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®.)

Can I renew my registration on-line if I:

• Changed my address?
• Changed my name?
• Have a temporary residence at an address that is different from the address on my DMV record or my current document?
• Have a registration that has expired or will expire during the next two weeks?

What information and documents do I need to renew my vehicle registration on-line?

To renew your vehicle registration on-line, you will need these items:

• Your registration renewal notice (MV-3) or your current NYS vehicle registration.
• A credit card or a debit card that the DMV accepts.
• An e-mail address that is not blocked and not protected so the DMV can send your order confirmation to you. To receive e-mail from the NYSDMV, your e-mail program must be able to receive e-mail from addresses that include: dmv.state.ny.us.
• A pen or a pencil and a piece of paper, or a printer, to record your order number.

I did not receive a renewal notice in the mail. Can I renew my registration on-line?

If the reason you did not receive a renewal notice is because of a mail delivery problem or a production problem at the DMV, you can normally renew on-line. If you are not sure of the reason why you did not receive a renewal notice, try to renew on-line, and see if you receive an error message.

You cannot renew your registration on-line if the reason you did not receive a renewal notice is on of these reasons:

• You changed your address and did not file a change of address with the DMV.
• Your vehicle registration is suspended or revoked.
• You failed to answer three or more parking tickets in one jurisdiction.

If you try to renew on-line when one of these circumstances occurred, you will receive an error message. Follow the instructions of the error message.

Can I renew my vehicle registration early?
Why do I receive an error message that informs me that I cannot renew early?

You can renew your vehicle registration a maximum of 60 days before the expiration date. You cannot renew your registration more than 60 days before the expiration date. If you try to renew your registration on-line more than 60 days before the expiration date, you will receive an error message that explains that you cannot renew early.

You will receive the error message that it is too early to renew your registration if your click your mouse cursor on the button that displays the words "Submit My Order" more than one time during the on-line renewal transaction. Click on the button only one time.

Can I renew my trailer registration later in the year?

Yes. Trailer registrations are valid for one year and expire on December 31. If you will not begin to use your trailer until after December 31, you can renew the registration on a later date, but the expiration date of the renewed registration will be December 31. The pro-rated registration fee you pay is a lower fee. The amount of the fee depends on the date that the DMV processes your renewal.

You must have a valid registration and a plate sticker to use the trailer. Make sure that you process your on-line registration renewal a minimum of two weeks before the date that you need the registration documents.

Can I renew my registration on-line if I changed my address?

No, you cannot renew your registration on-line if the address on the DMV records or your current document is not your current address.

You cannot:

• change your address during the on-line renewal, or
• change your address after the on-line renewal and then receive your documents at the new address, or
• renew your registration on-line and then request that the DMV mail your documents to a different address.

If you change your address during a vehicle or driver license transaction, the change will not affect the address on your other DMV records. For example, if you changed your address when you renewed a vehicle registration, this did not change the address on your driver license record or on the registration records for other vehicles.

The DMV changes the address on both your driver license and your vehicle records only if you report the change on form MV-232 (Change of Address) or through the DMV Call Center. You must provide all of your vehicle plate numbers to change your address on all of the vehicle records.

Note: If you file a request with the US Postal Service (USPS) to forward mail there is no guarantee that the USPS will forward all DMV documents to the new address.

If your address has changed, you must apply by mail or at a DMV office to change your address and renew your registration.

Can I renew my registration on-line if I have a temporary residence at an address that is different from the address on my DMV record or my current document?

If the US Postal Service (USPS) will deliver mail to the address on your current DMV record and document, and you can receive the mail that is delivered to that address, you can renew on-line. The USPS can have your new address and an order to forward mail, but there is no guarantee that the USPS will forward your registration documents.

If your address has changed, you must change your address and renew your registration by mail or at a local DMV office.

Can I renew my registration on-line if I changed my name?

No, you cannot renew your registration on-line if your current name is not the name on the DMV records or on your current document.

You must apply to change your name and renew your registration at a DMV office.

Can I renew on-line if my registration has expired or will expire during the next two weeks?

Yes, you can renew on-line, but there is no guarantee that you will receive your new registration documents before your current registration expires. You cannot operate a vehicle with an expired registration.

When your on-line registration renewal is processed, the DMV records will show that the registration was renewed, but you will not have the documents that prove that your registration is valid. The confirmation messages that you receive on-line and by e-mail are not legal proof that your registration is valid. You must receive the registration documents that are the proof of a valid registration.

To receive your registration documents immediately, you can renew your registration at a local DMV office. If you renewed your registration, but you did not receive the documents, you can pay a fee and apply for duplicate registration documents at a local DMV office.

Note: You cannot renew a registration that has a custom plate or a personalized plate and is expired for more than one year. Call the Custom Plates Unit at 1-518-402-4838.

Is on-line registration renewal always available? What are the hours for on-line registration renewal?

On-line registration renewal is normally available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most renewals are processed immediately.

If your registration renewal cannot be processed immediately, you receive a message that the information you entered was received. Your renewal will then be processed on the next business day, and the DMV sends you an e-mail message that your renewal was processed.

What is the cost to renew my registration on-line? Does the DMV charge a higher fee to renew my registration on-line?

The transaction page will show the fee for your renewal before you pay the fee or complete the transaction.

There is no additional cost to renew your registration on-line. The fee is the same fee that is charged to renew by mail or at a DMV office.

How do I pay for my on-line registration renewal?

You must use a credit card to pay the fee for your on-line registration renewal. The DMV accepts these credit cards:

• American Express® Card
• Discover Card®/Novus®
• MasterCard®
• VISA® Card

The DMV also accepts debit cards that are issued by Visa® Card or MasterCard®. The debit card must not require your personal identification number (PIN) to use.

Does the DMV protect my credit card information and my personal information on the Internet?

The DMV uses secure socket layering (SSL) to protect your information. The DMV encrypts your credit card information and your personal information so other Internet users cannot read the information. Read the DMV Privacy and Security Statement.

How do I know the amount that is charged to my credit card?

When you verify the information about your registration renewal, you will see the amount that the DMV will charge to your credit card. You will see the amount before you submit your order. If you do not submit your order, the DMV will not charge the fee to your credit card.

The amount is also displayed on the confirmation page, the confirmation e-mail message, and your credit card statement.

Why do I need an order number?
How will I know if my registration renewal was processed?
Will I receive a receipt or proof that my renewal was processed?

You need your order number if you contact the DMV about your registration renewal. After you click on the button that displays the words, "Submit My Order," you will see a confirmation page in your browser window. The confirmation page displays your order number and other information about your registration renewal.

When the confirmation page appears in your browser window, write your order number on a piece of paper. Do not try to print or to reload the confirmation page. Some browsers can erase your order information from the page if you try to print or to reload this page.

The confirmation page can take several seconds to appear. If the confirmation page does not appear immediately, do not click on the button to submit your order again. Wait for the confirmation page to appear. If you click on the button more than one time, you can receive an error message.

Your order number also appears in the e-mail confirmation message that you will receive after you submit your order.

When you receive a confirmation message that your order was processed, the DMV registration records immediately show that your registration was renewed. The document that you will receive in the mail from the DMV is the only legal proof of a valid vehicle registration. You can show the confirmation page or the e-mail confirmation message for your order to a police officer, but they are not legal proof that your vehicle registration is valid.

Can I cancel my on-line registration renewal?

No. After you click on the button that displays the words, "Submit My Order," your order is submitted. You cannot cancel the transaction after you submit your order.

You can apply for a refund or a partial refund of a renewal fee for a vehicle registration if:

• you qualify for a refund under the law, and
• you do not need the vehicle registration you renewed, and
• you do not attach the registration sticker to the vehicle.

The DMV web site has instructions to apply for a refund when a registration is never used.

When will I receive my registration documents?

Allow two weeks for your new registration documents to arrive by mail.

You can use your order number to check the status of your order on-line.

If your new registration documents have not arrived after two weeks, contact the DMV online, by telephone, or at a local DMV office.