BILL NUMBER: S207
SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the regis-
tration of motor vehicles; and to amend the administrative code of the
city of New York, the insurance law, the tax law, the transportation
law, and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to making conforming
changes
 
PURPOSE:
To eliminate the requirement that registrations for motor vehicles and
trailers be renewed every two years.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivisions 5 and 5-a of Section 401 of
the Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL) to delete references to reregistration
and renewal of motor vehicle registrations and add new language requir-
ing that motor vehicles need only be registered upon the initial acqui-
sition of the vehicle and keeping such registrations in effect until the
certificate of title is transferred to a new owner. New language is also
added to provide that existing motor vehicle registrations remain valid
until the certificate of title is transferred. Finally, upon the trans-
fer of title, the new owner would then be required to register the vehi-
cle anew.
Sections 1-a through 1-h amends subdivision 5-a of Section 401 of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law to delete references to renewal.
Section 2 amends VTL 401(6)(a),(d), and (g) to delete references to
reregistration and renewal.
Sections 3 and 4 amend VTL 401(7) to delete references to reregistra-
tion.
Section 5 amends VTL 401(8)(a) to change the reference to "times of
registration" to "validity of registration" and to delete references to
reregistration and renewal.
Sections 6 through 26 amend various relevant provisions of the VTL,
Administrative Code of the City of New York, Insurance Law, Tax Law, and
Transportation Law to delete references to reregistration and renewal.
Section 27 of the bill is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
As New Yorkers find it more difficult to work, conduct business and
survive than ever before, one simple thing we can do to incentivize
people and businesses to stay is to reduce their costs. This bill takes
a rational approach to reducing overall personal and business expenses
by requiring that the registration of motor vehicles and trailers be
done only upon the initial acquisition of the vehicle or trailer or upon
the transfer of a certificate of title to a new owner. This would elimi-
nate the requirement to renew those registrations biennially at a cost
of well over a $100 for the average two-car family or the average busi-
ness with one vehicle and two trailers. This small incentive would
demonstrate goodwill on the state's part toward its law-abiding citi-
zens.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.4527 referred to Transportation/A.4221 referred to Trans-
portation
2021-2022: S.5993 referred to Transportation/A.4221 referred to Trans-
portation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 180th day.

Statutes affected:
S207: 401 vehicle and traffic law, 401(7) vehicle and traffic law, 401(8) vehicle and traffic law, 401(18) vehicle and traffic law, 401(21) vehicle and traffic law, 19-506 administrative code of the city of New York as added by local law, 19-506(j) administrative code of the city of New York as added by local law, 9110 insurance law, 9110(g) insurance law, 80 transportation law, 80(5) transportation law, 318 vehicle and traffic law, 318(1) vehicle and traffic law, 404 vehicle and traffic law, 404(2) vehicle and traffic law, 404-a vehicle and traffic law, 404-a(5) vehicle and traffic law, 404-a(7) vehicle and traffic law, 404-c vehicle and traffic law, 404-c(5) vehicle and traffic law, 499-b vehicle and traffic law, 510 vehicle and traffic law, 510(2) vehicle and traffic law, 510(4-g) vehicle and traffic law