New York Porch working sheet

Private car sale paperwork sheet

Do not pay on a promise that the title will be fixed later. Match the seller, title, VIN, lien status, vehicle, and sale papers before money and possession change hands.

1. Compare the VIN on the vehicle, title, registration, and sale paperwork.
2. Confirm the seller is the titled owner and every required owner signs exactly as instructed.
3. Resolve any lien with acceptable original proof before relying on a clear transfer.
4. Complete a detailed bill of sale and the current DMV and Tax Department forms for the transaction.
5. Keep copies of the signed title, bill of sale, payment, odometer information, and seller contact details.
6. Arrange New York insurance before registration; do not drive on the seller's plates or registration.
7. Register and title through DMV, then complete the required inspection within the period DMV gives you.
8. The seller should remove plates and follow DMV instructions for surrender, transfer, or disposal.

Working record

VIN

Year / make / model

Seller name

Sale date

Price

Lien proof

Insurance effective

DMV receipt

Inspection due

Use this carefully: Older vehicles, out-of-state documents, estates, gifts, businesses, missing ownership proof, rebuilt vehicles, and dealer sales can use different forms.

Official starting points

• NY DMV - transfer ownership — https://dmv.ny.gov/titles/buy-sell-or-transfer-vehicle-ownership
• NY DMV - register and title — https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/register-and-title-a-vehicle
• NY Tax Department - DTF-802 — https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_forms/st/dtf802.pdf

Full explanation: Buying a used car privately · Reviewed July 13, 2026