How to Buy a Car in New York
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The Empire State is rich in its culture and history and has provided countless opportunities for generations. And by ranking as one of the most populated states in the country, New York also has plenty of opportunities for when you’re thinking of buying a car.
Although there are some specific nuances you’ll need to consider before you make that big purchase it may be a sigh of relief to know that the process is very similar to other states across the country.
If you’re wondering how to buy a car in New York and are asking yourself questions like: What information will I need? Is it different than buying a car anywhere else? There are a few things that require a little bit of extra effort but shouldn’t take extra weeks of preparation.
Regardless of your purchasing route vehicles manufactured in or before the 2010 model year are exempt from the mileage disclosure in New York. We’ll assume you already know the basics about having your driver’s license, insurance information, and payment, so this will mainly focus on the forms and processes associated within the state of New York. Keep reading below to know which documents you’ll need beforehand.
How to Buy a Car in New York - Dealership (New)
If you are looking for the least amount of work outside of your searching, budgeting, and preparation, going to a dealership is a huge benefit. For a new vehicle purchased from a dealership, two additional things are required. A Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) and the dealership’s Certificate of Sale also known as the (MV-50) can both be provided for you.
Every car dealership in the state is required to register with the DMV and must follow specific state and federal guidelines to protect the consumer. If they can’t provide these things, there’s a good chance it’s an unregistered dealership and you may want to look elsewhere.
You can follow this link to see which locations are registered with the state. These locations generally follow the safety, emissions, and repair procedures to help lower your risk and stay up to date with current regulations.
Outside of the cost to purchase the vehicle and your existing insurance, the license plate fees and title certificate are surprisingly low. Usually, the dealer can add this on for you for an additional $50 for the title certificate, and then potentially a sticker fee based on vehicle weight and your sales tax county that you can check here.
FEEL SECURE IN THE CAR YOU CHOOSE
You don’t want to buy a car - you want to get the best deal on the car you’re looking for. The CoPilot app will notify you if there’s a similar vehicle in your area at a better price, so you’re always certain you got the best deal available.
How to Buy a Car in New York - Dealership (Used)
You will still need the (MCO) and (MV-50) documentation, and additionally for a pre-owned vehicle purchase from a dealership, the Certificate of Title (MV-999), or common proof of ownership is needed for all cars made in 1973 to now.
For any vehicle manufactured in 1972 or earlier, the dealer can provide a Certificate of Sale showing the car was previously signed over to the dealer, and now ownership belongs to you.
If you plan on trading in your vehicle, you can transfer the vehicle’s title certificate to the new owner (which is usually the dealership) once you appropriately sign the document, provide the buyer’s information, and complete odometer and damage documentation.
It’s important that you remember to turn in your old license plates to the DMV unless you are transferring directly to a replacement vehicle to avoid paying a penalty.
Every vehicle bought in the state of New York must be titled before it is allowed to be registered. So, if you aren’t able to obtain the title or certificate of ownership, things may be a little more complicated.
How to Buy a Car in New York - Private Seller
The biggest advantages of buying from a private individual usually are for additional savings and with a faster turnaround time, but the biggest drawback is that you don’t have much recourse and bear more responsibility for the purchase.
For a pre-owned car you plan to purchase from a private seller, you’ll need a Certificate of Title (MV-999), or if the vehicle was produced before 1972 you can have the owner sign over a transferable registration. This is something you will need to get the private seller to complete, and with your signature and proper mileage and damage noted will be transferred to you.
If the vehicle you’re buying is 8 model years old or younger (model year 2012 and newer), the DMV does not issue a new title certificate until the seller completes the damage disclosure statement on the back of the Certificate of Title.
You can also opt for a Odometer and Damage Disclosure Statement (MV-103) with seller’s signature in addition to yours if you have issues getting the seller to initiate that process.
THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000
We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. Take a look - some of the best used SUVs have gone mostly overlooked or forgotten.
Assuming you’ve done your test drives, inspection, and negotiation, the paperwork is pretty similar to buying from a dealership. Most of these items can be found on the DMV website or in person, but when going the private seller route these are some things to check:
Make sure the title is authentic.This means no marks, missing numbers or letters, scratches, etc. The smallest detail could void the title and ultimately halt the sale. You can also verify that the title you are receiving is the most recent edition which will help the process go by quicker, and you can check on the New York DMV site here.
The DMV is a great resource overall for purchasing cars in New York, and you can complete your research when buying from a private seller by requesting a (MV-901). This is super important to check for any outstanding loans the car that can limit your responsibility on payments and prevent the car from eventually being repossessed.
THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET
Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
Lemon Laws
Regardless of purchase method, New York State’s new and used car consumer protection may provide legal assistance for individuals that lease or buy cars. If a car is beyond repair or does not live up to its specified manufacturer’s warranty, the consumer may be able to receive a partial refund or adequate replacement.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
Buying a car in New York may seem like a daunting task but it’s actually pretty straightforward and just requires a little bit of preparation. Follow the guidelines for your specific method of purchase and most of the documents can be found with the assistance of the DMV. Of course, remember to have your driver’s license, payment method, insurance, and you’ll be well on your way.
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
