Last Updated on September 7, 2023 by Lawrence Berezin
Where do I affix my NY registration and inspection stickers to avoid an NYC parking ticket?
Meanwhile, I received many calls and comments about the “proper” place to attach registration and inspection stickers for cars bearing NY license plates. The correct answer is, when you’re sitting in the driver’s seat, affix the inspection sticker in the far, lower left corner of your windshield.
Put the registration sticker on the right side of the inspection sticker (when sitting behind the wheel of your chariot). Likewise, your NY windshield should look like this:
Where else can I find this information?
In New York, you must attach any windshield stickers to the lower left-hand corner of the inside of the windshield, to the right of the inspection sticker (if you’re looking at it from the driver’s seat).
your aaa today
FREE Download
Any place else?
-Likewise, look for a diagram on the back of the stickers.
How do I replace a sticker?
-You may wish to check out one of my earlier blog articles, “Improper Display of Inspection Sticker…” for the answer to this question.
If I don’t place my stickers properly, will I get an NYC parking ticket?
-Yesiree!
Commentary
Several special parking rules are dedicated to triggering parking tickets for registration and inspection tickets.

Here they are:
Commentary
Meanwhile, park safely. But, if you get an unjust parking ticket, please check for misdescribed, omitted, or illegible required elements.
Larry do u know where the stickers on an Ambulette placed onthe windshield
John,
I’m sorry, I don’t know.
Is it in a different location on the windshield than a regular motor vehicle?
The laws DMVNY State is not clear. There is nothing in the law clearly written where a NY state inspection sticker must go especially on a commercial vehicle. Heavy truck/vehicle inspections provide a safety inspection sticker with emissions but fail to say where the sticker goes. When checking my fleet I go nuts trying to find inspection stickers some on front bumper, in window, on side of trailer on front of trailer. How derelict of the state to forget to mention this. Please show me the law and I give you money
Hi Richard,
I believe you and agree with you.
Thanks for sharing your expertise and experience.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
Is there anyway I can fight a registration ticket. I had my expired registration in the window along with the new one. I needed to get a scraper to get it off the window but hadn’t done it yet. Last Sunday my car was parked directly in front of my home on a non regulation street zone in a suburban area in the Throggsneck and I came outside to a ticket that was given at 7AM. It stated it was on the Dashboard, but I had it taped to the window until I could get the other sticker down.
Thanks for your time!
Hi, Erica,
Good morning.
I trust you checked all the required elements and they were entered correctly.
What rule (4-08) and violation code number were you charged with violating?
Looking forward to your reply.
Regards,
Larry
This also happened to me last month- 70B- impropr dsply of Reg- my new registration was clearly displayed, anything I can fight?
Hi, Kelly,
Good morning.
What section of 4-08(j)(?) were you charged with violating?
Best,
Larry
The same thing happened to me, I was charged with violatiom4-08(j)- (3)
Hi, Diana,
Yikes!
What did you do?
Regards,
Larry
Good morning Larry, does it matter if my inspection sticker is on the right side of the registration sticker? I mistakenly affix my reg. Sticker first before having my van inspected. Thanks
Hi, Jerome,
Good morning.
I’m afraid it does matter, Jerome.
Regards,
Larry
Where is the sticker supposed to go on a CMV 53’ trailer?
Hi, Jonathan,
Good morning.
I am sorry to say but I don’t know.
If any of our readers know the answer, please share it with us.
Regards,
Larry
Can you get a ticket for putting your registration sticker on your windshield vertically (sideways) instead of horizontally?
Hi, Pat,
I’m afraid so.
Sorry.
Regards,
Larry
Hi,
Do you know where the law codifying the proper location for the registration sticker is located?
Hi, Moe,
Good afternoon. Great question.
You can easily find the answer to how to properly display your registration sticker. But, finding the rule/law codifying it was not so easy!
Here’s what I found:
15 CRR-NY 17.4
NY-CRR
OFFICIAL COMPILATION OF CODES, RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
TITLE 15. DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER I. REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER
SUBCHAPTER B. REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, AND NUMBER PLATES
PART 17. NUMBER PLATES
15 CRR-NY 17.4
15 CRR-NY 17.4
17.4 Placement of number plates and validating sticker.
(a) One number plate shall be issued for motorcycles, motorcycle dealers and trailers and it shall be placed on the rear of the vehicle. Validating stickers issued for use on motorcycle and motorcycle dealer number plates shall be placed on the right side of such plate in the location provided. Validating stickers issued for use on trailer number plates shall be placed in the lower right-hand corner of such plate.
(b) Validating stickers issued for use on number plates issued for tractors shall be placed in the lower right-hand corner of the number plate attached to the front of the tractor, except upon the renewal of any such registrations which expire after September 30, 1972, and upon the original issuance of any such registration for any registration period commencing on and after November 1, 1972, the validating sticker which will be issued shall be a windshield sticker which will be placed on the vehicle as prescribed in subdivision (d) of this section.
(c) Validating stickers issued for use on all other plates shall be placed in the lower right-hand corner of the number plate attached to the rear of the vehicle, unless otherwise provided by these regulations, upon the renewal of any such registration which expires after September 30, 1972 and upon the original issuance of any such registration for any registration period commencing on and after November 1, 1972, except those registrations which expire on December 31, 1972, the validating sticker which will be issued will be a windshield sticker which will be placed on the vehicle as prescribed in subdivision (d) of this section.
(d) Windshield stickers shall be placed on the left-hand side of the inside front windshield to the right of the inspection sticker as viewed from the driver’s seat in a position that will not obscure the vehicle identification number, except that on vehicles bearing a Department of Transportation inspection sticker, the windshield sticker shall be placed on the right-hand side of the inside front windshield to the left of the inspection sticker as viewed from the driver’s seat. Any old or expired windshield stickers shall be removed before placement of a current validating sticker on the windshield. However, if a vehicle has no windshield, the sticker should be kept with the registration certificate and must be carried in the vehicle.
(e) No windshield sticker shall be required on a motor vehicle which would qualify for historical registration and which is not registered, but which displays a set of registration number plates issued for a historical motor vehicle under section 401(7)(g) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, while such motor vehicle is being operated for the purpose of test driving by the registrant or his agent in anticipation of possible purchase.
15 CRR-NY 17.4
Current through December 15, 2019
END OF DOCUMENT © 2020 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.
LINK
Good luck.
Regards,
Larry
Given that this is not mentioned in 4-o8(j)(3) How can anyone be given a ticket for example, the sticker on the dash? All that code says is “properly displays” and makes no reference to any other code or regulation (as opposed to 4-08(j)(6) regarding the inspection sticker which does)?
Ok now that my stickers are not properly displayed what should I do?
Hi Bob,
Oh man, what a shame!
-How long have they been improperly displayed?
-What dates will you be eligible for new stickers?
Looking forward to your reply.
Regards,
Larry
I got a ticket saying my registration is expired. Today’s date is July 30 2021. The sticker says 7 and 21, so I thought it would last until the last day of July. However, after I carefully check, my registration expires on July 28 2021. Is it possible for me to fight this ticket or should I just pay it? Thanks
Hi Steven,
Oh, man. I don’t blame you for thinking what you thought. But, as we have all learned the hard way, NY registrations expire on a specific day during the month.
Have you checked for defective required elements? If you find an omitted, misdescribed, or illegible required element, you win.
Be safe.
Regards,
Larry
What about 4-08(j)(3)? I have a similar situation like some others here where I had my new registration on the dash but the old one still on the window as I had nothing to remove it with. There was clear evidence of me trying to take it off (by hand) with the edges slightly removed. According to the law “Vehicles must display valid registration sticker. No person shall stand or park a vehicle bearing a New York plate or plates unless it properly displays a current registration sticker.” I did have the current one clearly displayed.
What are the chances or what terms do I need use to beat this ticket?
Hi Gee,
Good afternoon.
Kudos for trying to figure out a winning defense.
Here’s the scoop:
You correctly quoted j3. But, you changed a vital word when you stated, “I did have a current one clearly displayed.” Sadly, a current registration must be properly displayed.
The Evil Empire insists on the current registration being attached to the windshield, not lying on the dashboard.
Did the warrior or cop say the registration was displayed on the “dashboard” in the comments section? If not, you win. Otherwise, I’m afraid you may not win a dismissal.
Be safe.
Regards,
Larry