BILL NUMBER: S6242
SPONSOR: LIU
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the expira-
tion of vehicle registrations
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would make motor vehicle registrations expire upon the last
day of the month in which a registration is valid.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section
401 of the vehicle and traffic law to clarify that registrations, rereg-
istrations and renewals shall expire upon the last day of the month in
which the registration is valid.
Section two of the bill provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) stand-
ardizes vehicle inspection expiration dates to the last day of the month
and sends electronic reminders to drivers before their driver licenses,
non-driver ID cards, registrations, or vehicle inspections expire.
However, DMV currently does not standardize vehicle registration expira-
tion dates to the last day of the month, meaning that a motor vehicle's
registration can expire on any day in the last month in which the regis-
tration is valid. This can lead to drivers mistakenly believing that, as
is currently the case for motor vehicle inspections, their vehicle
registration would similarly expire on the last day of the month in
which the registration is valid.
This bill will benefit vehicle owners by reducing confusion and elimi-
nating avoidable penalties due to misaligned or unclear expiration sche-
dules.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Two years after it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S6242: 401 vehicle and traffic law, 401(5) vehicle and traffic law