I Just Moved to New York. How Do I Get My Driver's License and Vehicle Registered?

by Joshua on April 06, 2022

Tags: ny drivers license moved to new york

Welcome to the Empire State! New York has a lot to offer, including activities, great food, entertainment, and other awesome things. This charming, dynamic state attracts people for different reasons. If you’re considering moving to New York, there are steps you need to take to legally transfer your out-of-state driver’s license and out-of-state vehicle registration. Here’s everything you need to know about both scenarios.

When Do You Need to Transfer Your Out-of-State Driver’s License to New York?

You are required to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license within 30 days of establishing your residency in the state of New York. According to the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law, individuals are considered a resident of the state of New York if they live in a room, apartment, house, or similar abodes for at least 90 days and plan to make it a fixed or permanent home.

What Constitutes a Non-Valid Out-of-State Driver’s License?

If your driver’s license falls under one or more of the following categories, transferring your driver’s license will not be an option:

Suspended or revoked
Stolen or lost, in which case you have to apply for a replacement photo of the driver’s license from the previous state
A hardship or an employment-only driver’s license (in which case you must apply for a new driver’s license)
Non-renewable or non-transferable (in which case you must also apply for a new driver’s license)

How to Transfer an Out-of-State Driver’s License to New York

In order to successfully transfer your out-of-state driver’s license to the state of New York, you need to complete different paperwork and tasks.

Schedule an Appointment at Your Local New York DMV

The first step you need to take is to schedule an appointment at your local New York Department of Motor Vehicles branch to obtain your new driver’s license. It’s a good idea to book your appointment at least one to two weeks ahead of time. However, you can walk into your local NY DMV office to complete your driver’s license transfer the same day, but it’s likely you will be there most of the day if not all day due to long wait times.

Obtaining the Required Documents

It’s a good idea to prepare the required documents beforehand to help avoid unnecessary delays or penalties with your out-of-state driver’s license transfer. You will need to take the following documents and payment(s) to your local NY DMV branch:

Proof of identity
- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
- U.S. birth certificate issued by a state or local authority
- Certificate of naturalization or citizenship
A valid out-of-state driver’s license
- Must contain a photo of you
- Must be valid or expired for less than 24 months
- Issued at least 6 months before you apply for the NY driver’s license

Pay the NY Driver’s License Transfer Fees
- $65 - $75 fee (can be paid with cash, credit/debit card, or check)

Make sure you have the appropriate documentation completed and ready to submit to the NY DMV clerk.

Pass the NY Vision Test

When you’re transferring your license to New York, you must take a vision test. The good news is, that the vision test is the only test you’ll be required to take when you need to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license. You can take this test at your local NY DMV office, which is administered by trained staff, or you can submit an eye test report (Form MV-619) that was completed by a licensed, qualified physician, physician assistant, nurse, optician, or supervised staff. You must receive a minimum test score of 20/40 in one or both of your eyes, with or without corrective lenses.

Receive Your Temporary NY Driver’s License

If the NY DMV accepts your submitted documents, and vision test results, and you pay all applicable fees, you will be granted a new NY driver’s license. You will receive a temporary NY driver’s license while you wait for your permanent NY driver’s license to arrive.

Although this license is a temporary document, it is valid and allows you to legally operate a motor vehicle in the state of New York. You can also use your temporary driver’s license as an identity credential. You should receive your new NY driver’s license in the mail to the address you provided on the driver’s license transfer application within two weeks. Your new NY driver’s license will be valid for 5 years.

Is Transferring Your Out-of-State Driver’s License Necessary If You’re Studying In New York?

If you’re a student in New York from a different state or country who attends school in New York State, you aren’t considered a resident and will not need to transfer your current driver’s license.

What If You’re From A Different Country?

If you have a valid driver’s license from a different country, you can operate a motor vehicle without being required to apply for a new one. If you become a New York State resident, you must apply for a new NY driver’s license and surrender your foreign driver’s license. Be advised, that you will also be required to pass the NY written test, endure a pre-licensing course, and pass the NY road test.

Now that we covered everything you need to know about transferring your out-of-state driver’s license to the state of New York, we can cover transferring your out-of-state vehicle registration to New York.

Registering Your Out-of-State Vehicle In New York

As a new resident of New York, you are required to register your vehicle with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV) when you move to New York. Your vehicle must be registered within 30 days of establishing residency. Be advised that you must obtain a valid NY auto insurance policy before you can register your vehicle in the state of New York.

In order to successfully register your vehicle in New York, you need to visit your local NYS DMV office and:

Present a New York State Insurance Identification Card (Form FS-20) This form can be obtained from your local NYS DMV office. NEW YORK DOES NOT ACCEPT OUT-OF-STATE INSURANCE.
Complete the Vehicle Registration/Title Application (Form MV-82)

Present your:
- Proof of identification
- Out-of-state proof of vehicle ownership
Complete the Claim for Sales Tax Exemption (Form DTF-803) for a tax exemption if you purchased the vehicle before you moved to NY.
Pay all applicable NY vehicle registration fees (these fees are based on the weight of your vehicle)

Vehicles With Liens

If you have a loan on your vehicle and a lien holder is in possession of the vehicle’s title, the NYS DMV will record this information on your vehicle registration and title. Head over to your local NYS DMV office and:

Provide a certified copy of your vehicle title from the lien holder (the copy of the vehicle title and the certification of the title is required to be on the same piece of paper)
Provide a statement from the lien holder on company letterhead that:
- Identifies the vehicle owner
- Lists the year, make, model, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Shows that the lien holder has possession of the original vehicle title and knows the owner of the vehicle is registering the vehicle in NY. (The lien holder statement can’t request notification of registration from the NYS DMV, as they will not provide this service)

Present a New York State Insurance Identification Card (Form FS-20)

Complete the Vehicle Registration/Title Application (Form MV-82)
Complete the Claim for Sales Tax Exemption (Form DTF-803) for a tax exemption if you purchased the vehicle before you moved to NY.
Pay all applicable NY vehicle registration fees (these fees are based on your vehicle’s weight.

New York DMV Locations

In the state of New York, there are different DMV locations where you can transfer your out-of-state driver’s license and out-of-state vehicle registration to the state of New York.

New York Department of Motor Vehicles

366 W 31st St

New York, NY 10001

(212) 645-5550

Monday - Friday (8 AM to 6 PM)

Saturday and Sunday (Closed)

New York Department of Motor Vehicles

19 Rector St

New York, NY 10006

(718) 488-5710

Call for office hours

New York Department of Motor Vehicles