Buying a car in New York from out of state means you will need to go through the state in question’s DMV office to receive a temporary license plate and registration to move the car to New York.
Every time you purchase a new vehicle—either from a private party or a dealership—there are a host of steps you must complete before legally taking that vehicle out on the road. However, because these steps vary from state to state, buying a vehicle from out of state makes the New York State registration process that much more complicated.
Fortunately, reliable car insurance
broker app Jerry
is here with everything you need to know about the process of buying a car in New York from out of state. Whether you’re hoping to transfer a title to New York or are thinking of purchasing a New York vehicle as a resident of a different state, we’ve got all the facts you need. We’ll even show you how to lower your New York car insurance costs
while we’re at it! How to buy a car out of state as a New York resident
If you’re a New York resident who bought a car in another state, you’ll have to worry about three major things: how to register your vehicle, where to pay your taxes, and the procedure for transferring the certificate of title to New York.
First, you have to get your new car home. If you purchase a vehicle in another state, you will need to go through that state's DMV office to get a temporary plate and registration to transport the vehicle to New York. Most states offer some sort of in-transit vehicle permit or temporary registration.
Second, once the vehicle is in New York, you will need to follow the appropriate steps to register and title the vehicle with New York’s DMV. Every passenger or commercial car, truck, motorcycle, or SUV must be registered and titled, regardless of if you own or lease.
When you purchase a new vehicle through an auto dealership, the dealer can help you register and title the vehicle, and even issue plates—although they may not be able or willing to help you across state borders.
For this reason, you’ll have to go to the DMV yourself to sort everything out. You’ll also need to do this if you purchased your out-of-state vehicle from a private party.
Here are the steps you must take:
Get your vehicle insured. Then, you must register your vehicle at the DMV within 180 days of the effective date on your insurance ID card.
Submit your documents and application to the DMV. You can use the DMV registration guide
to figure out exactly what original documents you need, but you can generally expect to provide your New York driver’s license, at least one document you have that proves you purchased the vehicle, an out-of-state title showing transfer, lien information (if applicable), and your New York insurance card. Pay taxes and fees. Registering vehicles for the first time in New York requires payment of fees and taxes on the vehicle. These include sales tax, vehicle license plate fees, title certification fees, and vehicle use tax in some counties. Fees depend on weight, class, and where you live. The exact fees cannot be calculated until you apply.
Receive your documents from the DMV, including your license plates, registration window sticker, registration document, and 10-day inspection sticker. If applicable, the DMV will also send you a new title certificate.
Get your vehicle inspected at a DMV-licensed inspection station.
Keep in mind that in Montana, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, a notary must sign the bill of sale. This means that the bill of sale presented to the New York State DMV will have to be notarized.
MORE: Title transfer in New York
How to buy a car in New York if you live out of state
What if you want to do the opposite and buy a car in New York, but then take it out of state to where you live?
In this case, you’ll need to visit the New York DMV after purchasing your vehicle to apply for an interstate in-transit permit, which will allow you to transport a vehicle from a location in New York to a location outside of New York.
If you purchase your car from a dealership, they may be able to assist you with this process.
Proof of insurance will still be required. You may submit one of these documents as proof:
A letter from an insurance agent that verifies you have coverage. The letter must include the name of the insurance company, policy number, expiration date, effective date, name and address, and vehicle information (such as year, make, and VIN).
An Insurance Binder. Like the letter, this binder needs to include the name and address of the insurance company, your name and address, the effective and expiration dates of the policy, and a description of the car (including year, make, and VIN).
Once you get your new vehicle to your home state, you’ll have to follow their rules and regulations for registration.
Be sure to check with your local DMV before leaving New York with your new vehicle so that you can be sure that you obtain all of the proper documents from the vehicle seller before taking off.
What if I don’t have a physical title?
Under most circumstances, when you first register and title a vehicle that you bought in New York, you must provide the DMV with either a title or transferable registration signed over to you as proof of ownership. There are certain situations, however, where you might not have the title to a vehicle.
Some of these cases may include:
Purchasing a vehicle at a sheriff or marshall auction
Abandoned and unclaimed vehicles
Custom or homemade vehicles or trailers
In these cases, other types of proof of ownership may be accepted, such as a copy of the bill of sale. The DMV will advise you in every circumstance.
Tips for buying a vehicle out of state
Buying a car out of state has its benefits. Certain vehicles are only available in certain states, and sometimes crossing borders can mean greater access to amazing sales. Sometimes, it’s just a geographical coincidence. For example, New York City residents often find themselves shopping in the state of New Jersey.
Here are a few essential tips to keep in mind when car shopping out of state:
Never skip the vehicle history report. This is especially important if you’re buying a used car from a private owner. CARFAX
and other services provide vehicle history reports that will alert you to any accidents or other issues in the car’s history. Schedule your vehicle inspection at home. The car you buy needs to meet the inspection requirements of the state you’ll live, drive, and register the vehicle in—not the state where you bought it.
Don’t forget an emissions test. For some states, emissions testing
is a part of the process of buying a car! Research your home state’s vehicle sales tax laws. When you buy a car out of state, you pay taxes based on your home state, not the state of purchase.
Buy car insurance before you leave the dealership. If you plan to drive the car back to your home state, don’t set out without insurance! Even if your other paperwork is still in flux, you’ll need to carry insurance that meets New York’s minimum requirements.
MORE: Car inspection in New York
How to save on car insurance in New York
Before registering your vehicle in the state of New York, you’ll need to provide the DMV with proof of car insurance
. Don’t rush and just buy the first policy you stumble upon, however—let Jerry
shop quickly for you instead. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from more than 55 name-brand insurance companies and helping you finalize your new car insurance.
And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.7/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
“I was nervous to buy insurance for my first car because I had heard horror stories about the insurance prices in New York. After not even two minutes, I found four quotes from Jerry
under $125/month. By the end of the night, I was on the road safe and insured!” —Reuben R.
RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
4.7
