Proof Requirements
To register a vehicle or get a title, you need to prove your
- date of birth (DOB) by providing one acceptable document from the list below (You must be at least 16 years old to register a vehicle in New York, except for ATV registrations)
- name by providing one or more documents that total 6 points
A New York State license, permit, or ID that is current or expired for less than 2 years meets both requirements.
Please note that
- your signature must be on at least one of your documents
- your documents must be the original or certified by the issuing agency
- if another person gives DMV your registration or title application, that person must provide
- a photocopy of your New York State driver license, permit or non-driver ID, and
- that person's own original license, permit or non-driver ID
Also, that you cannot provide
- more than one of the same type of proof (For example, 3 major credit cards count as one credit card.)
- an expired document, unless noted in the list below
- documents that have been altered in any way (DMV will confiscate all documents that appear to be fraudulent for review by DMV's Investigations Unit. If you submit a fraudulent document, you may be subject to criminal prosecution.)
These requirements do not apply to interstate in-transit permits (For interstate in-transit permits, a current out-of-state driver license is the only proof of identity needed.) or snowmobiles registered in another state that you want to register for use in New York. (For snowmobiles registered in another state that are being registered for use in New York, the out-of-state snowmobile registration is the only proof of identity needed.)
Accepted Documents
| Document | Point Value | Proof of Date of Birth? |
|---|---|---|
| NYS Photo Driver License, Learner Permit or Non-Driver ID Card (must be current or expired for less than two years) | 6 | YES |
| EDL NYS Driver License, Learner Permit or Non-Driver ID Card (must be current or expired for less than two years) | 6 | YES |
| Statement of Identity and/or Residence (PDF) (MV-45) (You can only use this if you are under age 21. The statement must be signed by parent or legal guardian in the presence of a DMV representative) | 6 | NO |
| Statement of Identity and/or Residence for Applicants Represented by Government or Government-Approved Facilities (PDF) (MV-45A) | 6 | NO |
| US Passport or Passport Card (must be current) | 4 | YES |
| US Military Photo ID Card (issued to active, reserve, and retired military personnel only) | 3 | YES |
| Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561 or N-645) | 3 | YES |
| Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N-570 or N-578) | 3 | YES |
| Valid Employment Authorization Card (I-688B or I-766) with photo, issued by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) | 3 | YES |
| Permanent Resident Card (I-551) | 3 | YES |
| Reentry Permit (I-327) | 3 | YES |
| Refugee Travel Document (I-571) | 3 | YES |
| Foreign Passport with a valid I-551 stamp or with a statement on the Visa (must be in English or translated by an embassy) | 3 | YES |
| Foreign Passport with a Visa and a valid I-94 issued by DHS (must be in English or translated by an embassy) | 3 | YES |
| Welfare/Medicaid/NY Food Stamp Card with photo | 3 | NO |
| Welfare/Medicaid/NY Food Stamp Card without photo | 2 | NO |
| NYS Interim License/Permit without photo | 2 | NO |
| NYS or NYC Pistol Permit | 2 | NO |
| NYS Professional License | 2 | NO |
| NYS Registration Document (vehicle or boat only) | 2 | NO |
| NYS Certificate of Title | 2 | NO |
| Photo Driver License issued by another US State, jurisdiction, Canadian Province or territory (must be current or expired no longer than 1 year) | 4 | YES |
| St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Photo ID Card | 2 | NO |
| Canadian Birth Certificate with St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Photo ID Card | 2 | YES |
| US Military Dependent ID Card | 2 | NO |
| US College ID Card With Photo and Transcript | 2 | NO |
| US High School ID Card with Report Card | 2 | NO |
| US Marriage or Divorce Record OR Court Issued Name Change Decree | 2 | NO |
| US Social Security Card (must have signature) | 2 | NO |
| Computer Printed Pay Stub (must have your name) | 1 | NO |
| Employee ID Card | 1 | NO |
| High School Diploma OR GED (General Equivalency Diploma) | 1 | NO |
| Supermarket Check Cashing Card (must have your signature and pre-printed name) | 1 | NO |
| Union Card | 1 | NO |
| US Health Insurance Card/Prescription Card | 1 | NO |
| US Life Insurance Policy (in effect at least 2 years) | 1 | NO |
| Utility Bill (must include your name and address) | 1 | NO |
| Veterans Universal Access Photo ID Card | 1 | NO |
| W-2 Form (must have your Social Security number on it) | 1 | NO |
Only one of these items, if issued by the same financial institution, can be accepted
| 1 | NO |
| US DOS Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240, DS-1350, F-545) | 0 | YES |
US or US Territory Birth Certificate (must show your first and last name)
| 0 | YES |
| Canadian Birth Certificate with a Canadian DMV learner permit or non-driver ID card | 0 | YES |
| Valid Canadian Passport (without DHS documentation) | 0 | YES |
IMPORTANT: Making a false statement in an application or in any proof or statement in conjunction with it, or deceiving or substituting, or causing another person to deceive or substitute in connection with such application, is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor pursuant to Section 210.45 of the Penal Law for Non-Driver card applicants, and is a misdemeanor under Section 392 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law for driver license applicants, and may result in the revocation or suspension of your license.