New York Form MV-78B, the Report of Lost, Stolen or Confiscated Motor Vehicle Items, is a police-completed form you use to prove to the DMV that your plates, registration, or driver’s license are gone. You cannot fill it out yourself and it is not posted on the DMV website. To get one, you go to a New York State police agency or local precinct and ask an officer to complete it; you then bring the signed copy to the DMV.1New York DMV. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Plates
How to Get the Form From Police
Walk into any New York State police agency or local precinct and tell them you need to report lost, stolen, or confiscated motor vehicle items. An officer fills out the MV-78B based on what you tell them. There is no PDF to download and no online version.1New York DMV. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Plates
Come ready to describe what happened, when you noticed the items were missing, and exactly which items are gone. The MV-78B can cover license plates, a vehicle registration document, or a driver’s license. If the items were stolen or destroyed as part of a crime, ask the officer to note that on the form. That distinction changes what you pay at the DMV later. Once the form is completed and signed, you get a copy to take with you.
When You Actually Need the MV-78B
Three situations call for this form. The first is replacing plates that were lost, stolen, or physically destroyed. The DMV will not issue a new set without either the original plates or a police-completed MV-78B.1New York DMV. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Plates
The second is canceling a registration when you can’t hand in the plates. New York requires you to physically surrender plates to close out a registration. When the plates are missing, were tossed after an accident, or were seized by police, the MV-78B stands in for them.2New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 15 CRR-NY 35.11 – Acceptable Proof Other Than Insurance
The third is clearing an insurance lapse notice when the vehicle was stolen. If the DMV writes you about a gap in liability coverage and you no longer have the car, the MV-78B along with a police stolen-vehicle report is what resolves the matter.3New York DMV. Insurance Lapses
Using the Form to Replace Plates
Take the completed MV-78B to any DMV office and request replacement plates. Bring any surviving original plate if you still have one of the pair.
Fees turn on what the form says. If the MV-78B shows your plates were stolen or destroyed as the result of a crime, the replacement set is free. If the plates were simply lost, the standard replacement fee applies.1New York DMV. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Plates You can also order replacement plates online through the DMV’s plate replacement portal; allow about six weeks for delivery, with the registration and plates arriving in separate mailings.4New York DMV. Order Excelsior Plates
Using the Form to Surrender a Registration
New York wants your plates back whenever you cancel a registration, whether you sold the car, dropped insurance, or the vehicle was totaled. Without the plates or an accepted substitute, the DMV will not close the record, and you can keep accruing insurance lapse penalties on a car you no longer own.
State regulations name the MV-78B specifically as acceptable proof in place of the physical plates and registration.2New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 15 CRR-NY 35.11 – Acceptable Proof Other Than Insurance Bring the form to any DMV office, along with the registration document if you still have it. The DMV will process the surrender and mark the registration closed.5New York DMV. Surrender (Return or Turn-in) Your Vehicle Plates and Registration
Using the Form to Clear an Insurance Lapse
The DMV tracks liability coverage on every registered vehicle. When an insurer reports a lapse, the DMV sends a letter demanding either proof of coverage or surrender of the plates. If the vehicle was stolen and both the car and plates are gone, the MV-78B is part of what makes the lapse go away.
You need three documents: the DMV’s lapse letter, the completed MV-78B, and a copy of the police stolen-vehicle report showing the date of theft and the vehicle’s year, make, and VIN. Bring them to a DMV office, or mail copies to the Financial Security Bureau at the address on the lapse letter.3New York DMV. Insurance Lapses Move quickly. Unresolved lapse notices can lead to registration suspension and civil penalties.
Driving While You Wait for New Plates
Having an MV-78B does not let you drive without plates. New York law requires plates on the front and rear of the vehicle, securely fastened and visible, whenever it is on a public highway. Operating without them carries a fine of $25 to $200.6New York State Senate. New York Code VAT 402 – Number Plates There is no grace period and no temporary paper plate issued while replacements are on the way.
If you need to move the car during the wait, the DMV offers in-transit permits for $12.50, valid for 30 days.7New York DMV. In-Transit Vehicle Permits (Temporary Registrations) These are limited to specific trips, such as getting the vehicle to a repair shop or out of state, and are not a stand-in for regular plates.