N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 420: Transfer of registration

§ 420. Transfer of registration. 1. Upon the transfer of ownership or

the destruction of a motor vehicle, motorcycle or trailer, its

registration shall expire; and the seller, or the owner in case of

destruction, shall remove the number plates from the vehicle.

2. Such seller or owner may, however, register another vehicle and use

said number plates thereon, if appropriate, upon making application for

such registration, paying a transfer fee of ten dollars, and paying the

proportional excess, if any, of the annual fee for registering the

second vehicle over the annual fee for registering the first vehicle for

each day or fraction thereof constituting the unexpired registration

period. If the number plates of the first vehicle are not appropriate

for the second vehicle, the commissioner or his or her agent shall, upon

the surrender of such number plates, furnish appropriate number plates.

3. Provided, however, that upon the death of an owner of a registered

motor vehicle, motorcycle or trailer, its registration shall, unless the

vehicle is destroyed, be deemed to continue in force as a valid

registration until the end of the year or until the ownership of such

vehicle is transferred by the executor or administrator of the estate of

such owner or by the distributees of his personal property, whichever

occurs first. If the ownership of such vehicle is transferred as exempt

property under section 5-3.1 of the estates, powers and trusts law to

the surviving spouse of the owner, the fee for the initial registration

issued to such surviving spouse shall be the fee for such registration

reduced by the amount of the fee remaining for the unexpired term of the

registration issued to the deceased.

4. Provided, further, that upon the permanent removal of a vehicle

from the state, the owner may remove the number plates and be entitled

to the same privileges as though the vehicle had been sold or destroyed.

5. Provided, further, that a holder of manufacturers' and dealers'

registration having a motor vehicle, motorcycle or trailer registered in

his or its name under the provisions of this chapter may, if such

vehicle is placed in stock for sale, also remove the number plates and

be entitled to the same privileges as though the vehicle had been sold

or destroyed.

6. Provided, further, that the registration of a vehicle registered in

the names of two or more persons, as partners or otherwise, shall not

expire upon a change in ownership of the vehicle so long as any of the

persons named in such registration as owners of the vehicle is the owner

or part owner of the vehicle. However, when any change in the ownership

of such a vehicle occurs and the registration does not expire, the owner

or owners after such change shall forthwith file with the commissioner a

statement of the ownership of such vehicle in such form as the

commissioner shall require, together with a fee of ten dollars, and the

commissioner shall issue a new certificate of registration.

7. Where a dealer having registration under the provisions of section

four hundred fifteen of this chapter sells or trades a vehicle to a

person who has another vehicle duly registered under this chapter, or

who had another vehicle previously so registered, and the registration

of such vehicle is eligible for transfer to the purchased vehicle under

the provisions of this section and the number plates of the first

vehicle are appropriate, such dealer may issue on any date on which the

registration of a motor vehicle may be used a temporary certificate of

registration of the second vehicle under which such vehicle may be

operated as a duly registered vehicle for a period of thirty days from

the date of issuance, other provisions of this chapter notwithstanding.

Such temporary certificate of registration may be extended by the

commissioner for an additional thirty days, except that in no event

shall any such temporary certificate of registration be valid after the

expiration date of the registration for the first vehicle. Such

certificate shall be issued upon a form furnished by the commissioner

and shall be executed in such manner as he shall prescribe.

8. The owner of a registered motor vehicle, motorcycle or trailer may

transfer the registration and, if appropriate, the number plates thereof

to another vehicle owned by him or her upon making application for such

transfer, paying a transfer fee of ten dollars, and paying the

proportionate excess, if any, of the annual fee for registering the

second vehicle over the annual fee for registering the first vehicle for

each day or fraction thereof constituting the unexpired registration

period, provided, however, that the registration and number plates for

the second vehicle, if such vehicle is registered in this state, are

either surrendered to the commissioner or transferred to another vehicle

as provided herein. If the number plates of the first vehicle are not

appropriate for the second vehicle, the commissioner or his or her agent

shall, upon the surrender of such number plates, furnish appropriate

number plates. Whenever a total fee for reregistration prescribed in

this section shall amount to a fee other than a whole dollar amount, the

fee required to be paid shall be rounded to the nearest twenty-five

cents.