If you’re a New York resident who has just bought a vehicle from another state, or if you’ve just moved to the Empire State and brought your wheels with you, you’ll need to learn how to register this car, truck, or SUV. In this article, we’ll walk you through all the steps necessary to register your out of state vehicle in the state of New York.

How To Register an Out of State Vehicle in New York

Get Insurance Coverage

Before you can register any vehicle in NY, you must obtain local automobile insurance coverage. If you’ve moved from a different state, you can contact your last provider and ask if they service NY. If so, they may be able to transfer your policy. Otherwise, you will need to secure a new local insurance policy in the state of New York.

Current liability coverage minimums for New York are:

• $10,000 for property damage for a single crash
• $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for a person involved in a crash
• $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in a crash

For a full overview of insurance requirements, click here.

Gather Your Documents

To get started on registering your vehicle in New York, you’ll need to have the following documents ready:

1. Original certificate of title.

   If this proof of ownership has been misplaced or damaged, you must apply for a replacement/duplicate title from the DMV where it was first issued. You cannot register a car without a title, so this is of great importance!

2. Government-issued ID.

   The easiest form of ID is a NY driver’s license. If you’ve just moved, the DMV requires that you obtain a local license within 30 days. Otherwise, there is a 6-point identification system that lists all the acceptable forms of ID. You can find this list here.

3. Registration and Title Application.

   You can find and print Form MV-82 here.

4. Proof of paid sales tax. This can include:

   1. A bill of sale or Form MV-50 
   2. Form DTF-802 for a vehicle purchased through a private sale
   3. Form DTF-804 for a vehicle purchased in another state where sales tax has already been paid

Moving to New York: Title Transfer and Registration Online 

Considerations for Vehicles with an Active Lien

If the car you’re bringing into New York has an active lien on it (meaning, you are still paying off your car loan), you will need to provide the following documents in order to register in the state of New York:

• A copy of the title certificate with your name on it from the lienholder
• Certification from the lienholder that title certificate is a copy of the original certificate – the copy of the title certificate and the declaration of the lienholder must be on the same piece of paper
• A statement on lienholder letterhead with the following information:
  • Owner, year, make, and VIN of the vehicle
  • Statement that the lienholder holds the original title and knows the owner will use the documents to register in New York State

For further information, click here for the DMV regulations on liens.

Transfer your Title and Register your Vehicle Online 

Register Your Out of State Vehicle in New York Online with eTags

At eTags, we make it easy to register your out of state car, truck, or SUV online. Simply head over to our homepage, select New York as your state of residence, and choose Transfer Title and Registration. And if you need a hand at any point during this process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Because as always, at eTags, we’re here to help!

FAQs

Can you register a vehicle online in New York?

You sure can. And it’s easy with eTags. Head over to our homepage, select New York as your state, and choose Transfer Title and Registration. You can also take a look at this handy guide.

Can you register a car in New York if your driver’s license is from out of state?

The New York DMV requires that all new residents obtain a local New York driver’s license within thirty days of moving to the Empire State.

How long do I have before I need to register my out of state vehicle in New York.

Like a driver’s license, the NY DMV gives you thirty days to transfer your vehicle and register it locally.