Classic Cars for Sale in New York
14 listings
Verified seller locations from New York. New listings added daily.
Browse classic cars for sale in New York from local owners and dealers. Nationwide consignment listings (where the vehicle isn't actually in the listed location) are excluded.
Buying a classic car in New York: what the asking price doesn't include
Budget for what a New York listing price leaves out. The DMV collects sales tax when you register: the state rate is 4% plus a local rate, and combined rates run from 7% to 8.875% in the Tax Department's March 2025 list. Buyer and seller both complete form DTF-802. The title fee is $50, and the title can take up to 90 days to arrive by mail. If you live here and buy a car in another state, you have 30 days to register it and owe New York use tax.
Two checks are worth doing before you pay. Salted winter roads are the rust risk, so look at the floors, rocker panels, frame rails and the lower edges of doors and fenders, and ask how the car was stored. Damage history is harder to read: a salvage brand appears only on vehicles 8 model years old or newer, so an older classic's paperwork will not show past damage. Check the VIN with the National Insurance Crime Bureau and have the car inspected. Expect a safety inspection when ownership changes, with a 10-day extension after a private purchase.
A model year 1972 or older car has no title at all, so ownership travels on a signed transferable registration and a bill of sale.
Classic car dealers in New York
We profile 18 classic car dealers in New York; these are the 6 with the most cars listed here. See all of them, on a map and by specialty, in New York classic car dealers.
Buying a classic car in New York: FAQ
Do I pay sales tax on a classic car bought from a private seller in New York? +
Yes. In a private sale the DMV collects the tax when you register the car, and you and the seller both complete form DTF-802. Sales or gifts between spouses, or to a parent, child, stepparent or stepchild, are exempt through that form. Other gifts and below-market sales need the seller's affidavit.
What does it cost to title a classic car bought in New York? +
The title fee is $50, paid when you register and title the car at a DMV office, plus sales tax. The state rate is 4% plus a local rate, with combined rates from 7% to 8.875%. The title is mailed and can take up to 90 days. The seller keeps the plates.
Will a classic car I buy in New York need a safety inspection? +
Yes. New York requires a safety inspection every 12 months and when ownership changes. After a private purchase you get a 10-day extension from the registration date, and the previous owner's inspection does not carry over. The DMV pages list no safety exemption for older or historical-plated cars.
How long do I have to register a classic car I bought out of state if I live in New York? +
A New York resident has 30 days to register a car obtained in another state. You need the bill of sale, the out-of-state title or transferable registration signed over to you, proof of New York liability insurance and payment of sales tax. DMV does not accept out-of-state insurance.