A certificate of title for a vehicle (also known as a 'title' or 'pink slip') is a legal document that establishes a person or business as the legal owner of a vehicle. 

If you own a vehicle that you need to register, title, and receive plates for, see how to register the vehicle. 

Existing title holders

• Replace a title
  
• Check a title or lien status

Changes to your title

• Change address
• Remove a lienholder from a title manually or using the Electronic Lien Transfer System 
• Add a lienholder to a title manually or using the Electronic Lien Transfer System
• Change name after lease buyout
• Transfer ownership

Vehicles, trailers and boats that do not get a title

New York does not issue titles for 

• cars, trucks, and vans model year 1972 or older
• boats either model year 1986 or older, or less than 14 feet long 
• trailers model year 1972 or older, or weighing 999lbs or less

The transferrable registration is the ownership document for these vehicles. Learn how to replace the registration.

Apply for a title certificate only

Use the Application for Title Only (PDF) (MV-82TON) form. Follow the instructions carefully.

Do not use this form to

• apply for both a vehicle registration and a title certificate at the same time
• replace a lost title certificate

See how to register and title a vehicle, or how to replace a title certificate.

Junk & Salvage

Regulations require the DMV to mark or 'brand' a title certificate if an 8 year or newer vehicle received damage of 75% or more of the retail value (or was destroyed). 

• About the salvage vehicle examination
• Salvage branding
• Sell a salvage vehicle (salvage vehicle disclosure)

Resources

• Abandoned and unclaimed vehicles
• Military and veteran resources
• Power of attorney for vehicle transactions
• If a family member has died
• More information about titles
• How to register a newly purchased vehicle if you do not have the title