Selling a car in New York: the paperwork
| New York seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| License plates | Seller removes them; turn in or transfer |
| Report the sale | No separate seller notice form |
| Duplicate title | MV-902; $20 |
| Bill of sale | Required |
| Older cars without a title | Model year 1972 and older are not titled. The transferable registration proves ownership and is used to sell. |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases (MV-35, Statement of Vehicle Owner Who Does Not Have a Valid Title) |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in New York
We buy cars in New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse and Albany, and in every other town in New York a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in New York
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in New York, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Cities we serve in New York
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in New York too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
New York car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in New York?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost New York title, apply to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles with MV-902. The fee is $20. For older vehicles, New York has an exception: Model year 1972 and older are not titled. The transferable registration proves ownership and is used to sell.
Can I junk a car without a title in New York?
Sometimes. Owners without a valid title may use MV-35 to transfer a vehicle at least eight model years old, worth $1,250 or less, to a registered dismantler, itinerant collector or certified scrap processor, with ID. Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost New York title, apply to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles with MV-902. The fee is $20.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in New York?
In New York, the plates don't go to the buyer. Surrender plates to DMV unless you transfer them to another vehicle you own. Keep the FS-6T surrender receipt.
How do I tell the New York DMV that I sold my car?
New York has no separate seller notice form. In New York, the plates don't go to the buyer. Surrender plates to DMV unless you transfer them to another vehicle you own. Keep the FS-6T surrender receipt. Keep a bill of sale and a photo of the signed title as your record of the sale, in case a ticket or toll arrives later.
Is pickup really free everywhere in New York?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in New York a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- NY DMV: Plates
- NY DMV: Transfer a registration to another vehicle
- NY DMV: Surrender plates and registration
- NY DMV: Buy, sell, or transfer vehicle ownership
- NY DMV: Certificate of Title
- NY DMV: Replace a title certificate
- NY DMV form MV-35 (6/22), Statement of Vehicle Owner Who Does Not Have a Valid Title
- NY DMV Forms and Publications, MV-35 entry
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.