New York
Vehicle Resource Center
New York State is well-known for containing one of the largest and most iconic cities in the world. It's known as the Empire State for that very reason. New York is home to millions of individuals, and many of them drive. Any NY driver has extensive rules, paperwork requirements, licensing requirements, and more to think about.
Ownership and Maintenance
NY residents must regularly update and renew several important documents to legally use their vehicles on NY roadways. These renewal tasks come with costs and require regular maintenance work.
Every eight years, New Yorkers must renew their driver's license to keep it legal. The license can be renewed one year before its expiration and up to two years after its expiration with no issues. A current driver's license is mandatory for driving within the state as a NY citizen.
It's possible to renew a license online, but the individual must submit a Vision Test Report completed by a physician or eye specialist. When filing by mail, the Vision Test Report listed above must be submitted along with the renewal fee to successfully renew the license.
Mail to:
NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
207 Genesee Street, Suite 6
Utica, NY 13501-2874
Visiting the office is necessary for changing the license type, updating the photo, or having a vision test in the office. Visit a DMV location and supply the required documents and money to renew the license.
Don't Wait More than 2 Years
A driver's license that has expired for more than two years is invalid. Drivers must begin the licensing process from the beginning, going through the 5-hour Course, written test, and driving test to obtain a new license.
Get more license renewal details via the official NY government website.
NY vehicles cost between $10.00 and $20.00, depending on their weight, to get a safety inspection. Vehicles under 10,001 pounds are $10, vehicles between 10,000 and 18,001 pounds cost $15, and anything over 18,000 pounds costs $20.00.
The emissions testing is usually $11.00,$27.00 within the NY metro area, and $25.00 as a diesel inspection.
See a complete breakdown of inspection fees here.
License Renewal
For more information on license renewal fees, see the DMV page here.
Every NY vehicle owner must hold current liability insurance from an approved NY insurance carrier. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted by the state. This insurance protects the driver, any passengers, and anyone involved in an accident with the vehicle while driving, including another person's vehicle. The driver's own vehicle is not covered by liability insurance.
It's illegal to drive without valid insurance, and updated insurance is required to register and renew the vehicle's registration.
Legal NY insurance must have the following minimum coverages:
If these minimums are met, the vehicle is legally insured. Some people opt for more insurance coverage than the minimum amount of liability. Some increase their liability coverage, and many consider adding collision insurance as well to cover the costs of repairing their own vehicle after an accident. Get more specific information about NY insurance requirements using the official New York DMV Insurance information guide.
Every two years, New York vehicle owners must renew their vehicle's registration. This process comes with fees based on the value of the vehicle as well as the location of the NY resident. The renewal process is simple and can often be completed online, but it still requires some knowledge and going through the necessary steps explained below.
Renew Online
A standard vehicle registration renewal can be completed online in minutes. Begin the process by visiting the online renewal link, inputting the plate number, choosing a registration class that describes the vehicle type, and paying the fee using a credit card. Once the online process is complete, users get access to a temporary registration paper to print out and use until the official registration arrives in the mail.
Renew the Registration By Mail
Send in the renewal notice from the state along with a money order or check made to the "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles" covering the full fee listed on the notice. This fee is different for every vehicle, so individuals must look closely at their specific notice.
Renew at the DMV
Visit the local DMV office with the registration renewal notice and any required documentation, as well as money to cover the fee. Registration fees can be paid using cash or a credit card at a DMV. Anyone without the registration renewal notice will have to obtain the Vehicle Registration or Title Application form (MV-82) and bring that with them to the DMV to go through the registration process. Get additional information about registration renewal from the NY Government's Registration Guide.
Renewing a NY vehicle registration comes with some limited costs. The costs are separated by weight. Vehicle owners pay as little as $26.00 and as much as $140.00, depending on the weight of the vehicle. There may also be a county vehicle use tax between $10 and $50 at renewal time.
There are fees associated with every bit of paperwork that's required when transferring a vehicle title and registering a new vehicle. Learn the fees and know what to expect as a car buyer in New York.
Buying & Selling
When buying or selling a vehicle in New York, there are fees and paperwork requirements to consider. Buyers should also be careful to research any vehicle they're considering carefully to ensure they get an option they're happy with. Learn all the required information below.
Before finalizing any vehicle deal, create a Bill of Sale and have the seller input all the information about the vehicle. The paper should have the purchase price, date of the vehicle transaction, the VIN, the year, make, and model of the vehicle as well as both names and signatures of the buyer and seller. Getting a Bill of Sale filled out protects everyone involved in a vehicle transaction.
During the sale of a vehicle, the buyer and seller must input all the required information on the reverse of the vehicle's official title. They must sign and date the title as well.
It's also important to bring along form MV-82 and for the seller to fill the form out to begin the registration and titling process for the vehicle. By having all this paperwork prepared and filling it out during the purchase process, the seller gets proof the sale occurred, and the buyer gets proof of ownership, as well as all the paperwork to title and register the vehicle.
The buyer is responsible for paying any titling and registration fees, as well as sales tax, on the purchase price of the vehicle.
Along with paying the registration fee by weight (which is between $26 and $140)and the county use tax of $10 to $50, there is the vehicle plates fee of $25 and a title certificate fee of $50. All these costs are what every buyer should expect when purchasing a new or used vehicle. There is also a sales tax rate of approximately 4% that's added to the registration costs when buying a vehicle. Buyers can look up their rates based on their location using this tax lookup tool.
Buying a new or used vehicle is exciting, but it's also a serious decision. As an interested car buyer, it's essential to research a potential vehicle to verify if it's the right option. Using a Vehicle History Search or a License Plate Lookup to generate a complete vehicle report from GoodCar is an easy way to learn the most important information about a vehicle.
With access to the VIN or the license plate number for the vehicle, it's possible to get detailed specifications and features lists, recall information, vehicle history data, car crash information, and more. All this data makes it easy to decide whether the selected vehicle is worth purchasing or not.
Buying or selling a vehicle is a major undertaking, and there are rules and requirements that must be met in NY. Learning how the car sale process works and what papers to bring along simplifies the process for everyone involved.
Laws and Regulations
New York State is known for its strict laws, which are shown in its driving laws. Every NY driver should understand all the laws outlined below to keep themselves out of trouble.
NY has harsh window tint restrictions that make having any significant window tint illegal. Under the laws outlined here on the NY website, no vehicle windows are permitted to block more than 30% of light. That means the tint must enable 70% of visible light to pass through. If the tint blocks any more than 30% of the light, it is too dark and may result in a fine.
The Lemon Law is a common legal protection that guards individuals against being stuck with newly purchased vehicles that come with significant defects. The law protects a primary-use vehicle that has fewer than 18,000 miles and has been purchased less than two years ago. If those conditions are met, the Lemon Law may apply to a vehicle.
A vehicle is considered a lemon if it suffers from a problem that makes it unsafe or significantly decreases its value, and the dealership does not effectively repair the issue. The buyer must notify the dealership of the problem within 18,000 miles or 24 months to begin the process. The dealership can make up to 4 repair attempts for the same issue. If the issue is not resolved within four attempts or the vehicle is off the road for 30 days or more because of covered repairs, it is deemed a lemon, and the dealership will likely be required to buy it back or replace it. More NY Lemon Law specifics can be found in this Lemon Law guide.
According to New York seat belt laws, all vehicle passengers, as well as the driver, must wear proper seat belts at all times, no matter where they are sitting. New York has a primary seat belt law, which means vehicles can be stopped purely because individuals are not buckled properly.
Children Under 7
All children under seven are expected to ride in a child safety seat that is most appropriate for their height and size. Children should start in a rear-facing car seat, then graduate to a front-facing car seat, and finally, a booster seat. Parents can use the height and weight limits on the seats as a guide for when to swap children from one type of seat to another.
Ages 7 to 12
Children between the ages of 7 and 12 are required to use a booster seat until they are tall enough for a seat belt to fit properly. For most children, this is 4'9" tall.
Use this New York government link to learn more about seat belt regulations in the state.
New York State has extensive DWI (driving while intoxicated) laws that all drivers within the state must follow. Being caught driving while intoxicated can result in fines between $500 and $10,000, as well as jail time and a license suspension for varied times, depending on the circumstances and the intensity of the violation.
Drivers must be below a .08 BAC (blood alcohol content) when tested for alcohol to be under the legal limit. Commercial drivers must be under a .04 BAC to pass. Drivers between a .04 and .07 can be charged with driving with ability impaired by alcohol and still face a fine and legal action, though less serious. Fines increase substantially for drivers caught more than once and could end up in significant jail sentences or long-term license suspensions.
All the fines and potential punishments are outlined in this NY Government DWI fact page for more information.
Useful Things to Know
Car Seat Guidelines: See which seat type is appropriate for your child using the guidelines at the link below: NY Car Seat Guidelines
Find a Local NY DMV: NY DMV locations are available all throughout the state. Most title, license, registration, and plate tasks can be completed at one of the DMV locations. Use the locator link below to find a nearby DMV: DMV Office Locator
NY Crash Trend Data: NY is home to millions of drivers, but it's still one of the safer states to drive in, according to statistics from the IIHS. In 2021, there was an average of 1.08 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in New York, putting the state in the top 15 safest in the country. A total of 1,157 fatalities occurred in 1,099 accidents throughout the year. Gain a full understanding of types of accidents, main causes, and more with New York accident statistics from GoodCar.
NY EV Charge Locations: Anyone who drives an EV should know where local charge locations are to recharge while away from home. This simple search tool makes it easy to find the nearest charge location: NY EV Charge Locator Tool
NY Driver Manual and Practice Tests: Anyone interested in learning more about NY road laws or preparing for the written driver's exam has access to the NY Driver's manual and practice tests at the link below: NY Driver Manual and Practice Tests
Get the Latest New York Vehicle Information with GoodCar
New York vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.