New York License Plate Lookup

A New York license plate lookup may provide essential information about a vehicle, including number of past owners, accident history*, and more. This can offer insight into a vehicle’s past, helping inform vehicle research for prospective buyers and vehicle owners alike.A New York license plate lookup may provide essential information about a vehicle, including number of past owners, accident history*, and more. This can offer insight into a vehicle’s past, helping inform vehicle research for prospective buyers and vehicle owners alike.

Want to learn more about a New York-based vehicle? Our NY license plate lookup can provide you with a detailed report containing a wealth of information about vehicles with New York plates. Our license plate search reports contain a wide range of data, such as accident history reports, title checks, vehicle specs, recall checks and more.

Get access to 50 New York license plate searches a month with Bumper!

Types of New York license plates

Standard plates

Standard issue plates are the most common type of license plates in New York, assigned to most vehicles. They display the standard New York design, which currently features a blue and gold color scheme with the Statue of Liberty and the state motto, “Excelsior,” meaning “Ever Upward”.

Standard plates are automatically issued upon vehicle registration and include a combination of letters and numbers assigned by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Custom picture plates

Specialty plates support specific causes, organizations, or display special designs. Examples include plates for veterans, universities, charitable organizations, and even custom organizational designs. Specialty plates often include unique design elements related to their cause, such as logos or emblems. Fees collected from specialty plates can serve as a fundraiser for the associated groups, with a portion of the fees going toward their respective organizations. The primary benefit of specialty plates is supporting and promoting various causes. However, their unique designs might make them more costly than standard plates.

Professional custom plates

Professional picture plates are designed for individuals in specific professions, including emergency services and medical fields. These custom plates allow professionals to showcase their pride in their work with distinctive designs that reflect their field of expertise. Although these plates serve to identify the registrant as a member of their respective professional group, they do not confer any special rights or privileges. They are intended to honor the dedication of professionals and offer a way to publicly recognize their important roles within the community.

Personalized plate numbers (vanity plates)

Vanity plates allow vehicle owners to select personalized combinations of letters and numbers. Unlike custom plates, which also allow letter and number combinations, vanity plates are often strictly for personal expression and come with higher fees. Restrictions may apply to the types of words or phrases allowed to ensure appropriateness. While vanity plates offer a unique way of asserting individuality, they are generally more expensive and subject to availability constraints based on chosen combinations. To find out if a personalized plate is available, use this tool provided by the DMV.

Commercial plates

Commercial plates are required for vehicles used for business purposes in New York State. In New York City, vehicle registration also involves a vehicle use tax, which varies by vehicle type. Most commercial vehicles are subject to a $40 annual tax, while livery, bus, and taxi vehicles are taxed at $400 per year. Additionally, a registration fee, ranging from $7 to $259 depending on the vehicle’s weight, is applied for vehicles up to 18,000 pounds. These fees ensure that commercial vehicles meet state regulations and contribute to infrastructure maintenance.

Cost of New York license plates

Fee structure

For standard passenger vehicles, initial registration fees depend on the vehicle’s weight and additional county use taxes. The basic vehicle plate fee is $25.00, while the title certificate fee is $50.00. A minimum 2-year fee of $32.50 applies to vehicles with six or more cylinders or electric vehicles.

Residents of New York City must pay a vehicle use tax of $30.00 for two years, and an additional Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) fee of $50.00 for two years is required.

Residents of the 12 counties within the MCTD, but outside of New York City, pay a vehicle use tax depending on vehicle weight and a supplementary fee of $50.00 for two years.

Additional costs

Personalized plates require an extra fee on top of the regular registration fees. This fee is usually $50 for a two-year period for standard vehicles and this applies to both the blue and white or gold plates.

Some picture plates can also be personalized with an additional fee besides the standard plate and registration fees. The maximum number of characters you can have on these plates varies: up to eight characters for standard plates, six for motorcycle plates, and six for picture plates.

Registering a vehicle in New York

Necessary documents and process

To register a vehicle in New York, gather the necessary documentation and visit your local DMV office. Required documents include:

1. Identification: A valid NYS Driver License, Permit, or Non-Driver ID card, current or not expired for more than 2 years. If you do not have one of these, refer to other acceptable proofs of identity and age.
2. Proof of ownership: The original or a certified copy of the NYS Certificate of Title, not a photocopy. For vehicles from other states, an acceptable proof of ownership from that state.
3. Emissions inspection reports: If you did not purchase the vehicle from a NYS auto dealer, a 10-day inspection extension sticker will be provided.
4. Insurance documentation: Two barcoded NYS Insurance ID Cards and an electronic notice of coverage sent to the DMV by your insurance company.

For business vehicles, bring proof of incorporation. The DMV will issue registration documents, one or two vehicle plates, and an inspection extension. A new title certificate will be mailed within 90 days if applicable.

Renewing license plates

Online renewal process

To renew your license plates online, gather the necessary documents and follow these steps. Keep in mind that the registration will be sent to the address on file. If you need to change your address, follow these steps.

1. Visit the renewal website: Go to the designated license plate renewal website. Ensure you’re using a compatible device with internet access.

2. Specify vehicle type: Select the appropriate vehicle class from Vehicle / Trailer, Boat, or Snowmobile options in the menu.

3. Enter necessary information: Input your plate number, registration class, last name or business name, zip code, and email address.

5. Pay the fee: Use an appropriate payment method like a credit card or PINless debit card.

Transferring license plates

Eligibility and process

To transfer a license plate between vehicles in New York, the vehicle owner must first meet certain conditions. The plates can only be transferred if both vehicles are registered under the same name. Those plates from vehicles that have been sold, given away, or otherwise disposed of can be transferred to another vehicle owned by the same individual. Bring the required documents to a DMV office, including the original title or other proof of ownership, the current NY State Insurance ID card, a valid NY State driver license, permit, or non-driver ID, and form DTF-802. There may also be a title fee of $50 if the title is not currently in your name.

How to properly surrender plates to the DMV

When surrendering plates, it is necessary to follow certain steps to ensure compliance and avoid penalties. Before ending your vehicle’s liability insurance, you must surrender your plates to avoid suspension of your registration and driver license.

1. Update address: Check that your address on the registration is current. If it is not, update it before mailing your plates. This ensures you receive your FS-6T receipt and any applicable refund checks. Additionally, file a change of address with the United States Postal Service for proper mail forwarding.

2. Remove plates and stickers: Remove plates along with any plate frames and fasteners. Destroy old registration and inspection stickers.

3. Mail or visit DMV: Mail the plates and a Plate Surrender Application (PD-7) in an envelope, not a box. Use the USPS postal service, as the postmark date will be your official surrender date. Alternatively, you can bring them in person to a DMV office, where county motor vehicle offices may charge a $1 processing fee. If someone else surrenders the plates for you, ensure they provide you with the FS-6T receipt for your records.

Motorcycle plates do not need to be surrendered unless the motorcycle will no longer be insured. Trailer plates must be surrendered if the trailer does not have valid registration. For lost, destroyed, or stolen plates, report the incident to the DMV and surrender the registration to obtain new plates and registration.

Contact information for New York DMV

DMV office locations and contact methods

Phone numbers:

General Telephone Assistance: Call 1-518-486-9786 or 1-800-698-2931 for general assistance. For Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) assistance, dial 711 or 1-800-662-1220 (have the relay operator dial 1-518-486-9786).

In-person services:
Select a county to locate your local DMV office and review the services available. Online reservations are recommended via: https://dmv.ny.gov/offices/county-offices

For salvage vehicles:
Salvage exam scheduling and transport permits are available Tuesdays - Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

* Bumper reports are based upon data available and may include historical accident records from 33 state-level agencies, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, to the extent such specific data has been compiled, digitized locally and is available. We strongly recommend your own due diligence and checking additional sources for states not listed above. As a reminder, even for states where we may have data, we cannot guarantee the comprehensiveness/accuracy of the information provided and you should not rely solely on our data in order to determine whether or not a vehicle was ever involved in an accident.