The procedure to replace a lost car title at the DMV in New York is generally completed by vehicle owners who are no longer in possession of a valid certificate of title. Drivers can request a copy of a damaged or lost car title through the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by submitting certain documents and paying the applicable costs.

If you fail to request a replacement car title in NY in the event that you lose or damage your title certificate, then you will encounter certain difficulties when conducting vehicle-related business with the state DMV. For example, car owners with a lost vehicle title will be unable to properly complete the title transfer procedure after selling or purchasing a vehicle in a private sale.

A title certificate is also necessary to properly complete the vehicle registration procedure. To learn how to replace a vehicle title in New York, continue reading the following sections.

When do you need to get a duplicate car title in New York?

Residents will need to know how to get a new title if lost, missing, damaged or otherwise illegible. Replacing a car title is a transaction that is available to vehicle owners who misplace or damage their certificates of title.

However, requesting a replacement car title is an important step under different circumstances as well. For instance, drivers wondering how to replace a stolen car title in NY and when to submit the replacement car title request must note that they will be required to follow the steps that apply for the standard title replacement procedure.

Other instances that may require you to replace a lost car title with the DMV is changing your name and/or address or obtaining a duplicate credential after the death of the original owner. Note that, once you complete the procedure to request a car title replacement in NY, any previously issued titles will be invalidated. Therefore, if you retrieve a lost title after obtaining a duplicate title, then you will either be required to destroy it or surrender it to the state DMV.

Documents Required When Applying for a New York Car Title Copy

To successfully request a car title search and replace a New York lost car title, applicants will have to meet several requirements, such as paying the applicable fee and submitting certain documents, which will help the state DMV confirm their identity and locate their vehicle records. The documentation requirements for replacing a lost or damaged car title typically include proof of identity, such as a valid driving license, and the DMV replacement title application form.

However, depending on your specific circumstances, additional paperwork may also be required. For instance, if you are replacing a vehicle title in NY for purposes of updating your name information, then you will also be required to submit proof of your new name, such as a marriage or a divorce certificate. If the vehicle owner granted you power of attorney on the other hand, then you will be required to submit notarized documentation that proves that fact.

Note: Prior to applying for a duplicate of a lost auto title in NY, contact a nearby DMV title office to inquire about the specific documentation that is required under your circumstances.

Available Methods for Replacing Your Car Title in New York

If you would like to know how to get a replacement car title in New York, note that you can utilize one of the DMV’s application methods. You can replace a car title online, by mail and in person.

While the procedures to request these credentials in person or by mail typically follow the same steps and requirements, the online transaction differs in various regards due to its unique replacement title application form. Special requirements for replacing a lost or damaged vehicle title online also apply.

Regardless of the method chosen to request a replacement car title in NY, applicants will receive their duplicate title by mail after the department manufactures it in its Albany facility. Customers also have the option of receiving their lost car title copy by express mail at an extra cost.

Online

Completing the procedure to replace a car title online in New York is the most convenient method of applying for a duplicate certificate. Vehicle owners can request a car title replacement through the DMV internet services portal, accessible via the department’s website. However, in order to replace a vehicle title online in NY, customers will have to fulfill the following requirements:

• The vehicle has been titled and registered in New York
• The applicant is the registered vehicle owner and he or she has not ordered a title certificate within the last two weeks
• The customer is not ordering a duplicate title with a power of attorney form or in the name of a deceased owner
• The car owner has a legitimate New York address on file with the department
• The applicant is not making any changes to his or her name and/or address

After accessing the online application for a lost vehicle title duplicate, customers will be required to enter several types of information, such as their vehicle identification number, model year and make, as well as their personal information, such as birth date, ZIP code and email address. To finalize the process of replacing a car title in NY via the internet, vehicle owners will be prompted to pay the applicable fee with an acceptable payment method.

By Mail

Another convenient method to request a replacement car title in New York is to complete the procedure through the mail. To successfully replace a car title by mail, auto owners will be required to send the MV-902 form, mentioned above, along with a copy of the applicant’s photo ID and the fee payment to the DMV Title Bureau in Albany.

However, prior to mailing your request for a replacement car title, contact the department to learn whether or not additional paperwork is required for your specific case. If you choose to send and receive your NY lost car title copy by express mail, then you will have to mail the application packet to the DMV Duplicate Title Certificates unit at another address.

Note that one of the requirements for replacing a lost or damaged car title by mail is submitting your payment in the form of a check or money order made payable to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

In Person

Vehicle owners who are unable to request a car title replacement in New York via one of the methods outlined above and prefer to make an office visit can always submit an in-person application through a local DMV title office. The steps and requirements to replace a lost car title in person are very similar to those that apply for the mail-in transaction outlined above.

To request a replacement auto title in person, customers will have to deliver the MV-902 form, along with all pertinent documents and the fee payment, to a nearby DMV site. Note that you will not be issued a duplicate title during your office visit. Once the state DMV processes your request for a lost auto title copy, it will print a replacement document and mail it to your address on file.

How to Fill out the Duplicate Car Title Application in New York

Prior to requesting a replacement car title in New York, applicants must verify the completeness and accuracy of their application form. Applying for a duplicate of a lost car title with a fraudulent request form is a misdemeanor offense punishable by law.

Submitting an incomplete form, on the other hand, may lead to a rejected replacement title application. Vehicle owners replacing a car title in NY with the MV-902 paper request form, will typically be required to provide the following types of data:

• The vehicle identification number, year, make and license plate number
• The owner’s full name and birth date
• The name of the legal party authorized to obtain a replacement title if applicable
• The applicant’s mailing address and phone number
• The applicant’s signature and the date the form was signed

Note: If you are completing the procedure to replace a vehicle title online in NY, then you will be prompted to provide similar types of information.

New York Car Title Replacement Fees

When replacing a car title in New York, vehicle owners will be required to remit payment for the applicable title-manufacturing fee. Applicants who would like to know what are the fees to replace a lost car title must note that the current cost of a replacement title is $20. However, if you choose to replace your lost auto title in NY through express mail, then you will be required to submit an additional payment for the express service.

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