of commencing. The registrar shall administer the monthly series system of registration to distribute the work of registering vehicles described in subdivision 1 as uniformly as practicable through the calendar year.

Subd. 3. Exceptions.

All vehicles subject to registration under the monthly series system shall be registered by the registrar for a period of 12 consecutive calendar months, except as follows:

1. (a) if the application is an original rather than renewal application; or

2. (b) if the applicant is a licensed motor vehicle lessor under section 168.27, in which case the applicant may apply for original registration of a vehicle for a period of four or more months, the month of expiration to be designated by the applicant at the time of registration. However, to qualify for this exemption, the applicant must present the application to the registrar at St. Paul, or at deputy registrar offices as the registrar may designate.

   In any instance except that of a licensed motor vehicle lessor, the registrar may register the vehicle which is the subject of the application for a period of not less than three nor more than 15 calendar months, when the registrar determines that to do so will help to equalize the registration and renewal work load of the department.

Subd. 4.

Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the applicant for registration of a vehicle under the monthly series system shall pay in full the calendar year registration fee prescribed by law during the 12 consecutive calendar months of registration under the monthly series system. If the registrar registers the vehicle for a period greater or less than a calendar year pursuant to subdivision 3, the calendar year registration fee shall be apportioned as follows: During the first period the fee is 1/12 of the first calendar year fee times the number of months in the period. During the first 12 consecutive months of registration under the monthly series system, the fee is the sum of the following: (a) 1/12 of the first calendar year fee times the months remaining after subtracting the months in the first period of issuance from 12 months, and (b) 1/12 of the second calendar year fee times the number of months in the first period of issuance. The registration fee shall be computed in the same manner for second and subsequent periods of 12 consecutive months of registration under the monthly series system, subject to changes provided by law for registration fees under the calendar year system. If the registrar registers the vehicle for a part of a year pursuant to subdivision 3, the calendar year registration fee shall be apportioned as above in the case of an original registration for part of a year except that the computation shall begin with the second calendar year fee.

Subd. 5.

1. (a) Notwithstanding subdivisions 3 and 4, a person leasing for at least one year a vehicle registered under this section may obtain an extension of the motor vehicle's registration period for the unexpired portion of the lease period, for a period not to exceed 11 months beyond the expiration of the registration period.

2. (b) In order to obtain an extension under this subdivision a lessee must

   1. (1) apply to the registrar on a form the registrar prescribes,
   2. (2) submit to the registrar a copy of the lease,
   3. (3) pay an administrative fee of $5, and
   4. (4) pay a tax of 1/12 of the tax for the registration period being extended for each month of the extension.
3. (c) On an applicant's compliance with paragraph (b) the registrar shall issue the applicant a license plate tab or sticker designating the new month of expiration of the registration. The extended registration expires on the tenth day of the month following the month designated on the tab or sticker.

4. (d) All fees collected under paragraph (b), clause (3), must be deposited in the highway user tax distribution fund.

   * NOTE: Subdivision 5, as added by Laws 1995, chapter 264, *article 2, section 4, is repealed June 1, 2000. Laws 1995, *chapter 264, article 2, section 44.