BillOfSaleNow

Paperwork to Sell a Car in New York

New York private car sale checklist: Bill of sale required. Smog certificate required. Notice of Sale optional.

BILL OF SALE
Required
SMOG CERT
Required
NOTICE OF SALE
Optional
LIEN RELEASE
Must be clean title

Seller Documents — New York

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NY Certificate of Title — BOTH seller and buyer must sign the transfer section
✓
Bill of sale — required in New York (must include purchase price)
✓
Valid NY driver's license for both seller and buyer
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Odometer disclosure — completed in the title transfer section
✓
Valid NY vehicle inspection sticker (passed within past 12 months)

New York is unusual in requiring BOTH parties to sign the title. A bill of sale is also required (not just recommended) for a NY title transfer. The buyer must also show proof of NY auto insurance at the DMV.

How to Complete the New York Title

The NY title transfer section requires both the seller and buyer to sign. Complete the buyer's name, address, date of purchase, odometer reading, and purchase price. The buyer's signature is also required on the title — not just the seller's. NY plates stay with the SELLER.

Documents the Buyer Needs in New York

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Signed NY title — seller AND buyer must both sign
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Bill of sale (required, with purchase price)
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Valid NY driver's license
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Proof of active NY auto insurance
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Payment for sales tax (4% state + up to 4.875% local), title fee ($50), and plate fees

The buyer must complete the title transfer at a NY DMV office within 30 days. The buyer also receives new license plates — NY plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle.

Copies to Keep (Seller)

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Copy of the signed title showing buyer name, sale date, and odometer
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Copy of the signed bill of sale
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Copy of the buyer's NY driver's license (recommended)

Because NY does not require a formal Notice of Sale, the signed and dated title copy is the seller's primary protection. Keep for at least 3 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What paperwork do I need to sell my car in New York?
To sell a car in New York you need: NY Certificate of Title — BOTH seller and buyer must sign the transfer section; Bill of sale — required in New York (must include purchase price); Valid NY driver's license for both seller and buyer. New York is unusual in requiring BOTH parties to sign the title. A bill of sale is also required (not just recommended) for a NY title transfer. The buyer must also show proof of NY auto insurance at the DMV.
Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in New York?
Yes. New York requires a bill of sale for private vehicle sales. New York requires a bill of sale as part of the title transfer documentation. The bill of sale must include the purchase price, vehicle description (year, make, model, VIN), date of sale, and both parties' signatures and addresses. NY DMV uses it to calculate sales tax.
Do I need to file a Notice of Sale when selling a car in New York?
New York does not require a mandatory Notice of Sale. New York does not require a formal seller notification. However, keeping a copy of the dated, signed title is your protection against post-sale liability. Many NY sellers accompany the buyer to the DMV to complete the transfer immediately.
Do I need a smog certificate to sell a car privately in New York?
Yes. New York requires a valid smog certificate for most private-party sales. New York requires a valid vehicle inspection sticker (combined safety and emissions inspection, valid within the past 12 months). If the inspection is expired, the buyer must get the vehicle inspected before the DMV will process the title transfer.
New York Key Facts

New York is one of only a few states that legally requires a bill of sale (not just recommends it) for private vehicle sales. Both parties must sign the title. NY plates stay with the seller. A valid inspection sticker is required for the title transfer.

Paperwork to Sell a Car — Other States

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdaho

Trusted by private vehicle sellers nationwide

45% faster sale

Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.

Source: Experian / AutoCheck

$4,000 avg loss

NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.

Source: NHTSA

17.5M private sales/yr

About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.

Source: Cox Automotive 2024

1 in 3 buyers

Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.

Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)

$60–$85 mobile notary

Mobile notary visit minimums run $60–$85 — higher on weekends, plus per-mile travel fees. State-formatted documents skip the trip.

Source: Thumbtack / NNA