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The bottom line: To sell a car in New York, you sign the back of the title over to the buyer and hand them a completed Form MV-912 (Vehicle Bill of Sale). New York is one of the few states where a bill of sale is required for all private sales; the buyer gives the original to the DMV to register the car.
License plates stay with the seller, so remove them before the buyer drives away. New York has no separate release of liability form. Instead, you surrender your plates and keep the FS-6T receipt, and you should do this Immediately.
Title notarization is not required. If you’ve lost the title, a duplicate costs $20. The title prints within 72 hours of an accepted application and is mailed to you, never handed over at a DMV office.
New York at a glance
- Title required to sell: yes
- Title notarization required: not required
- Cost to replace a lost title: $20 using Form MV-902
- Replacement title processing time: The title prints within 72 hours of an accepted application and is mailed to you, never handed over at a DMV office
- Title replacement available online: yes
- Bill of sale: required for all private sales; the buyer gives the original to the DMV to register the car
- Bill of sale notarization required: not required
- Sales tax form: Form DTF-802 is required for every private sale; the buyer brings it to the DMV to calculate and pay sales tax on the purchase price
- Emissions testing required to sell: not required of the seller, but the buyer must complete an annual safety and emissions inspection within 10 days of registration in the new owner's name
- Safety inspection required to sell: not required of the seller; the buyer must pass an annual safety inspection within 10 days of registering the car
- License plates stay: with the seller
- What to do with your plates: transfer your plates to another vehicle you own at the DMV, or surrender them to the DMV (in person at a county DMV office, or by mail to the DMV Albany address) before canceling your liability insurance
- Buyer’s deadline to register: the buyer must register the vehicle before driving it on public roads, and within 180 days of the effective date on their New York State Insurance ID Card
- Buyer penalty for missing the deadline: late registration fees and possible insurance lapse penalties; the vehicle may not legally be operated on public roads until registered in the buyer's name
- Release yourself from liability: Form PD-7 (Plate Surrender Application)
- Release of liability deadline: Immediately
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Step-by-Step Process for New York
Step 1: Prepare Your New York Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens. Title required to sell: yes.
- Valid New York driver’s license – Your name must match exactly what’s on the title
- Bill of sale (Form MV-912 (Vehicle Bill of Sale)) – Required by state law for all private sales
- Sales tax form (Form DTF-802) – The buyer needs it to register and pay sales tax
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
- Current inspection sticker – Your annual inspection must not be expired at the time of sale
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Apply online through the NY DMV Title Replacement portal or submit Form MV-902 with your ID and $20. You can apply online via the NY DMV title duplicate portal, by mail to NYS DMV Title Bureau, P.O. Box 2750, Albany, NY 12220-0750, or in person at any DMV office. The title prints within 72 hours of an accepted application and is mailed to you, never handed over at a DMV office.
If you can not get one, can you sell without the title?
Yes, in limited cases set by NY Vehicle and Traffic Law section 429, plus the pre-1972 untitled-vehicle rule. To qualify, the car is worth $1,250 or less and at least 8 model years old and sold to a registered dismantler or scrap processor, or the car is a 1972-or-older model New York never titled. For the junk and salvage path, you sell to a registered dismantler or scrap processor like Peddle or Wheelzy.
For everything else, you’ll need a duplicate title before you can sell. The DMV will issue one for $20, and you can apply online if your title has no lien and your name and address haven’t changed.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender holds the title if you have an active loan. Contact them to arrange a payoff and request the lien release. In New York, a paper-title lender mails you the released title once the loan is paid off; an ELT lender releases it electronically and a paper title is then issued before the sale.
If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference before you can hand over a clean title.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or legally changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change when you complete the transfer.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in New York, especially in New York City, Buffalo, and Rochester where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut.
New York’s dense population and proximity to major metro areas means you can often find a buyer within days, but buyers in the NYC area expect clean paperwork fast. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.
Best for Newer Cars
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
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Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
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Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
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Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
Best for Older Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
- Quote stays valid for 7 days
- Handles all the paperwork too
- Buys cars that are missing keys
- Pays cash or check at pickup
Best for Junk Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 5/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 4/5
- Assists with replacement titles
- Buys cars stripped for parts
- Driver pays you before loading
- Quote often needs a phone call
Learn more:
Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
Learn more:
Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at the issuing bank), or meet at the buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the New York Title Transfer
Flip your New York title over and find the “Transfer by Owner” section on the back. Title transfers happen at the buyer's local DMV office, where the buyer applies for registration and title in a single transaction. Both you and the buyer fill out this section together at the time of sale.
What to fill in:
- Buyer’s full legal name and address
- Date of sale and exact purchase price
- Current odometer reading
- Your signature as seller
- Buyer’s signature
Important rules: Title notarization is not required. New York does not require the title assignment to be notarized; sign in blue or black ink exactly as the name appears on the front of the title, and do not use white-out or cross-outs. If you make a mistake, you’ll need to apply for a duplicate title before completing the sale.
Joint ownership: If the title shows “AND” between two names, both owners must sign. If it shows “OR,” only one owner needs to sign. Make sure every signature matches the name exactly as it appears on the title.
After the sale: the buyer must register the vehicle before driving it on public roads, and within 180 days of the effective date on their New York State Insurance ID Card. New York requires a fresh inspection any time ownership changes. A safety inspection is not required of the seller; the buyer must pass an annual safety inspection within 10 days of registering the car.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
A bill of sale is required for all private sales; the buyer gives the original to the DMV to register the car.
Use the official state form. Form MV-912 (Vehicle Bill of Sale) is the New York Vehicle Bill of Sale. The form is an official New York DMV form available as a free PDF download; the buyer must give the original (not a photocopy) to the DMV when registering the vehicle, and both the buyer and seller sign it. Make two copies, one for you and one for the buyer.
What to include: Vehicle year, make, VIN, odometer reading, sale price and date, and both parties’ full contact information.
Sales tax form: New York also needs a sales tax form for the buyer to register. Form DTF-802 (Statement of Transaction) is required for every private sale, not just gifts. The buyer brings it to the DMV to calculate and pay sales tax on the purchase price, and you both fill it out.
Gifting the car? Write $0 as the price and note it’s a gift. For gift transfers, the donor signs the title transfer section and the MV-912 Bill of Sale, writes 'GIFT' or '$0' as the purchase price, and completes Form DTF-802 (the donor also signs Section 6 of DTF-802 if the gift is to anyone other than a spouse, parent, child, stepparent, or stepchild); the recipient submits the title, MV-912, DTF-802, Form MV-82, and proof of insurance at a DMV office to register the vehicle.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle New York License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In New York, plates stay with the seller (the registered owner), not the car. The buyer gets new plates when they register.
You have options for your plates. You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own at the DMV, or surrender them to the DMV (in person at a county DMV office, or by mail to the DMV Albany address) before canceling your liability insurance. For fees, no fee to transfer plates to another car in your name; $1 to surrender plates in person at a county office, free by mail.
To surrender plates, Surrender your plates in person at any DMV office (a $1 fee applies) or by mail to the NY DMV. The DMV mails the FS-6T receipt back as your proof of release..
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
Not available.
You should file Immediately. Keep the FS-6T receipt. If any tickets, tolls, or incidents occur after the sale, that receipt proves you no longer owned the vehicle at that point.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete and after you’ve surrendered your plates to the DMV.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
New York Sale Checklist
Before the Sale
At the Sale
After the Sale
New York DMV Resources
State Resources:
- New York DMV
- New York DMV, Buy, Sell, or Transfer Vehicle Ownership
- Apply for Duplicate Title Online
- For more state DMV links: List of All 50 State DMV Websites
Phone Support:
- Title Service Bureau: 1-518-486-4714
- General DMV information: 1-518-486-9786
New York Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $20 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Plate surrender (in person) | $1.00 | After sale |
| Plate surrender (by mail) | $0 | After sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
New York also requires a fresh inspection any time ownership changes. A safety inspection is not required of the seller; the buyer must pass an annual safety inspection within 10 days of registering the car.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in New York?
When is a bill of sale required in New York?
In New York, a bill of sale is required for all private sales; the buyer gives the original to the DMV to register the car.
The form is an official New York DMV form available as a free PDF download; the buyer must give the original (not a photocopy) to the DMV when registering the vehicle, and both the buyer and seller sign it. You can use our free bill of sale generator as a starting point, but make sure the final version matches the Form MV-912 (Vehicle Bill of Sale) format.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in New York?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender first.
If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference before you can hand over a clean title.
My car was inherited. What additional New York forms do I need?
The form depends on your situation. Use Form MV-349.1 (Affidavit for Transfer of Motor Vehicle) for a surviving spouse or minor child, Form MV-349 (Transfer of Vehicle Registered in Name of Deceased Person) for next of kin when there is no surviving spouse or minor child, or Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from Surrogate's Court for a probated estate.
The estate value threshold matters too: $25,000 vehicle value limit for the small estate path under EPTL section 5-3.1 using Form MV-349.1 (surviving spouse or minor child) or Form MV-349 (next of kin); estates with more than one vehicle, with a vehicle worth more than $25,000, or that require probate must use Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Contact your local DMV office to confirm the current requirements for your situation.
Both my spouse and I are on the New York title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the names appear on the title. If both names are connected by “AND,” both of you must sign the transfer section. If connected by “OR,” only one owner needs to sign.
Make sure every signature matches exactly how the names appear on the front of the title, including middle initials if they’re listed.
What if I make a mistake on the New York title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. The DMV will reject a title with corrections or alterations. You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form MV-902, which costs $20.
You can apply for a duplicate title online. You can apply online via the NY DMV title duplicate portal, by mail to NYS DMV Title Bureau, P.O. Box 2750, Albany, NY 12220-0750, or in person at any DMV office. The title prints within 72 hours of an accepted application and is mailed to you, never handed over at a DMV office.
Once you have the duplicate, start the transfer process fresh on the clean title.
The buyer is from out of state. Does New York require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. Sign the back of the title, complete Form MV-912 (Vehicle Bill of Sale), remove your plates, and hand over the vehicle.
The buyer handles registration and title transfer in their home state.
Some states require a VIN inspection before registering an out-of-state vehicle. That’s the buyer’s responsibility to sort out, not yours.
Give the buyer a copy of the bill of sale and let them know they should check their state’s rules.
Do New York license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, New York license plates stay with the seller. Remove them before the buyer drives away. The buyer gets new plates when they register the car at the DMV.
Can you sell a car without a title in New York?
In most cases, no. You need the title to sell, and a duplicate costs $20 if yours is lost.
There are two exceptions. The legal authority is NY Vehicle and Traffic Law section 429, plus the pre-1972 untitled-vehicle rule. To qualify, the car is worth $1,250 or less and at least 8 model years old and sold to a registered dismantler or scrap processor, or the car is a 1972-or-older model New York never titled.
For the junk and salvage path, you sign Form MV-35 (Statement of Vehicle Owner Who Does Not Have a Valid Title) instead of a title.
Do I need a sales tax form to sell my car in New York?
Yes. Form DTF-802 (Statement of Transaction) is required for every private sale, not just gifts.
You and the buyer both complete it. The buyer brings it to the DMV at registration, and the DMV calculates the tax from the sale price on the form.
If you sell below fair market value to someone outside your immediate family, you must also sign Section 6 to certify the lower price.
How do I sell a junk car in New York?
Junk cars don’t always follow the same process as running cars in New York.
The legal authority is NY Vehicle and Traffic Law section 429, plus the pre-1972 untitled-vehicle rule. To qualify, the car is worth $1,250 or less and at least 8 model years old and sold to a registered dismantler or scrap processor, or the car is a 1972-or-older model New York never titled.
You sign Form MV-35 (Statement of Vehicle Owner Who Does Not Have a Valid Title) with your photo ID, and the buyer handles the rest of the paperwork. If your car doesn’t qualify, you’ll need a clear title and Form MV-912 (Vehicle Bill of Sale) like a normal sale.
Most junk car buyers handle the DMV paperwork for you and provide free towing.
Learn more: How to Sell a Junk Car in New York?
Article Update History
The paperwork requirements, fees, and DMV procedures in this article reflect current New York State law.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
"Form MV-912 (Vehicle Bill of Sale)" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
"required for all private sales; the buyer gives the original to the DMV to register the car" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
"with the seller" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
"not required" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Duplicate Title Application Form
"Form MV-902" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Title Replacement Available Online?
"yes" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Emissions Testing Required to Sell?
"not required of the seller, but the buyer must complete an annual safety and emissions inspection within 10 days of registration in the new owner's name" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Buyer Registration Deadline After Sale
"the buyer must register the vehicle before driving it on public roads, and within 180 days of the effective date on their New York State Insurance ID Card" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form PD-7 (Plate Surrender Application)" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Where to Submit Duplicate Title Application
"online via the NY DMV title duplicate portal, by mail to NYS DMV Title Bureau, P.O. Box 2750, Albany, NY 12220-0750, or in person at any DMV office" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Sell Without Title: Legal Authority
"NY Vehicle and Traffic Law section 429, plus the pre-1972 untitled-vehicle rule" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Conditions to Sell Without Title
"the car is worth $1,250 or less and at least 8 model years old and sold to a registered dismantler or scrap processor, or the car is a 1972-or-older model New York never titled" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Separate Odometer Disclosure Form
"Form MV-103 (Odometer and Damage Disclosure Statement) when the title does not have an odometer section; odometer disclosure is required for vehicles model year 2011 or newer, 20 model years old or younger, and under 16,000 lbs gross vehicle weight" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
How to Complete a Gift Transfer
"the donor signs the title transfer section and the MV-912 Bill of Sale, writes 'GIFT' or '$0' as the purchase price, and completes Form DTF-802 (the donor also signs Section 6 of DTF-802 if the gift is to anyone other than a spouse, parent, child, stepparent, or stepchild); the recipient submits the title, MV-912, DTF-802, Form MV-82, and proof of insurance at a DMV office to register the vehicle" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
"New York DMV" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Title Transfer Form
"Form MV-349.1 (Affidavit for Transfer of Motor Vehicle) for a surviving spouse or minor child, Form MV-349 (Transfer of Vehicle Registered in Name of Deceased Person) for next of kin when there is no surviving spouse or minor child, or Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from Surrogate's Court for a probated estate" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Estate Value Threshold
"$25,000 vehicle value limit for the small estate path under EPTL section 5-3.1 using Form MV-349.1 (surviving spouse or minor child) or Form MV-349 (next of kin); estates with more than one vehicle, with a vehicle worth more than $25,000, or that require probate must use Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration" Accessed Jun. 3, 2026