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Driving without registration is serious business in New York. It’s usually punished by fines, fees, surcharges, and insurance increases.

In this guide we will walk you through the most common questions that people have about driving without registration in NY.

But first lets understand what the registration laws are in NY.

Why Do I Have to Register My Car in NY?

A vehicle’s registration is the document that proves that it is legally yours. Without it, there’s no bona fide legal way for the state to know which vehicle belongs to you. Also, vehicle registration fees make big bucks. 

In 2016, there were 4.9 million registered vehicles in the state, with each annual registration renewal costing at least $13 before taxes and supplemental fees. To save you the math, that’s well over $60 million a year—at minimum.

Section 401 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL) sets out the first of the rules and requirements for vehicle registrations. Those rules and requirements grow over a total of 63 sections and more than 32,000 words. 

We’ve done our best to sum that up for you here.

All vehicles intended for use on public roads in NY require a vehicle registration. That includes ambulances, certain agricultural equipment, and most of the vehicles you’ll ever own in your lifetime.

If you intend to operate your vehicle anywhere other than on private land (like, for example, your front lawn), you might be able to get by just fine with a non-operator’s license and no registration. However, if you ever want to drive your vehicle on a public road, you’ll need to have it registered.

Not all vehicles are required to have registrations. However, the exceptions are far too complicated to list in one brief article. Just to be on the safe side, file for a registration for your vehicle and let the DMV tell you whether you need one or not.

How Do I Register My Vehicle in NY?

Registering a vehicle in New York is not as complicated as the law might make it seem. The DMV lists a simple five-step guide on their website to help you get things done right. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Insure Your Vehicle

New York state has rigorous insurance requirements for most motor vehicles. Before you can register your vehicle with the DMV, you must first obtain proper insurance. That means insurance that satisfies a long list of conditions. Here are a few of them:

• At least $10,000 coverage in the event of an accident resulting in property damage.
• At least $25,000 coverage in the event of an accident resulting in bodily injury.
• At least $50,000 coverage in the event of an accident resulting in the death of a single person.
• At least $100,000 coverage in the event of an accident resulting in the deaths of multiple people.
• Must remain in effect for the entire duration of the registration period.
• Must be valid in New York state.
• Must match the name listed on your vehicle’s registration.

Fortunately, your insurance provider will most likely be aware of all of these conditions and able to help you find a plan that works for you.

Step 2: Provide the Necessary Documents

In order to do anything at the DMV, you’ll need a long list of documents, including multiple proofs of identification. Fortunately, the DMV website has a document guide that can help you figure out exactly what it is you need. Here’s how to use it:

Start by selecting the type of vehicle that you want to register. There are many options to choose from, so be sure to look up exactly what kind of vehicle you own. Of course, most people find it pretty easy to distinguish between a boat and a pickup truck.

Next, select whether you have the vehicle now or will have it soon. Select what you want to do with your vehicle, such as “Register my vehicle in NY State.” Fill out some additional information. Press the correct button for how you got the vehicle and where you got it. From then out, the process is pretty self-explanatory.

Of course, if you ever need any more help, feel free to ask us in the comments at the bottom of this article.

Step 3: Give Your Documents to the DMV

Nobody likes going to the DMV. You’ll have to sit, wait, stand in lines, sit again, wait some more, and so on. It can feel like purgatory or an endless cycle of waiting in lines, sitting down, and waiting in lines again. Fortunately, the following counties allow you to register a motor vehicle online:

• Albany County
• Bronx County
• Kings County
• New York County
• Onondaga County
• Richmond County
• Rockland County
• Queens County
• Westchester County

Step 4: Obtain the Proper Items from the DMV

Thought you had enough already? Nope. In the world of bureaucracy, there’s always more bureaucracy to go around. In order to ensure that the registration process goes through correctly, there are a few documents that you need to ask the DMV to give to you. Here is a brief list of them:

• Between one and two new license plates.
• The registration sticker that goes on your window.
• Paperwork validating your registration.
• An inspection sticker.

Step 5: Get Your Vehicle Inspected

After steps one through four, all that’s left to do is get your vehicle inspected. You’ll have to do this every year and/or whenever a new owner takes possession of the registered vehicle.

Once that’s done, pay up and you’re good to go!

How Do I Renew My NY Vehicle Registration?

To renew your vehicle registration, go online to the DMV’s website. But, before you get started, you’re going to need a few things:

• Your registration number. Sometimes, this is called your plate number.
• Your registration class.
• The registrant’s last name or the name of the business to which the vehicle is registered.
• A debit or credit card to pay the renewal fees.

Penalties for Driving Without Registration in NY

New York law includes steep penalties for people who drive without properly registering their vehicle. Those people can face hundreds of dollars in fines, additional surcharges, and suffer insurance increases.

The total fine amount for driving without registration in NY can be between $40 and $300. Surcharges can add up to $93 on top of that, contributing to a total cost of $393.

Will I Get Points On My License for Driving Without Registration in NY?

New York police officers and court officials work with what is called a point schedule. The New York point schedule sets out what violations are worth points, how many points they’re worth, and whether subsequent violations lead to even more points.

In New York, driving without registration is worth zero points. However, that doesn’t mean that your insurance provider will consider it a zero-point violation. Insurance companies have their own point systems. Even if the government considers driving without registration a zero-point violation, your insurance provider might consider it worth points.

Will My Insurance Go Up for Driving Without Registration?

Insurance companies can increase your insurance for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is a conviction for driving without registration. As if fines and surcharges weren’t bad enough already, insurance premiums increase by an average of 10.9% ($161) after a conviction for driving without registration.

In New York, a conviction for driving without registration can stay on your record for insurance purposes for up to four years. That means your higher insurance premiums could last for all four years, totalling an average of $644.

Is It Possible to Fight a Driving Without Registration Charge?

Driving without registration charges carry civil penalties. That means there’s no risk of jail time. It also means you can hire a traffic ticket attorney to help handle your case. In other words, it is possible to fight a driving without registration charge and win.

Hiring a lawyer through the WinIt app is the best way to ensure that you beat your case. WinIt’s lawyer partners are in it to win it. With years of experience under their belt, countless cases won, and over $10 million saved, these lawyers are some of the best in the industry.

To start fighting your case today, head over to the App Store or Google Play, download the WinIt app, and dive right in!