Department of Motor Vehicles
Laws, Regulations and Opinions

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Vehicle and Traffic Law

How can I get a copy of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law?

The Vehicle and Traffic Law is available as a book from the DMV.

You can order books by mail for $6.00 per copy.  Complete form MV-15 (Request for Driver and/or Vehicle Record Information), and check the box for Vehicle and Traffic Law books in Step 2, Part A. Send the form and fee to the address on the form. Include a check or money order payable to "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles".

The NYS Legislature maintains a web site that has the text of the Laws of New York State. Open the Consolidated Laws page and locate the Vehicle and Traffic Law (VAT) in the alphabetical laws list.

DMV Regulations

The NYS Department of State is required to maintain online the complete New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR). This includes The Regulations of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles (NYCRR Title 15). The NYCRR is available through the website of the NYS Department of State.

Copies of specific DMV regulations can be downloaded from the business forms section of the DMV forms page. The DMV web site also has a Small Business Regulation Guide for the DMV Motor Vehicle Inspection Regulations (Part 79).

DMV Regulatory Agenda

The DMV Regulatory Agenda is a list of Regulations that the DMV plans to change during the year 2012. NYS law does not require the DMV to make all of the proposed changes on the Regulatory Agenda. The document lists changes that the DMV has considered, but the document can be amended if there are changes in law or in the requirements of the DMV.

The DMV can recommend and make changes to the regulations that do not appear in the current Regulatory Agenda. The DMV will update the regulatory Agenda as other proposed changes are considered.

See the DMV Regulatory Agenda for 2013.

Text of Proposed DMV Regulation Changes for Comment

This page does not list every proposed change to the DMV Regulations.  Visit the web site of the NYS Department of State to learn how to find other proposed changes to the regulations of NYS agencies.

Currently, there are no proposed changes to DMV regulations that require comments.

Opinions of DMV Counsel

• Internet Sales of Motor Vehicles (Opinion 1-2008)
• Non-Discriminatory Stops of Overweight Vehicles (Opinion 2-2008)
• Window Tinting (Opinion 1-2009)
• Section 1101 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law (Opinion 1-2010)
• Time Limitations for Chemical Test Refusals (Opinion 1-2012)