The registered owner's right to the registration certificate provided for herein and the right to use the number plates issued therewith shall expire upon the termination of ownership of any person in the motor vehicle for which the same was issued, and in any event at midnight on December 31 of the year for which issued except as provided in section 168.017.
Minn. Stat. § 168.014
1949 c 694 s 4; 1973 c 6 s 1; 1974 c 406 s 32