Tips on switching to NY driver's lisence, registration, and insurance?

Question

I'm moving to Brooklyn in a few weeks and have a PA driver's lisence and car registration. Know anywhere that doesn't have long lines? Or, know the best time to go to avoid long lines? Know what I need to bring with me? Know how I can download the forms ahead of time? Is switching registration the same thing as getting NY plates on my car, or are those two separate processes I have to go through? Do I need NY insurance before I switch registration? Where is the best place to get the insurance? I'm a female with a clear driving record who's been driving for over 10 years.

Answer 1

Check this site:

http://www.nysdmv.com/index.htm

New York Division of Motor Vehicles

Answer 2

I'll try to answer the Qs as best as possible:

There are DMVs all over the state. The DMV site lists their hours and days of operation. If you have the time, try to get to one that is not in NYC or Long Island as these all have long lines.

You can download the forms from the DMV site. They also have a FAQ about what to bring with you.

Getting a NY registration for your vehicle will involve getting NY plates for your car. You will need insurance to register your car. Before you go searching for a carrier in NY, many of the PA carriers write policies in NY as well. You should contact your carrier and see whether it is worth it to have them issue you a new policy (or even convert your existing policy to a NY policy if this can be done). Otherwise, you can try various companies by phone (GEICO direct is one example).

Answer 3

It's hard to say which insurance company will be best for you because it's really different for everyone.  If you have a clean driving record for 10 years, you should have no problem finding cheap auto insurance in NY.

The best thing you can do is to compare quotes for 3-5 different insurance companies to see who offers you the best rate.  The site below is a great resource because it allows you to compare quotes for all of the insurance companies in the NY area for free.

Good Luck!