Pursuant to Executive Order No. 2 by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo , all licenses and registrations for New York State military personnel returning from active military duty relating to the war on terrorism and military action in Iraq will automatically be extended. The following information will help minimize any potential inconvenience upon their return. 

What happens if my NY State driver license expires while I am on active duty? 
NY State law automatically extends license privileges throughout active military service for up to 6 months after discharge or separation. Discharged or separated military personnel may renew an expired NY State license up to two years after the extended expiration. No more than 30 months may have passed since discharge 6-month extension plus 24 -month grace period. Active military personnel must show proof of date of entry into military service. If the NY State license was valid at any time during your military service , your license can be renewed. A discharged serviceman must show a Certificate of Discharge, DD-214. You must have been discharged within the past 30 months. If the NY State license was valid at any time during your military service , your license can be renewed. 

Am I required to notify DMV of my entry into the military? 
While not required , it is suggested that military personnel file a Notification of Military Service pdf [1] MV -75 to ensure that the license record is not purged once the expiration date has passed. 

What happens if my NY State registration expires while I am on active duty? 
Registrations are extended for up to 60 days from return to New York State. This extension applies only to vehicles registered to military personnel. You must show proof of military service or separation. Liability insurance coverage must be maintained at all times, including the period of extension. 

What happens if I had a lapse of insurance coverage during active duty? 
You are required to maintain continuous coverage or surr

user: What happens if I had a lapse of insurance coverage during active duty? 

assistant: In order to avoid these lapses of coverage, you are required to pay enough to maintain continuous coverage or to surrender your plates before any deployments.  If you were unable to do so, DMV has a procedure in place to exempt you from administrative actions upon your return.  You must provide a notarized statement that the vehicle was not used during the time in question, a copy of your military ID, proof of current insurance or surrender of plates, and signed and dated copies of deployment and return papers or DD-214 if separated from service.  You can present all of that at any DMV office or mail them to the Albany address. 

assistant: Were you unable to pay enough to maintain continuous coverage for the duration of your deployment or to surrender your plates before you left? 

user: That is not the situation as of yet.  I have a deployment coming up very soon. 

user: Who can I discuss this issue with in deeper detail? 

assistant: For further information you can contact the DMV call center. 

user: Have extensions for registrations been granted to military returning from Iraq? 

assistant: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has given an Executive Order that all licenses and registrations for NY State military personnel returning from active duty relation to the war on terrorism and military action in Iraq will automatically be extended. 

user: Do I need to notify DMV of my entry into the military? 

assistant: It is suggested that military personnel file a Notification of Military Service to ensure that the license record is not purged once the expiration date has passed. 

user: Is Iraq the only combat zone that will allow a service member returning from deployment to gain an extension on licenses and registrations? 

assistant: The Executive Order from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo allows the extensions for NY State military personnel returning from active military duty relating to the war on terrorism and military action in Iraq.