New York Title Transfer

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

A New York title transfer happens between buyer and seller in two steps: the seller signs the title over and provides a bill of sale, and the buyer registers the vehicle in their name. The state does not require the seller to file a separate notice of transfer, which makes accurate paperwork at sale especially important.

What the seller does

Sign and date the assignment block on the back of the New York Certificate of Title.
Complete the odometer disclosure section on the title (vehicles less than 20 model years old).
Provide a bill of sale using form MV-912 with the buyer's name, address, sale price, and date.
Remove the license plates from the vehicle (plates stay with the seller in New York — they can be transferred to another vehicle or surrendered to the DMV).
Cancel insurance only after the plates are off the vehicle and the buyer has their own coverage; otherwise the registration suspension penalties on the insurance page apply.

What the buyer does

The buyer has 180 days to complete the transfer before late fees apply, but every day before then is a day driving without registration in their own name — and without insurance coverage in New York's no-fault system.

Bring the signed title, the MV-912 bill of sale, and a New York insurance ID card to a state DMV office or county clerk.
Complete form MV-82 (Vehicle Registration / Title Application).
Pay the title-transfer fee of $50.
Pay the registration fees, plate fees if needed, and the New York sales tax via form DTF-802.

Sales tax handling

The buyer pays sales tax at registration based on the county of residence. Rates range from 7% to 8.875%. The taxable amount is the price on the bill of sale, or the NADA book value if the reported price is suspiciously low. Family-member transfers (parent, child, spouse, sibling) qualify for a sales-tax exemption when the gift box on the DTF-802 is checked. Inheritances are also tax-exempt with a copy of the will or letters testamentary.

Liens and lienholders

If the seller still has an active lien, the lienholder holds the title and must release it before transfer. Two paths:

Lien paid off, paper title in lender's possession: the lender mails the title to the seller marked "lien satisfied." Allow 2-4 weeks.
Active lien, buyer assuming or refinancing: the new lender records its lien at the DMV using form MV-198C. The new title is mailed directly to the new lender.

New York adopted electronic lien-and-title (ELT) records in 2020. Most institutional lenders now hold liens electronically; only smaller credit unions and private lenders still issue paper titles.

Transfers from out of state

If the seller's title is from another state, the New York DMV will accept it as long as it is properly signed in the assignment block. The buyer also brings:

A copy of the most recent out-of-state registration.
A New York-licensed bill of sale or the equivalent state form.
A VIN verification on form MV-50 if the title is more than 10 years old or shows visible alterations — performed at the DMV office or by a peace officer.
The New York no-fault insurance ID card.

If the out-of-state title shows a salvage history, additional inspection by a Department of Motor Vehicles agent is required before the new title can be issued.

Family-gift transfers

Transferring a vehicle to a parent, child, spouse, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild is treated as a "gift" and is exempt from sales tax. The MV-912 bill of sale shows "$0 / gift" in the price field, and the DTF-802 has the gift box checked and signed by both parties. The $50 title fee still applies. Cousins and in-laws are not on the gift list and pay normal sales tax.

Common pitfalls

The seller forgetting to enter the odometer reading at the time of sale — the title will be rejected at the DMV counter.
The buyer leaving the office without the registration card and FS-20 insurance proof in the new name.
Out-of-state buyers expecting a New York title to be mailed to them; the DMV mails the new title only to the lienholder, or to the registered address on file.
Believing the New York title transfer requires a notarized signature — it does not, unlike many other states.