Selling or junking a car in New York, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the New York State DMV using MV-902 Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title; it can be done online.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller completes and signs the transfer section on the back of the title and signs a Vehicle Bill of Sale (MV-912). If there is no title, the seller can provide other acceptable proofs of ownership and transfer instead. This applies to gifts as well as sales.
- Deal with your plates. The DMV says that when you get rid of a vehicle you must turn in its plates, unless you move the registration and plates to another vehicle you own.
- Tell the state and your insurer. New York has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
How to sign over a title in New York
The seller completes and signs the transfer section on the back of the title and signs a Vehicle Bill of Sale (MV-912). If there is no title, the seller can provide other acceptable proofs of ownership and transfer instead. This applies to gifts as well as sales.
Official page: dmv.ny.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in New York
An eligible registered owner can order a replacement title online, or file form MV-902 by mail or at a DMV office. All titles are printed in Albany and mailed out, so none are issued at the office.
- Form: MV-902 Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title — download
- Available online: yes
- Official page: dmv.ny.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
Plates generally need to be returned or surrendered to the state. The DMV says that when you get rid of a vehicle you must turn in its plates, unless you move the registration and plates to another vehicle you own.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
Junk and salvage titles in New York
Form MV-35 lets an owner who has no valid title transfer a vehicle at least eight model years old and worth $1,250 or less to a licensed dismantler, itinerant vehicle collector or certified scrap processor (not to a private party). After that the vehicle can never be titled again and must be dismantled or scrapped.
Official page: dmv.ny.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in New York
New York does not title cars, trucks and vans from model year 1972 or older; for those, a transferable registration is the ownership document. A seller without standard proof can give the buyer an Affidavit of Sale or Transfer (MV-51) along with earlier ownership papers.
Official page: dmv.ny.gov
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New York title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in New York?
An eligible registered owner can order a replacement title online, or file form MV-902 by mail or at a DMV office. All titles are printed in Albany and mailed out, so none are issued at the office. The form is MV-902 Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title.
Do I need to notify New York when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for New York. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the New York State DMV.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in New York?
The DMV says that when you get rid of a vehicle you must turn in its plates, unless you move the registration and plates to another vehicle you own.
Can I junk a car without a title in New York?
New York does not title cars, trucks and vans from model year 1972 or older; for those, a transferable registration is the ownership document. A seller without standard proof can give the buyer an Affidavit of Sale or Transfer (MV-51) along with earlier ownership papers. Confirm the details with the New York State DMV.
Official sources
- New York State DMV — homedmv.ny.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titledmv.ny.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (MV-902 Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title)dmv.ny.gov
- MV-902 Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title formdmv.ny.gov
- License plates after a saledmv.ny.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesdmv.ny.gov
- Selling without a titledmv.ny.gov
Summarized from official New York government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the New York State DMV before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.