N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 2110

§ 2110. Registration without certificate of title. If the commissioner\nis not satisfied as to the ownership of the vehicle or that there are no\nundisclosed security interests in it, the commissioner may register the\nvehicle but shall withold issuance of a certificate of title until the\napplicant presents documents reasonably sufficient to satisfy the\ncommissioner as to the applicant's ownership of the vehicle and that\nthere are no undisclosed security interests in it.\n