As in all the states of the country, in New York it is necessary to have an updated vehicle registration to be able to drive legally . This document – as fundamental as the driver’s license, the title deed or the car insurance – is associated with obtaining valid license plates in the state, which are delivered once it is finished the procedure . According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the steps to follow to register a vehicle are as follows:
1. Secure the vehicle . In the state, it is necessary to have coverage, at least basic, in order to carry out the registration process. Once the car is insured, the applicant can start the process within 180 days after the start of the policy correspondent.
2. Collect the documents , the application form and the fee payment and take them to a local DMV office or send them to the appropriate postal address. Depending on the county of the state and the type of vehicle, the requirements can vary considerably. For that reason, the DMV has prepared a form so that each applicant can determine the documents they require .
3. After submitting the application, within a week or two later, the applicant will receive the registration document accompanied by: 1 or 2 vehicle registration plates and registration label. This can be delivered to the same local DMV office or via mail, depending on the nature of the request.
4. After receiving the registration document and the respective plates, the vehicle must be inspected to ensure that it complies with the state’s own safety regulations. This inspection must be carried out annually or when the ownership of the vehicle is transferred .
The penalties for driving without a valid car registration in the state can be aggravated if there are other illegal practices such as not having the title of property in order, not having current car insurance or, worse still , have expired or suspended license . In extreme cases, the authorities can force the driver to spend a certain period of time in prison, but these measures are normally associated with cases where the offenders have repeated the crime, at least twice, without having done anything about it to solve your situation.
You may also be interested in: Step to step: how to register a car purchased from a private seller in California