§ 2115. Transfer by operation of law. (a) If the interest of an owner in a vehicle passes to another other than by voluntary transfer, the transferee shall, except as provided in subdivision (b), promptly mail or deliver to the commissioner the last certificate of title, if available, proof of the transfer, and his application for a new certificate in the form the commissioner prescribes.

Ask a traffic law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified traffic lawyers.
Parking violations, accidents, DUI/DWI, licensing, registration, and more
Protect your vehicle and your rights with expert legal help now
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law 2115

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Commissioner: includes the office and a branch office of the commissioner and, when authorized to receive a document or fee as agent of the commissioner, the clerk of a county. See N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law 2101
  • Lienholder: means a person holding a security interest in a vehicle. See N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law 2101
  • mail: means to deposit in the United States mail properly addressed and with postage prepaid. See N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law 2101
  • Owner: means a person, other than a lienholder, having the property in or title to a vehicle. See N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law 2101
  • Person: means a natural person, firm, co-partnership, association or corporation. See N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law 2101
  • Security agreement: means a written agreement which reserves or creates a security interest. See N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law 2101
  • Vehicle: means a vehicle as defined in section one hundred fifty-nine of this chapter except that it shall not include a device for which a registration is denied pursuant to section four hundred-a of this chapter and, except with respect to section twenty-one hundred two of this article, shall also mean a vessel as defined in section twenty-two hundred fifty of this chapter. See N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law 2101

(b) If the interest of the owner is terminated or the vehicle is sold under a security agreement by a lienholder, the transferee shall promptly mail or deliver to the commissioner the last certificate of title if available to him, his application for a new certificate in the form the commissioner prescribes, and an affidavit made by or on behalf of the lienholder that the vehicle was repossessed and that the interest of the owner was lawfully terminated or sold pursuant to the terms of the security agreement. If the lienholder succeeds to the interest of the owner and holds the vehicle for resale, he need not secure a new certificate of title but, upon transfer to another person, shall promptly mail or deliver to the transferee the certificate, if available, affidavit and other documents required to be sent to the commissioner by the transferee.

(c) A person holding a certificate of title whose interest in the vehicle has been extinguished or transferred other than by voluntary transfer shall mail or deliver the certificate to the commissioner upon request of the commissioner. The delivery of the certificate pursuant to the request of the commissioner does not affect the rights of the person surrendering the certificate, and the action of the commissioner in issuing a new certificate of title as provided herein is not conclusive upon the rights of an owner or lienholder named in the old certificate.