New York does not issue titles for:
- Cars, trucks, and vans manufactured in 1972 or older.
- Boats manufactured in 1986 or older, or under 14 feet long.
- Trailers manufactured in 1972 or older, or weighing 999 pounds or less.
A transferable registration acts as the ownership document for these vehicles.
Transferable registration serves as proof of ownership in New York for vehicle types that don’t require titles. This simplifies registration for older or specific vehicles.
If a New York State transferable registration is lost, the current owner can apply for a duplicate registration at a DMV office. Use the Application for Registration or Title (PDF) (MV-82) and the Registration/Titling a Vehicle in New York State (PDF) (MV-82.1). The current owner can transfer ownership with a copy of the registration, even if it’s expired. However, the owner will still need to complete a bill of sale.
If a New York State transferable registration is lost and the DMV cannot issue a duplicate, the current owner can apply for a New York State Certificate of Registration for Transfer of Non-Titled Vehicle (MV-353). The DMV must verify that the vehicle was registered to the current owner. The current owner must provide proof of identity. The fee for the MV-353 form is $10.
If the DMV is unable to issue a transferable registration or the MV-353 form, the registrant must provide other proof of ownership. For instance, the registrant can present an old registration, the original Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, or the original Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin. If no proof is available, the registrant can use a Statement of Ownership (PDF) (MV-51B) as proof of ownership.
In cases where the seller has not registered the vehicle, boat, ATV or snowmobile, they can provide the buyer with a completed Affidavit of Sale or Transfer (MV-51), the original proof of ownership and the bill of sale they received from the previous owner.
If there have been multiple previous owners, the seller must also provide the buyer with proof of all prior transfers of ownership along with the bills of sale. This ensures transparency and legality in the sale process.
