Registration FAQs

My dad owns a car that I want to register in my name. Is that possible?

Yes, just have the owner fill out the owner portion of Form MV-82 (Vehicle Registration/Title Application). Then along with the normal registration documents, you must submit both the owner's New York driver license and a photocopy of the license.

The Department of Motor Vehicles goes into further detail about what to do when the registrant and owner are not the same person or when there is more than one registrant or owner.

What do I do differently to register a vehicle from out of state?

You have 30 days once you become a resident of New York to register your vehicle here. You will normally follow the same instructions to register your vehicle as you would for a New York native vehicle.

For how to register a vehicle that has an out-of-state lien or does not meet California emissions standards (the standards that New York follows), read the DMV's information page.

I can afford to only lease this expensive car, not buy it. How do I register a leased vehicle?

The dealer will normally provide all the paperwork to the DMV to register the car in your name. If not, you will need to bring the following to your local DMV office:

• A certified copy of the title (the leasing company hangs onto the original).

• Authorization to register. This may be a letter or power of attorney from the leasing company, or their signature in box 3 on the registration application (Form MV-82).

• Proof of sales tax payment in the form of a copy of the lease agreement showing the sales tax payments you've made and those you will make.

For more details, see the DMV's information page.

Oh no! My car is gone and it wasn't towed. How do I report it stolen?

Ugh. Call the police and your insurance company to report the theft right away. The police will enter the information into state and national theft databases, and the DMV will note the theft on the title record to prevent someone else from selling the car or getting a new title.

If your vehicle isn't recovered, you might have to turn ownership over to your insurance company by filling out the reverse side of your title certificate (check with your insurer before writing on the title).

If your vehicle is recovered, celebrate for a few minutes, and then make sure the police cancel the stolen vehicle alert so you can use the vehicle or apply for new plates or a new registration without being swarmed by officers. Find out the full details.

I've gotten married. How can I change my name on my registration?

Appear at a local DMV office with your current registration and title displaying your former name and a marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or other court document proving your new name. You may also present other proof of identity totaling six points to prove either your old or your new name.

Fill out Form MV-82, and that's it―there is no fee to update either document. The DMV will issue your new registration documents on the spot and send the title certificate to you in the mail within about four weeks.

I think someone used my Client ID number to get a driver license. What do I do?

The DMV takes identity theft extremely seriously. If you have evidence that someone got a driver license, registration, or title certificate in your name, or that someone used your identity and Client ID number fraudulently, contact a DMV call center or local DMV office to request form FI-17 (Report of Unauthorized Use). The DMV notes that you must have evidence of fraud to file the form.

I keep seeing hybrid cars in the HOV lane on the expressway with only one occupant. What gives?

In conjunction with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Transportation (DOT), the DMV administers the Clean Pass Vehicle (CPV) program. Designed to encourage residents to purchase very fuel-efficient vehicles that reduce emissions, the program issues stickers for qualified vehicles allowing them to occupy the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on the Long Island Expressway even when the only occupant is the driver.

The three vehicle models that qualify are the Honda Insight (2000 to 2004), the Toyota Prius (2001 to 2006), and the Honda Civic Hybrid (2003 to 2006). If you have one of these registered in New York, you may join the program by calling the DMV at (800) 697-0558. Find more information from the DMV; the DOT also offers its own extensive information page.

What are the guidelines for surrendering my license plates and registration items to the DMV if I don't want to insure the vehicle?

If you're going to remove your vehicle from the road for a while, New York law requires that you return the car's license plates to the DMV before letting your insurance lapse. If you do this in the wrong order, the DMV can suspend both your registration and your driver license.

Be sure to remove the frames and fasteners from the plates, or the DMV will not accept them. You may return them in person to a local DMV office, pay a $1 fee, and get an FS-6T receipt. You may also do this for no charge by mailing the plates, along with your current mailing address so the DMV can send you a receipt, to:

• Riverhead Office, NYSDMV

• 200 Old Country Road

• Route 58

• Riverhead, NY 11901

Find out more about how to surrender vehicle plates, or how to do so temporarily (for a season).

Enlighten me, please. How do I order a duplicate registration sticker?

You can do it online or visit any DMV office. If you order online, expect to receive your new decal in less than two weeks―sooner if you order in person.

What steps do I take to order a duplicate title?

Here are your options:

Order online: You can choose this method only if:

• You are the owner of the vehicle

• Your current address is the same address on your title and registration

• There are no new changes (added or deleted owners, name alterations, or the like) that need to be amended on the title

You cannot order online if:

• The application involves removing a lien

• You did not previously notify the DMV of an address change

• The owner has died or a power of attorney is involved

• You need to make any other changes to the title

You'll receive your new title within seven days.

Order by mail: Submit a completed Application for Duplicate Title along with a $20 fee to:

• Duplicate Title Certificates

• NYSDMV

• 6 Empire State Plaza

• Albany, NY 12228

Processing is slow through the mail. Expect to receive your new title in six to eight weeks.

Order in person: Visit any DMV office and complete an Application for Duplicate Title. Be sure to bring proof of identity. You'll also need to pay a $20 fee.

Your new title will arrive in the mail within seven days.

How do I order a duplicate registration?

Easy. You can order online. Or you can complete a Vehicle Registration/Title Application and deliver it in person to any DMV office or ship it via mail. If you choose mail, send the application to:

• NYSDMV Port Jefferson Office

• 3 Roads Plaza

• 1055 Route 112

• Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

Your new registration should arrive within two weeks.

Hey, where is my registration?

If your registration has not arrived in the mail after two weeks, contact the DMV online, by phone, or by visiting any DMV office. Or use the DMV's online order tracker to check the progress of your application if you submitted it online.

I am doing my taxes, and every penny counts. Can I deduct my vehicle registration fee?

Possibly. According to the IRS's Publication 17, you can deduct the portion of the registration fee that is based on your car's value. The IRS counts this as personal property tax, even if it is called a registration fee or a usage tax. For instance, if your car is worth $2000 and your state charges you 1% of the car's value ($20) every year as part of your registration, you may deduct that amount. You may not deduct other registration fees, like fees charged for weight.

And if your state doesn't charge you anything based on your car's value, then you can't take that deduction.

To find whether your state charges you anything based on your car's value, you may need to contact your local DMV office. You can also look on your registration card or registration renewal form to see if the fees are itemized.

For tax questions, contact the IRS or a tax professional.

What's the skinny on registering non-operable vehicles?

If you take your vehicle off the road, you will need to turn in the plates when you cancel the registration and insurance. When surrendering your plates, be sure to ask the DMV official for a receipt for transfer. You'll need this form to re-register.

Standard license plates will be destroyed. Personalized and custom plates will be stored. When it comes time to reinstate your registration, you must apply at the DMV office where you surrendered your personalized or custom plates.

To reinstate a non-operational vehicle's registration, you must bring to the DMV office:

• A completed Application for Registration or Title

• The receipt you received when you handed in your plates

• Proof of insurance

• Proof of identity and date of birth

• Cash or check to pay all applicable fees

For more information, call (518) 402-4838.