After you purchase a vehicle in a private sale, you (or your business) must register and title the vehicle. The title for a vehicle must be in the name of the owner(s), but it can be registered to another person or people. 

If you purchase a new vehicle through an auto dealership, you do not need to register the vehicle at a DMV office. The dealer can register and title the vehicle, and issue plates (and charge a fee for this).

You must register your vehicle at the DMV within 180 days of the effective date on your insurance ID card.

Learn more about New York State Insurance Requirements.

Estimate Fees 

The fees depend on the vehicle's weight, the vehicle's class, and where you live. First-time registration fees normally include

• the sales tax
• a vehicle plate fee or registration transfer fee
• a title certificate fee
• a vehicle use tax (in most counties)
• either a 1 or 2-year registration fee, depending on the type of registration

You can estimate the registration fees you will need to pay. 

Follow the instructions for how to register a vehicle in the county you live in.

See DMV office locations and how to make an appointment

Payment

DMV accepts

• cash
• most credit, pinless debit, or prepaid cards (American Express, Discover Card/Novus, MasterCard, or VISA)
• a personal check or money order payable to "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles"

You can split your payment between cash and check.

Get Your Documents

We will give (or mail within 1-2 weeks) you these documents when you register:

• 1 or 2 vehicle plates (unless you transfer a registration from another vehicle registered in New York)
• Registration window sticker
• Registration document
• 10-day inspection extension sticker

If applicable, we will also send you a new title certificate (within 90 days). If you do not receive your title certificate by mail within 90 days, contact a DMV Contact Center. Your registration receipt can help verify your vehicle's plate number, make, year, and vehicle identification number (VIN).

When you receive your title, check to see if the information it contains about your vehicle is correct and agrees with the information on the vehicle registration document. If the title is incorrect, contact the DMV Contact Center and ask about getting an amended title. If both the registration and title are incorrect, bring them to a motor vehicle office.

When you register a vehicle you will receive an inspection extension that will last 10 days from the date of the registration. You must get your vehicle inspected before the extension expires. An inspection issued to the previous registrant is not valid.

Learn more about inspection requirements.

Transfer the Registration From Another Vehicle You Own

After you sell or give away a vehicle, you can transfer the registration and vehicle plates to another vehicle you own. You must bring all of the documents required to register a vehicle, along with a completed Statement of Transaction (if this is a vehicle you have just purchased and do not currently have the title or transferable registration in your name), to a DMV office. The registration you're trying to transfer must also still have time left on it to be transferred—it cannot be expired.

If You Do Not Have the Title

Under most circumstances, when you first register and title a vehicle that you bought in New York State, you must provide DMV either a title or transferable registration signed over to you as proof of ownership. There are certain situations, however, where you might not have the title to a vehicle. For more information, please see the information linked below.  

• Register a vehicle I bought at a sheriff or marshal auction
• Abandoned and unclaimed vehicles
• Register a custom or homemade trailer or vehicle
• Proof of ownership is not available

If You Are Seeking a Clean Pass Vehicle (CPV) Sticker

This program is only available to those with qualifying vehicles (plug-in electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) that also drive on the Long Island Expressway. View more information about applying for the Clean Pass Vehicle Program here.