Use DMV’s Document Guide to make sure you get all documents you need from a seller so that you can register your vehicle in New York.
The seller must either
or
The buyer must
The proofs of ownership needed to register and title a vehicle in New York are different for different types of vehicles (for example, cars, trailers, boats, snowmobiles, manufactured homes).
See information for how to register a vehicle you bought (or received as a gift).
You must register the vehicle at a DMV office or by mail. You cannot do this over the phone, or online.
You cannot change the name on the vehicle registration or the title certificate to the name of another person. You must transfer the ownership of the vehicle.
You can check the National Insurance Crime Bureau database [13] to see if a vehicle is flood damaged. You will need the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Read the DMV brochures, Let the Buyer Be Aware [14], and Q&A About Your Title Certificate [15].