When you need to transfer a vehicle’s title in New York, there are specific steps you need to follow. Specific documents need to be submitted to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and various payments need to be made.
To successfully transfer a vehicle’s title in New York, you need to:
- Visit your local NY DMV office
- Provide the completed and signed vehicle title by the seller
- Provide proof of a valid NY insurance policy and identification
- Complete a Vehicle Registration/Title Application (Form MV-82)
- Complete a Statement of Transaction (Form DTF-802)
- Pay the $50 vehicle title and registration fees, and taxes
Be advised you may be required to submit additional documents and payments at the time of the vehicle title transfer.
Smog Certification/Vehicle Inspection
In the state of New York, as a resident of this state, you are required to complete a safety and emissions inspection every year.
New York Emissions and Smog Check Requirements
The state of New York requires all vehicles that are registered in this state to endure a vehicle inspection every year. If you meet any of the following criteria, you are required to have your vehicle inspected:
- You’re a new resident of New York and don’t have a valid out-of-state vehicle inspection sticker in order to register your vehicle with the New York DMV
- You purchased a vehicle in a private sale, and wish to register the vehicle in your name with the NY DMV. The vehicle inspection must be completed within 10 days of registering the vehicle.
- The ownership of a vehicle has been transferred into your name (in this scenario, a vehicle inspection must be completed within 10 days of registering the vehicle)
- Your current vehicle’s inspection sticker is about to expire
If you have questions about vehicle inspections, contact your local NY DMV help desk at (518) 486-9786.
Smog Check Exemptions in New York
Some vehicles are exempt from smog checks in the state of New York. Although there are no exemptions for vehicle safety inspections, some vehicles are exempt from emissions inspections, but these factors depend on the age or type of vehicle. Vehicles that are exempt from smog checks in New York include:
- Vehicles that are less than 2 years old
- Vehicles that are older than 25 years old
- Electric vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Vehicles that are registered with historical plates
- Vehicles that meet heavy safety inspection standards that are defined by the NY DMV
- Diesel-powered vehicles, model year 1997 and newer that do not exceed 8,501 pounds
If you have questions about vehicle exemptions in New York, feel free to contact your local NY DMV branch or the NY DMV help desk at (518) 486-9786.
How to Transfer Your Vehicle Title in New York?
Whether you are a new resident of New York or buying or selling a vehicle in this state, you are required to transfer the vehicle’s title.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title As a New Resident of New York
After establishing residency in the state of New York, you must transfer your vehicle’s title and have the vehicle registered within 30 days. In New York, you can register and title your vehicle simultaneously, but to do so, you need a valid NY vehicle insurance policy.
Be advised, the vehicle titling process in New York differs depending on whether you have your out-of-state vehicle title.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle Purchased From a Private Seller
When you purchase a vehicle from a private party, you must have your vehicle inspected. Once you submit the necessary paperwork, you will receive an extension sticker that allows you to get the vehicle inspected within 10 days of titling the vehicle. If you register your vehicle at the same time you title the vehicle, the vehicle’s registration will not be valid if you go past the extension deadline.
To transfer the title of a vehicle purchased from a private seller, you need to visit your local NY DMV office and submit:
- The bill of sale provided by the seller
- The vehicle title filled out by the vehicle’s seller (make sure you provide the following information on the vehicle title:
- Odometer disclosure statement
- Damage disclosure statement
- The vehicle’s seller signature
- Your NY state insurance identification card (Form FS-20)
- A completed Vehicle Registration/Title Application (Form MV-82)
- If you only want the vehicle’s title and prefer not to register your vehicle, you need to use the Application for Title (Form MV-82TON). Keep in mind, you can’t drive a vehicle in New York without a NY registration.
- Proof of identification and date of birth
- A completed State of Transaction (Form DTF-802) for tax purposes
- Payment for title and registration fees, and sales taxes (if applicable)
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle Purchased From a Dealership
When you purchase a vehicle from a dealership in New York, the dealership usually handles the vehicle’s paperwork on your behalf. You will receive a temporary registration and license plates from the dealership. Be advised that car dealerships may charge a fee to file the paperwork on your behalf, so make sure you’re aware of these fees.
If you choose to file the vehicle’s paperwork yourself, you need to visit your local NY DMV office and submit:
- All paperwork received from the dealership at the time of the vehicle’s purchase, which can include:
- Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin
- Dealer’s bill of sale
- Proof of payment of sales tax (you are required to pay the taxes at a NY DMV branch if you didn’t pay these taxes at the dealership)
- A completed Vehicle Registration/Title Application (Form MV-82)
- A New York state insurance identification card (Form FS-20)
- Proof of identification and birthdate
- Payment for all applicable vehicle titling fees and taxes (if you are also registering your vehicle at this time, you are required to pay your vehicle registration fees at this time)
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle You’re Selling in New York
When you sell your vehicle to someone, you are required to complete the following steps:
- Complete the vehicle title certificate and include the following information:
- Odometer disclosure statement
- Damage disclosure statement
- Signature
- Complete a Statement of Transaction (Form DTF-802) with the vehicle’s buyer (the NY DMV will collect the sales tax from the vehicle’s buyer)
- Provide a bill of sale (The NY DMV does not provide a bill of sale) You need to make your own bill of sale and provide the following information:
- Vehicle make and year
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Date of sale
- Sales price of the vehicle
- Printed names and signatures of both the vehicle’s buyer and seller
- Make a copy of the bill of sale for your records. The vehicle’s buyer is required to have the original bill of sale.
- Remove the license plates from the vehicle.
- You will need to transfer the plates to a new vehicle or surrender them to the NY DMV.
How to Transfer a Car Title When the Owner is Deceased?
As the beneficiary of an estate, and you want to keep the vehicle, gift it to a family member, or sell it to someone, you must transfer the vehicle’s title.
As a beneficiary, joint-owner, or surviving spouse, you have the legal obligation to transfer a vehicle’s title to another person when the vehicle’s owner passes away.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle in a Probated Estate
When a vehicle owner passes away, the process for transferring the title of the vehicle depends on whether the vehicle’s title was in the deceased individual’s name as a descendant or joint ownership. If the vehicle’s title was only in the descendant’s name, you need to know if the estate is being probated.
The probate process happens when there is no beneficiary or living spouse listed on the will. The probate is a legal process that ensures the last will and testament are legitimate, and it involves administering the estate of the deceased individual. Be advised, the Probate Court determines how to proceed with the individual’s belongings, and during this process, the deceased person’s property is distributed according to their will.
If the vehicle in question is part of a probated estate, you will follow these steps to transfer the vehicle’s title:
Contact an Attorney or Probate Court
The administrator or executor of the deceased need to contact an attorney or Probate Court to determine their next steps in the probate process. This contact needs to happen as soon as possible because the vehicle’s title can’t be transferred until the probate process is completed. Once the probate is complete, the heir will receive the vehicle, unless the executor is given the vehicle. In a case where the executor was given the vehicle, they can choose to sell it.
Gather the Required Documents
The required documents for transferring the title of a vehicle in a probated estate vary by state. In New York, you are required to have the following documents to successfully transfer a vehicle’s title in this scenario:
- The death certificate
- Odometer disclosure statement
- Certificate of the vehicle’s title
- Order from Probate Court to transfer the vehicle’s title
- Payment for the vehicle title transfer fee
Visit the Title Office
If you are the beneficiary of the vehicle or the administrator of the deceased person’s estate, you can visit your local NY title office with the above-mentioned documents to begin the vehicle title transfer process.
Transferring the Title of a Vehicle Without Probate
In New York, the deceased person’s property can’t exceed a certain amount, and a specific amount of time needs to have passed since the individual passed away before the vehicle’s title can be transferred.
As the beneficiary, administrator of the estate, joint-owner, or spouse of the estate, you may only be required to provide the death certificate and the vehicle’s title to your local NY title office for them to retitle the vehicle’s title. No attorney or court orders are required in this scenario.
Transferring the Title of an Inherited Vehicle
In New York, you must provide proof of a relationship if the vehicle title transfer is within the family in order to be exempt from paying sales tax. In order to successfully transfer the title of an inherited vehicle, you must provide:
- A signed vehicle title certificate (the executor of the estate is required to sign)
- Proof of inheritance (ex. A copy of the will)
- The death certificate to prove the death of the previous vehicle owner
You need to make sure you have all of these documents ready and prepared to submit at your local NY DMV office to ensure there are no delays with the vehicle title transfer process.
Transferring a Vehicle’s Title After a Lease Buyout
Congratulations! You paid off your vehicle loan. You need to contact your lien holder, and they send you a notice for the NY DMV that states you have satisfied your vehicle loan, and no longer owe anything. Once you pay off your vehicle and would like the vehicle title in your name, you need to provide:
- Notice of Recorded Lien (Form MV-900): An official of the lien holder can complete this form and send it to you to give to the NY DMV. You need to contact the NY DMV office about receiving this form.
- Official Letter: The lien holder can send a letter informing the DMV that the vehicle loan has been paid off. To be accepted by the NY DMV, this letter must:
- Be written on the official letterhead of the lien holder.
- An official of the company must sign the letter. (the signature must be notarized if the official is not a loan officer)
- Disclose all the vehicle information.
After you obtain one of these documents, you will need to send the following to the lien release office:
- The original vehicle title certificate.
- Lien release document.
- A check or money order for $20 made payable to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
Send your documents and payment to:
Lien Release
NYSDMV Title Services
Department of Motor Vehicles
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12228
You will receive the new vehicle title in approximately 90 days after sending all the paperwork.
How to Transfer Ownership of a Vehicle Without a Title in New York?
The state of New York requires all residents to obtain a title for their vehicle. If your vehicle’s title was lost, stolen, or damaged, you need to apply for a duplicate NY vehicle title (Form MV-902). To obtain a duplicate vehicle title in person, you need to visit your local NY DMV office and complete an Application for Duplicate Title (Form MV-902), provide proof of identification, and pay the NY duplicate vehicle title fee of $20.
Can I Gift a Car to a Family Member?
Yes, you are able to gift a vehicle to a family member when you obtain the proper documentation. If you received a vehicle as a gift, or the vehicle is being transferred from a family member, you must complete a vehicle title transfer at your local NY DMV branch. The process for transferring the title of a gifted vehicle is similar to the steps you need to take when you are buying or selling a vehicle in New York.
Make sure you write “0” in the “price” section of the vehicle’s title. The person receiving the vehicle may be exempt from paying taxes on the vehicle. Like you would with a private vehicle sale, you are required to complete the transfer of ownership sections on the back of the original vehicle title.
If the vehicle is being given to a family member, they may or may not owe a tax on the current market of the vehicle when they register the vehicle. The signed original vehicle title needs to be submitted to the city clerk to have the application for a new vehicle title completed.
Transferring a Vehicle Title When You Have an Out-of-State Title
When you move to New York from a different state, your vehicle has an out-of-state vehicle title. In order to successfully title and register your vehicle, visit your local NY DMV office and present and submit:
- Your out-of-state vehicle title
- Proof of identification (New York State insurance card (FS-20). This can be a printed or electronic version.
- Proof of a valid NY vehicle insurance policy (NY doesn’t accept out-of-state vehicle insurance)
- Complete the Vehicle Registration/Title Application (Form MV-82) If you only want the vehicle’s title, you need to complete an Application for Title (Form MV-82TON) Be advised you can’t drive a vehicle without a NY registration in the state of New York.
- Complete a Claim Sales and Use Tax Exemption – Title/Registration (Form DTF-803) for a tax exemption, disclosing you purchased your vehicle prior to moving to New York
- Pay all applicable vehicle title fees (if you are also registering your vehicle at this time, keep in mind, registration fees will apply).
Make sure you have the required documents to avoid delays and unnecessary penalties.
Requesting a Duplicate Vehicle Title in New York
As a vehicle owner in New York, you can request a duplicate vehicle title online, by mail, or in person at your local New York DMV office.
Requesting a Duplicate Vehicle Title Online
When you are requesting a duplicate NY vehicle title online, you can do so only if:
- A vehicle title has not been processed within the last 15 days
- The address on your vehicle title and registration matches your current mailing address
- You own the vehicle title
- There are no other changes in the information listed on the vehicle’s title
If you meet these requirements, you are able to replace a title certificate online and apply. The online application discusses detailed instructions on the documents and payments you need to send.
Be advised, you can’t use these online services if you meet any of the following criteria, and you need to:
- Order a duplicate vehicle title with the lien removed
- Order a duplicate vehicle title in the name of a deceased owner
- Order a duplicate vehicle title using a power of attorney
- Order a duplicate title for a boat
The new vehicle title will be mailed to you. The time it takes to process the new vehicle title depends on when you applied for it online.
Requesting a Duplicate Vehicle Title by Mail
You can also request a duplicate New York vehicle title by mail. In order to successfully apply for a duplicate vehicle title in this state, you are required to send:
- A fully completed Application for Duplicate Title (Form MV-902)
- A photocopied proof of identification
- A check in the amount of $20
Be advised, if you send your duplicate New York vehicle title application by regular postal service, send it to the following address:
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
Title Bureau
P.O. Box 2750
Albany, NY 12220
If you choose to use express mail, send your application to the following address:
Duplicate Title Certificates
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12228
Be advised, you need to be home when the duplicate vehicle title arrives to sign for it if you ordered your vehicle title using express mail. If you have questions or concerns, call (518) 486-4714 for the Title Bureau.
Transferring a Vehicle Title With a Lien in New York
Congratulations! You paid off your vehicle loan. After you pay off your vehicle loan, you need to remove the lien and lien holder’s name from the vehicle title.
Contact the lien holder and have them provide the NY DMV with a notice stating that you paid off your vehicle loan and no longer have a balance. The lien holder can:
- Send a Notice of Recorded Lien (Form MV-900) A lien holder official can complete this form and send it to you to submit to your local NY DMV office. You need to contact the NY DMV about receiving this form.
- Official Letter: The lien holder can send a letter notifying the NY DMV that you have paid off your loan on the vehicle, but for this letter to be accepted by the NY DMV, it must be written on the official letterhead of the lien holder, and an official of the company must sign the letter. The signature must be notarized if the official is not a loan officer. All the vehicle’s information must be provided.
Once you have one of these documents, you must send the following to the lien release office:
- The original vehicle title certificate
- The lien release document
- A check or money order for $20 (make the check payable to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles)
Send these documents and payment to the following address:
Lien Release
NYSDMV Title Services
Department of Motor Vehicles
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12228
You will receive your vehicle’s title in approximately 90 days after sending the necessary paperwork.
How Much Does a Title Transfer Cost in New York?
In the state of New York, there is a $50 vehicle title transfer fee. Keep in mind, this fee does not include any sales taxes or county-specific surcharges and fees.
Where Can I Go to Transfer a Vehicle Title in New York?
There are different DMV locations in New York where you can transfer a vehicle’s title.
Department of Motor Vehicles – College Point Office
30-56 Whitestone Expy
Flushing, NY 11354
(518) 486 – 9786
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday (8:30 AM to 4 PM)
Thursday (10 AM to 6 PM)
Saturday and Sunday (Closed)
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles – Harlem Office
159 E 125th St
New York, NY 10035
(518) 486 – 9786
Monday – Friday (6 AM to 8 PM)
Saturday and Sunday (Closed)
Department of Motor Vehicles
4545 Transit Rd
Williamsville, NY 14221
(716) 858 – 7450
Monday – Saturday (10 AM to 6 PM)
Sunday (12 to 5 PM)
How to Fill Out the New York Title and Title Transfer Forms
In order to successfully complete the New York vehicle title and title transfer forms, you must make sure you have the required signatures of the vehicle’s seller and buyer in the designated areas on the vehicle’s title. Be advised that you are also required to create a bill of sale that includes vehicle information, such as its year, make, model, and color. Also, don’t forget to include the vehicle’s VIN.
If you have sold a vehicle instead of gifting it, make sure the correct sales tax is added to the vehicle’s total price. There is a section of the vehicle’s title named “transfer of title by seller”. In this section, you need to provide an accurate odometer reading and make sure the recipient of the vehicle signs the vehicle’s title in the required spaces.
Keep in mind, you may be required to provide additional documentation or payments, such as a valid New York vehicle insurance policy that meets or exceeds the state’s minimum coverage limits. You may also be expected to provide a valid government-issued photo ID or a foreign passport for proof of identification.
My Car Title Was Signed But Never Transferred. What Do I Do?
A vehicle’s title can be signed but not transferred, making the vehicle have an open title. With an open vehicle title, the seller of the vehicle didn’t transfer ownership of the vehicle or register the vehicle in their name.
When the seller’s name is not present on the vehicle title, the seller doesn’t assume legal responsibility for anything pertaining to the vehicle, such as taxes and other fees.
If the seller of the vehicle has lost the vehicle’s title, they can apply for a duplicate NY vehicle title (Form MV-902). Once they complete the form, they can sign it over to you for you to put in your name. Keep in mind, the person who is listed on the vehicle’s title is responsible for requesting the duplicate title for the vehicle.