How To Sell a Car in New York

Selling a motor vehicle in New York requires compliance with state regulations governing title transfer, ownership documentation, odometer and damage disclosure, sales tax collection, and registration procedures. Both private-party sellers and those transacting with a dealership must follow specific requirements established by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to ensure the sale is legally valid and properly documented.

What You Need To Know Before Selling a Car in New York

Title Law and Ownership Requirements

A Certificate of Title is required for most motor vehicles of model year 1973 or newer, as well as motorboats of model year 1987 or newer that are 14 feet or longer. The titled owner must ensure that the vehicle is free of encumbrances and that all ownership records are current and accurate prior to transferring the vehicle to a new owner. Sellers may not transfer a title certificate if the reverse side is already signed over to the seller; a duplicate title must be obtained first if the title is voided.

Vehicles Exempt From Title Requirements

Not every vehicle requires a New York Certificate of Title. Vehicles exempt from titling requirements include motor vehicles of model year 1972 or older, travel or utility trailers weighing less than 1,000 pounds, and limited-use motorcycles. For these untitled vehicles, a transferable registration signed over to the buyer serves as the proof of ownership transfer.

Satisfying an Existing Lien

If an active lien is recorded on the vehicle's Certificate of Title, the seller is not required to remove it before the sale. The seller may transfer the title to the buyer and provide the buyer with the original proof of lien satisfaction. The lienholder is required to promptly release the lien when the loan is paid in full. The seller should contact the lienholder to obtain original proof of lien satisfaction, which may be presented as a Notice of Recorded Lien (MV-901) or a letter on the lender's official letterhead identifying the vehicle and certifying the release. The seller must deliver the original proof of lien satisfaction to the buyer at the time of transfer.

Inspection and Emissions Requirements

New York requires all registered vehicles to be inspected annually and whenever ownership is transferred. However, the inspection requirement falls on the new owner, not the seller. When a vehicle is purchased from a private seller, the buyer receives a 10-day extension from the registration date to complete the safety and emissions inspection.

Odometer and Damage Disclosure Requirements

For motor vehicles manufactured in or after model year 2011 that are 20 model years old or newer, the seller must complete the odometer disclosure statement on the back of the Certificate of Title. For vehicles manufactured in model year 2010 or older, odometer disclosure is not required. A damage disclosure statement must be completed on the back of the Certificate of Title for all vehicles, regardless of age, certifying whether the vehicle has sustained structural damage. Vehicles with damage exceeding 75% of their retail value will receive a "Rebuilt Salvage" branded title and must undergo a DMV salvage vehicle examination before registration.

Documents Required To Sell a Car in New York

Certificate of Title

The existing Certificate of Title is the primary document establishing ownership of vehicles with a model year of 1973 or newer. The seller must complete the "Transfer by Owner" section on the reverse of the title, providing the buyer's full legal name and address, the seller's name and address, and the date of transfer. The seller's signature on the designated line immediately transfers ownership to the new owner. The title must not contain any alterations, cross-outs, erasures, or corrections of any kind, or the DMV will reject it. No title notarization is required.

Transferable Registration

For vehicles of model year 1972 or older that do not receive a Certificate of Title, a transferable registration signed over to the buyer serves as proof of ownership transfer. The transferable portion of the registration document must be completed by the seller with the buyer's name and address.

Vehicle Bill of Sale

While not legally required in all circumstances, a bill of sale is strongly recommended for all private vehicle transactions. The Vehicle Bill of Sale (Form MV-912) must contain the following minimum information: the year and make of the vehicle, the vehicle identification number (VIN), the date of sale, the purchase price, and the signatures of both the buyer and the seller. Both parties should retain a signed copy for their records. The bill of sale need not be notarized.

Statement of Transaction

The Statement of Transaction - Sale or Gift of Motor Vehicle, Trailer, All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), Vessel (Boat), or Snowmobile (Form DTF-802), issued by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, documents the sale price and vehicle information for tax purposes. Both the seller and buyer must complete the affidavit of sale/statement portion of this form.

If the vehicle is transferred as a gift, the seller must indicate this on the bill of sale and the DTF-802, entering the purchase price as $0. The seller must also complete Section 6 on page 2 of the DTF-802 if the vehicle is a gift or sold below fair market value to a person other than a spouse, parent, child, stepparent, or stepchild.

Odometer and Damage Disclosure Statement

If the odometer reading cannot be included on the back of the title certificate, or if an older title form is used, the Odometer and Damage Disclosure Statement (Form MV-103) must be completed by the seller and signed by both the seller and buyer. This form is required for vehicles manufactured in or after model year 2011 that are 20 model years old or newer. The seller must state whether the mileage is actual, exceeds the odometer's mechanical limits, or is otherwise in dispute. The buyer acknowledges the reported mileage by signing the form.

Damage Disclosure

For all motor vehicles, the seller must complete the damage disclosure statement on the back of the Certificate of Title or on Form MV-103 if the title does not include the disclosure section. The seller must certify whether the vehicle has been damaged to the extent that repair costs would exceed 75% of the vehicle's retail value at the time of loss. If such damage has occurred, the vehicle will receive a "Rebuilt Salvage" branded title and must undergo a DMV salvage vehicle examination before it can be registered.

How To Transfer a Car Title in New York

Step 1: Review the Title Before the Sale

Before completing the sale, the seller should review the Certificate of Title to verify that the name on the front matches the person transferring ownership and that the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the title matches the actual vehicle VIN. The seller should confirm that no information on the title has been altered, crossed out, erased, or written over, as any such alterations will cause the DMV to reject the title. If the title is damaged or contains errors, the seller must obtain a duplicate title using Form MV-902 before proceeding with the sale. If an active lien is listed on the title, the seller must verify that the original proof of lien satisfaction will be provided to the buyer.

Step 2: Complete the Title Assignment

The seller completes the "Transfer by Owner" section on the reverse of the Certificate of Title by clearly printing the seller's name and address, the buyer's full legal name and address, and the date of transfer. For motor vehicles manufactured in or after model year 2011 that are 20 model years old or newer, the seller must also enter the odometer reading on the designated line on the back of the title. For all vehicles, the seller must complete the damage disclosure statement, indicating whether the vehicle has been damaged to an extent exceeding 75% of its retail value. The seller then signs on the line marked "Seller's Signature," which immediately transfers ownership to the buyer.

Step 3: Prepare the Bill of Sale and Tax Documentation

The seller and buyer jointly complete the Vehicle Bill of Sale (Form MV-912) or another acceptable bill of sale that includes the vehicle year and make, VIN, date of sale, purchase price, and signatures of both parties. The seller and buyer also jointly complete the Statement of Transaction (Form DTF-802), which documents the sale for sales tax purposes. If the vehicle is a gift, both forms must indicate this fact, and the purchase price should be entered as $0 on both documents. If an older title form that does not include the damage disclosure section is used, the seller and buyer must also complete a separate Odometer And Damage Disclosure Statement (Form MV-103). Both parties sign the appropriate forms.

Step 4: Remove License Plates and Registration Sticker

Before delivery of the vehicle to the buyer, the seller must remove the New York license plates and the registration and inspection stickers from the windshield. The license plates remain the property of the New York State DMV and do not transfer with the vehicle. The seller must surrender the plates to the DMV, or may keep them if transferring them to another vehicle the seller owns.

Step 5: Deliver Documents to the Buyer

At the time of sale, the seller delivers the following to the buyer: the original Certificate of Title with the "Transfer by Owner" section completed and signed, or the signed transferable registration for untitled vehicles; the original bill of sale (Form MV-912) signed by both parties; the completed Statement of Transaction (Form DTF-802) signed by both parties; and the original proof of lien satisfaction if a lien is listed on the title. If an older title form was used, the seller must also provide a completed Odometer and Damage Disclosure Statement (Form MV-103) signed by both parties. All information on the title and supporting documents must match exactly.

Step 6: Buyer Applies for Registration and Title at a DMV Office

The buyer must apply for a new registration and title certificate at a New York DMV office within 180 days of the effective date on the buyer's insurance ID card. The buyer submits a completed Vehicle Registration/Title Application (Form MV-82), the original Certificate of Title (or transferable registration), the signed bill of sale, the completed Statement of Transaction (Form DTF-802) with proof of sales tax payment, the original proof of lien satisfaction if applicable, and proof of identity. The DMV will process the title application and mail a new Certificate of Title to the buyer within several weeks after the application is accepted.

Title Transfer Fee Schedule in New York

The following fees apply to motor vehicle title and registration transactions:

Additional county use taxes and supplemental fees may apply depending on the county of registration. Residents of New York City pay an additional vehicle use tax of $30 for two years ($15 per year) plus a supplemental Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) fee of $50 for two years ($25 per year). Residents of certain counties outside New York City pay county use taxes ranging from $10 to $30 for two years, depending on vehicle weight, and some counties impose additional supplemental MCTD fees.

Sales Tax on Private Vehicle Sales

Private vehicle sales in New York are subject to sales tax calculated based on the buyer's residence location. The state sales tax rate is 4%, and local tax rates imposed by cities, counties, or school districts may add additional percentage points, resulting in combined rates as high as 8.875% depending on the buyer's location. The buyer is responsible for paying the applicable sales tax when registering the vehicle at a DMV office.

The purchase price reported on the Statement of Transaction (Form DTF-802) determines the tax base. If the purchaser is a nonresident of New York State, the purchaser may submit Form DTF-820 (Certificate of Nonresidency of New York State and/or Local Taxing Jurisdiction) to establish exemption from sales tax.

What To Do After Selling Your Car in New York

Surrender License Plates and Registration

The seller must surrender the New York license plates and the registration to the DMV. Plates may be surrendered by completing the Plate Surrender Application (Form PD-7) and mailing the plates and form to the DMV at 6 Empire State Plaza, Room B240, Albany, NY 12228.

Alternatively, plates may be surrendered in person at a local DMV office, where a $1 county processing fee may apply. The seller should retain the plate surrender receipt (Form FS-6T) for records. Failure to surrender plates may result in suspension of the registration or driver's license.

Cancel Liability Insurance

After surrendering the plates and registration, the seller should contact the automobile insurance provider to cancel coverage for the sold vehicle or transfer the policy to a replacement vehicle. Insurance must not be maintained on the plates while they are in circulation; maintaining unnecessary coverage may result in avoidable premium charges. The seller should not cancel insurance before the plates are surrendered, as proof of continuous insurance may be required.

Retain Copies of Sale Documents

The seller should retain copies of the completed bill of sale, the Statement of Transaction (Form DTF-802), and any other transaction documents. These documents may be needed to demonstrate the sale in the event of future liability disputes or if the seller receives traffic or parking violations associated with the sold vehicle.

Contact Information

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
6 Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12228
Phone: (518) 486-4714
Official Website: New York DMV