How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration Online

Note: You can now receive inspection and registration renewals reminders by email, and renew your registrations online with a new, easy renewal transaction, Sign up for Paperless Reminders for Inspections and Registration Renewals.

1.  Determine if you are eligible:

You can renew only the following types of vehicles online:

• Passenger vehicles (includes most sport-utility vehicles and passenger vans)
• Small commercial vehicles (includes delivery vans and pick-up trucks)
• Light duty trailers
• Motorcycles
• All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)

Note: To renew a boat registration online, see the instructions.

If your registration is not eligible to be renewed online, the transaction will provide an error message that explains why. Registration types that cannot be renewed online include:

• Snowmobiles
• For-hire vehicles (includes a taxi, a livery vehicle, or a bus).
• Vehicles that weigh 55,000 lbs. or more.
• Semi-trailers with 6-year registrations.
• Vehicles with an apportioned registration issued under the International Registration Plan (IRP).
• Vehicles with an ambulance, NYP (New York press), government or official registration.
• Rental vehicles.
• Vehicles that are exempt from the payment of registration fees.
• Vehicles that require the registrant to provide proof of insurance, a tax certificate, or another document for each renewal.

If you cannot renew your registration online, read the instructions to renew your registration by telephone, by mail or at a DMV office.

Your vehicle must be eligible for renewal and must have automobile liability insurance coverage. The registration must be valid (not suspended or revoked) and the registration must expire within the next 75 days.

The vehicle must have had an inspection within the last 12 months.

Your mailing address on DMV files must be your current address. Your new documents can be sent only to the address on the DMV record.

You cannot change your address during this transaction. You can first change your address online, and then process this transaction.

Important information for NYS military personnel who return from active duty that is related to the war on terrorism or the military action in Iraq. (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader®.)

If you cannot renew your boat registration online, read the instructions to renew your registration by telephone, by mail or at a DMV office.

2.  Determine what you must have and what you need to know:

You must have these items or this information:

• To do this transaction online, your web browser must permit cookies.
• You must use one of the credit cards accepted by DMV to pay the fee.
• You must know your vehicle plate number and registration class code. If you need help, refer to the sample registration documents.
• New York State recently introduced new Empire Gold plates.
  
  
  • For most registration classes and types, you have these options for your vehicle plates when you renew:
    
    
    1. Keep your current blue and white Empire plates,
    2. Order new Empire Gold plates with a new, random plate number, or
    3. Order new Empire Gold plates that have the same number as your current plates.
  • In most cases, there are additional fees for option 2 and option 3.
  • For certain registration classes, Empire Gold plates will automatically be issued with the same number.
  • If your registration class is not eligible for an option or options, then the options are not shown in the transaction.
  • Before you select the option, the transaction shows you the total fees you would pay for a renewal with each option available to you.
• You must provide an email address so the DMV can send you a confirmation. If the e-mail address you enter is blocked or protected, it can prevent the delivery of the confirmation email. Your email program must be able to receive e-mail from addresses that include the domain: dmv.ny.gov.
• Trailer registrations are valid for one year and expire on December 31. If you do not use your trailer until later in the year, you can renew the trailer registration later, and pay a lower pro-rated fee.
• Allow at least two weeks to receive your registration documents by mail. If your registration has expired or will expire in less than two weeks, see the FAQ about registrations that are expired or expire soon.
• You cannot cancel the transaction after you submit your payment.
• If you have a question about the online renewal, you can read the FAQs.