If the seller has a title certificate that was transferred to the seller by the previous owner, and the title certificate displays the name of the previous owner, the seller must get a title certificate that displays the name of the seller. Use the Application for Title Only (PDF) (MV-82TON) form. Follow the instructions carefully.

Do not use the MV-82TON form to

• apply for both a vehicle registration and a title certificate at the same time
• replace a lost title certificate

If the seller cannot get a title certificate that displays their name, they can contact the DMV to get more information.

New York does not issue titles for 

• cars, trucks, and vans model year 1972 or older
• boats either model year 1986 or older, or less than 14 feet long 
• trailers model year 1972 or older, or weighing 999lbs or less

The transferrable registration is the ownership document for these vehicles. 

Replace a New York State Transferable Registration

If the New York State transferable registration is lost, the current owner can apply for a duplicate registration document at a DMV office. Use the Application for Registration or Title (PDF) (MV-82) and the instructions for Registering/Titling a Vehicle in New York State (PDF) (MV-82.1). The current owner

• can transfer the ownership with the duplicate registration, even if the registration is expired
• must also complete a bill of sale (see get proof of ownership at purchase)

If the New York State transferable registration is lost and the DMV cannot issue a duplicate, the current owner can apply for a Certification of New York State Registration for Transfer of Non-Titled Vehicle (MV-353). The DMV must verify that the vehicle is registered to the current owner. The current owner must provide proof of identity (see proofs of identity). There is a fee $10 for form MV-353.

If the DMV cannot issue a transferable registration or form MV-353 the registration applicant must show other evidence of ownership. For example, the applicant can show an old registration, an original Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin, or an original Manufacturer's Statement of Origin. If the proof is not available, the applicant can use the Statement of Ownership (PDF) (MV-51B) for proof of ownership.

If the seller did not register the vehicle, the boat, the ATV or the snowmobile, they can give the buyer

• a completed Affidavit of Sale or Transfer (PDF) (MV-51)
• the original proof of ownership
• a bill of sale that they received from the previous owner

If there are other previous owners, the seller must also give the buyer proofs of all previous transfers of ownership. The seller must also give the buyer a bill of sale.

Before you purchase a vehicle, boat, or snowmobile that is non-titled, make sure that you will receive acceptable proofs of ownership. If you do not get any of these proofs, you must

• contact the person that sold you the vehicle, boat, or snowmobile, and get
  • a bill of sale, and
  • a registration receipt or form MV-353 transferred to you

     or

• write to the owner and request that they transfer the acceptable proof of ownership to you and mail the proof to you (we recommend you use certified mail to request a return receipt

If you do not receive proof of ownership and the US Postal Service returns your certified letter, bring all of these items to a DMV office

• the returned certified letter in its envelope, not opened
• a pencil tracing, a photo, or a police statement that shows the vehicle identification number
• a notarized affidavit that explains how you got the vehicle and how you tried to get acceptable proof of ownership
• other documents that are evidence of ownership - for example, a bill of sale or registration documents of the previous owners, or your canceled check for payment
• a completed Statement of Ownership (PDF) (MV-51B) -  if you have had the vehicle, boat, or snowmobile for less than one year and it was never registered by the previous owner, the previous owner must complete form MV-51B

Important

If your proof of ownership for a non-titled vehicle, boat, or snowmobile is not a New York State transferable registration, the local DMV office will issue a non-transferable registration. You can use the vehicle, boat, or snowmobile with a non-transferable registration, but you cannot transfer your ownership to another person.

The DMV Title Services Bureau will examine your proofs and will mail to you either a transferable registration, or a letter that explains why the DMV cannot issue a transferable registration.