What is the difference between the owner on record and the renewal recipient?

The owner on record is a person that is responsible for the vehicle, owns and receives all correspondence.

A renewal recipient is someone who may be able to renew the vehicle registration only and if different from the owner on record will receive only the renewal notice.

A common example when the owner on record is different from the renewal recipient is when the owner on record is the parent and the renewal recipient is their child who is in college and lives at another address.