After you sell or give away a vehicle , you can transfer the registration and vehicle plates to another vehicle you own. 

Bring these items to a DMV office [1] 
original title or other proof of ownership 1 current NY State Insurance ID card auto liability insurance 2 NY State driver license , permit , non - driver ID or other proof of identity 3 a completed Application for Registration / Title PDF [2] MV-82 payment for fees 4 Print this checklist [3 ] For quicker service , make a reservation online before visiting offices in New York City, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Onondaga, Monroe or Albany Counties. For all other counties , see our office locations and hours [1]. Make a Reservation [4 ] If you don t want to transfer the registration , you must surrender the vehicle plates to the DMV [5]. You may be eligible to receive a refund [6] if you surrender the plates before the registration expires. 

Transfer the of a vehicle (buy, sell, or give away) 
See Buy or sell a vehicle transfer ownership [7 ] Cars , trucks , trailers & motorcycles Model year1973 or newer , either NY State Certificate of Title original or certified copy, not a photocopy with the transfer ownership section completed by the seller , or acceptable proof of ownership from another state original or certified copy, not a photocopy Model year 1972 or older , either a NY State Transferable Registration original or certified copy, not a photocopy and bill of sale [8], or acceptable proof of ownership from another state original or certified copy, not a photocopy See acceptable proofs [9] for other vehicles manufactured homes, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, gifted vehicles, vehicles with deceased owners. Your insurance company will: 1) give you 2 barcoded original NY State Insurance ID cards (see a sample [10]) or provide you with access to your digital electronic NY State Insurance ID Card 2) send an electronic notice of insurance coverage to the DMV (your insurance agent or broker cannot file th

user: What items do I need to bring to the DMV office when transferring a registration to another vehicle?

assistant: You would need an original title or other proof of ownership.

assistant: Would you like to know about quicker service?

user: Yes, I would I get quicker service at the DMV?

assistant: Actually you can make a reservation online before visiting the DMV office in NY City, West Chester, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Onondaga, Monroe or Albany Counties and this will get you right in.

user: What happens when I do not want to transfer the registration?

assistant: It is actually simple, you just have to surrender the vehicle plates to the DMV and you might get a refund if you surrender the plates before they expire.

user: What if I do not have the proof the DMV needs?

assistant: Then you would have to see the other kinds of proof you can use.

user: what if the model year is 1972 or older?

assistant: If your model year is 1972 or older then you need a NY State Transferable Registration original or certified copy, and it can not be a photocopy and a bill of sale.

user: What if the vehicle is a model year 1973 or newer?

assistant: You would need a NY State Certificate of Title original or certified copy with the transfer ownership section completed by the seller.