For those who just purchased a car, there may be a few things that you are wondering about. One of the things that you may want to know is whether you can register a car with a different name than on the title. So, can you register a car with a different name than the one that is written on the title?
The short answer to the question is yes. In fact, most states in the United States allow their residents to register and insure their vehicles under different names. One of the states that allows this is New York. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles of New York, the process for registering a car with a different name than on the title is the same as the process that has a single owner or registrant.
Read also: What is a Tag Number for a Car?
The Steps Include:
- Get your car insured: You have to register your car at the DMV within 180 days of the effective date on your insurance ID card.
- Submit documents, application and payment to the DMV: The instructions can vary depending on the county you live in.
- Get all the documents from the DMV: When you register, the DMV will give or mail a few documents within 1-2 weeks, including 1 or 2 vehicle plates, registration window sticker, registration document, and a 10-day inspection extension sticker. Aside from that, they will also send you a new title certificate within 90 days if applicable.
- Get your car inspected: It is a must for every vehicle, including cars, in New York State to get a safety inspection at a DMV-licensed inspection station every 12 months when ownership of the vehicle is transferred.
Once again, there can be two or more registrants. It is worth noting that it is a must for all of them to sign a Vehicle Registration/Title Application (MV-82). Besides, they should also provide their proof of identity and date of birth and these names must also show up on the NY State Insurance ID Card. If only one of them is the owner, the owner has to complete box 3 on Vehicle Registration/Title Application (MV-82). If the registrants are more than two, they have to complete a Statement of Partnership or Joint Ownership (MV-83T). If they register a car for a partnership, they have to provide proof of a legal partnership. If they register a car for a corporation, they have to provide proof or incorporation (MV-82.1).
Talking about registering a car with a different name than one of the titles, you may also want to know whether it is possible for the registration document and the title certificate for a car to show two different names. If you are wondering about this, fortunately, they can. If these documents show two different names, the owner has to authorize the other person to register the car by completing box 3 on the Vehicle Registration/Title Application (MV-82) form. In case the proof of ownership is a New York State title certificate in the name of the current owner, the title certificate is examined and returned to them at the DMV office. If it is not a New York title certificate, then they keep the proof and mail a New York State title certificate to the owner within 90 days.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
