There’s a lot to think about when moving to New York from New Jersey. From differences in the cost of living to insurance premiums along with getting over to the New York DMV to transfer your New Jersey driver’s license and vehicle registration, you’ll want to do some budgeting and planning before you make the move.
Relocalate.com has done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert researchers have compiled the key things you need to know when moving to New York from New Jersey. Find out what you can expect to pay in federal and New York state taxes, whether you’ll be spending more or less in key cost of living categories, and how long you’ll have to get a new driver’s license and car registration. Plus, you can even get a head start on saving the most money when you move by comparing free quotes for health coverage, car insurance, home/renters insurance, and more.
License & Registration
Transfer your New Jersey driver’s license to New York within 30 days.
Transfer your vehicles & get New York license plates within 30 days.
On this page, you’ll be able to:
- See how the cost of living compares for New York and New Jersey.
- Estimate how much more or less you can expect to pay in state and federal income taxes after you move to New York.
- Find out what to expect when it comes to New York property taxes, buying a home, and home insurance premiums.
- Learn whether you’ll be able to save some money or have to spend a little more in key cost of living categories including groceries, transportation, housing, and healthcare.
- Find out what you’ll need to do with the New York DMV to transfer your New Jersey driver’s license and vehicle registration. (And how long you’ll have to do it.)
- Estimate how much it will cost to move from New Jersey to New York.
- BONUS: Start saving money today by comparing free quotes for all your new insurance policies in New York.
Moving to New York from New Jersey Checklist
- 1. Estimate the cost of the move.
- 2. Update your insurance policies.
- 3. Be prepared to transfer your New Jersey license & registration to New York.
- 4. Budget and prepare for cost of living changes.
- 5. Change your address and forward your mail through USPS.
- 6. Register to vote.
- 7. Update your new address with your banks, loans, and other accounts.
- 8. Set up your utilities and services at your new home.
Find some more tips and to-dos for Moving to New York here.
Cost of Moving from New Jersey to New York
Unfortunately moving can be expensive. Moving to a brand new state usually comes with some extra costs.
Use this moving cost calculator to get a rough idea of how much your move from New Jersey to New York will cost.
The rough distance between New York and New Jersey is 196 miles. We’ll use that for our calculations. Select the size of your home that you’ll be moving to get an idea of the costs.
Moving Cost Calculator: New Jersey to New York
Remember, this is just a rough estimate. The cost of your move will vary depending on the company you choose, your belongings, and other circumstances.
Update Your Insurance Policies for Coverage in New York
Don’t wait! Update your car insurance coverage for New York
When you move to New York, you’ll want to make sure that you’ll be covered for all of life’s unexpected situations. That means updating your insurance policies with your new address and the minimum requirements for New York.
New York Car Insurance
One of the first policies you’ll want to update when you move is going to be your car insurance coverage.
In New York, the minimum liability coverage is $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, $50,000 liability for death per person, $100,000 liability for death per accident, $10,000 property damage liability per accident, $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per accident, $50,000 personal injury protection.
Average Cost of Minimum Coverage
$1,371
On average, the annual premium for a minimum liability coverage policy is lower in New York. You’ll likely pay less for car insurance in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Average Cost of Full Coverage
$3,139
On average, the annual premium for a full coverage auto insurance policy is higher in New York. You’ll likely pay more for full coverage in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Do you own a motorcycle?
New York Home & Renter’s Insurance
Whether you’ll rent or own your new home, you’ll want to make sure you have the right coverage when you arrive.
Let’s face it, accidents happen during a move. Make sure you have the coverage you need to protect your belongings and your house.
Average Cost of Homeowner’s Insurance
$1,506
You can usually expect that the annual premium for home insurance will be lower in New York. You’ll likely pay less for your home insurance policy in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Will you own or rent your home?
New York Health Insurance
You’ll also need to make sure that you and your family have health coverage once you arrive in New York.
If you’ll be keeping your job when you move, be sure to ask your employer about any implications for your current health insurance policy.
You’ll need to find out which hospitals and plans are available near your new home. Spend some time researching providers in your area.
Healthcare Costs in New York
Higher
Generally, healthcare costs are higher in New York. You’ll likely pay more for healthcare in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Will you be keeping health insurance with your current employer?
Find Health Coverage ➜
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Tasks when Moving to New York from New Jersey
Transfer your New Jersey Driver’s License
within 30 days.
After you’ve moved to New York, you’ll need to get a valid driver’s license.
Transfer your New Jersey Car Registration
within 30 days.
You’ll also need to transfer your vehicle registration and get New York license plates.
When you become a resident of New York, you’ll need to transfer your New Jersey driver’s license and vehicle registration.
You’ll also need to update your car insurance policies so that they meet the minimum requirements for New York. Sometimes this can come with a rate hike, so it’s always a smart idea to shop around.
The minimum liability coverage you’ll need in New York is $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, $50,000 liability for death per person, $100,000 liability for death per accident, $10,000 property damage liability per accident, $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per accident, $50,000 personal injury protection.
You can start comparing car insurance quotes for New York for free right here on Relocalate.com.
Transfer Your New Jersey Driver’s License to New York
Minimum Age for a New York Driver’s License
17 years old
A standard New York driver’s license is available to residents who are at least 17 years old.
New York Driver’s License Expires
every 8 years
You’ll need to renew your driver’s license every 8 years.
New York Driver’s License Cost
$64.25
A driver’s license will cost around $64.25.
One of the first things you’ll want to do after becoming a resident of New York is to get a driver’s license.
In fact, new residents should apply for their New York driver’s license within 30 days.
In New York, driver’s licenses are issued by the DMV.
To apply, you’ll need to:
- Complete the New York Driver’s License Application.
- Surrender your New Jersey driver’s license.
- Present the necessary proof of identity and residency with your new New York address.
- Pass any required testing.
- Take a photo.
- Pay the driver’s license fee.
After applying and passing any necessary tests, you’ll receive a temporary paper license. The New York DMV will mail you your new license, and it should arrive within a few weeks.
For official information and for details about scheduling appointments, visit https://dmv.ny.gov/.
New York Driver’s License Knowledge Exam
Total Questions on the New York Driver’s License Test
20 total questions
The New York knowledge exam will typically consist of 20 total questions that are based on the driver’s handbook.
Passing Score
70%
You’ll need to score 70% to pass the test.
When you transfer your New Jersey license to New York, you should be prepared to pass the driver’s license written exam.
While not every applicant will be required to take the test, it is still a good idea to brush up on traffic laws in New York.
Before you visit the DMV, take some time to study the official driver’s handbook for New York. While many traffic laws and safety rules are universal from state to state, there are some specifics that may be a little different.
Assuming your New Jersey driver’s license is valid and unexpired, you should not need to take the New York driving test.
Is your New Jersey driver’s license valid?
One potential hang up to be aware of is around the validity of your New Jersey driver’s license.
To make things as easy as possible, your New Jersey license should be valid when you apply for a license in New York.
Ideally what this means is that you should clear any issues with the New Jersey DMV BEFORE you move.
For example:
- If your New Jersey driver’s license is lost or damaged, you should replace it before moving.
- If your New Jersey driver’s license is suspended or revoked, you should try to reinstate it before you move.
If your New Jersey driver’s license is expired when you go to apply for your New York license, it’s possible that the DMV will treat it like a brand new application, which may require a written exam and a road test, plus any other requirements for new drivers.
The bottom line: Try to take care of any issues with your New Jersey driver’s license BEFORE you move and visit the New York DMV.
Transfer Your Car Registration from New Jersey to New York
If you’re going to bring your car with you when you move, you’ll also need to transfer your New Jersey registration to New York.
Vehicle registration and titles are handled by the New York DMV.
You can find more specific details for your vehicle registration and official information at https://dmv.ny.gov/
New York Registration Fee Basis
weight-base
New York vehicle registration fees are generally calculated by weight-base.
Registration Base Fee Estimate
$26+
Additional fees may vary based on vehicle type as well as any local fees and taxes.
New York Registration Expiration
every 1-2 years
In New York, you’ll need to renew your registration every 1-2 years.
Front License Plates
New York requires that vehicles display a front license plate.
Vehicle Safety Inspections
Period vehicle safety inspections are required annually in New York.
Smog & Emissions Testing
Emissions testing is required annually in New York.
New residents in New York are required to transfer their out-of-state vehicle registration within 30 days.
When moving to New York with vehicles from New Jersey, you should be prepared to:
- Complete an application for New York registration and title.
- Present your current registration documents from New Jersey.
- Provide any other necessary proof of ownership documents (title, lease agreement, lienholder information, etc.)
- Pass any necessary vehicle inspections required for New York registration.
- Have a valid New York insurance policy for your vehicles.
- Pay the registration fees.
Notify the New Jersey DMV
While it’s not always a requirement, it can be worthwhile to update your address with the New Jersey DMV and notify them that you have moved out of the state.
This can often be done on the DMV website, and will prevent you from receiving any renewal notices for your old driver’s license and registrations.
Taxes in New York vs New Jersey
Differences in taxes are a big consideration in any state to state move.
Unfortunately, it’s not all black and white. In order to get the full picture, it’s important to consider all of your potential tax burdens when moving from New Jersey to New York including state income tax, property taxes, and sales tax.
Plus, you’ll need to think about how the overall cost of living on key spending categories is going to compare. More on that below.
For example, if you’re a homeowner, it’ll be smart to look at both income tax differences, property tax burdens, as well as average home prices to get a more accurate idea of your tax savings or hike once you move to New York.
We’ll cover some key differences in your tax savings and tax hikes when moving to New York from New Jersey.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll be comparing effective tax rates, which simplify the marginal tax rates and tax brackets in each state to look at the estimated average total tax you may be paying.
Note that your tax situation may be much different than the estimates provided here. Use these as a high-level comparison tool.
Federal & State Income Taxes when Moving to New York from New Jersey
Overall, you’ll likely be looking at an income tax hike when moving to New York from New Jersey.
New York Income Tax (effective rates)
4.77% (single) & 4.64% (joint)
New York has a state income tax with an effective rate of 4.77% for single filers, and 4.64% for married couples filing jointly.
Effective Rates: Federal + State Income Taxes
22.70%
On average, the effective income tax rate (state + federal) is higher in New York. You’ll likely pay more in income tax in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Tax Comparison Calculator
Effective income tax rates (Federal + State):
- New York: 22.70% (single), 21.18% (joint)
- New Jersey: 22.10% (single), 21.76% (joint)
In New York, your tax would be . In New Jersey, your tax would be .
You would pay more in than in .
When comparing your overall tax burdens between states, it can help to look at both the state and federal income tax rates.
Remember, this comparison is looking at the effective rates in order to simplify things.
Here’s a high level look at how your effective tax rates may be different after you move to New York from New Jersey
- State Income Tax (single filers): 4.77% in New York vs 3.27% in New Jersey
- State Income Tax (joint filers): 4.64% in New York vs 3.34% in New Jersey
- Federal + State Income Tax (single filers): 22.70% in New York vs 22.10% in New Jersey
- Federal + State Income Tax (joint filers): 21.18% in New York vs 21.76% in New Jersey
Sales Tax in New York vs New Jersey
Next, it’s helpful to consider the differences in sales tax.
Sales tax is a consumption tax you pay when you buy goods and services. It is typically calculated as a percentage of the final price you pay.
Note that many states have a state-wide sales tax and local governments and municipalities can charge an additional sales tax on top of that. This comparison looks at the state-wide sales tax.
New York Sales Tax
4%
New York has a state sales tax rate of 4%.
The sales tax rate is lower in New York. You’ll likely pay less on sales tax in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Property Taxes in New York vs New Jersey
If you’re a homeowner, or plan to buy a home in New York, it’s also a good idea to take a look at the difference in property taxes and home values.
New York Property Tax Estimate
1.72%
The property tax rate is lower in New York. You’ll likely pay less for property taxes in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Home Prices in New York
$313,700
On average, the average home price is lower in New York. You’ll likely pay less for a house in New York than you did in New Jersey.
This is also a good time to back sure you are getting the best deal on your New York homeowner’s insurance policy.
How Does the Cost of Living Compare in New York vs New Jersey?
Cost of living is another major difference when moving to a brand new state.
Depending on the local industries, geography, region, and population, the price of different goods and services can vary greatly.
Now, the cost of living will also depend on your own lifestyle, spending habits, and which city you move to in New York.
Cost of living (COL) indexes are used to compare each state to the national average of 100. The difference between COL values higher or lower than 100 represent the percentage difference from the national average.
We can compare the cost of living indexes for New York and New Jersey to get a high level idea of whether we’ll be saving money or have to spend a bit more on the following categories:
- Overall Cost of Living.
- Groceries.
- Housing.
- Utilities.
- Transportation.
- Healthcare.
- Miscellaneous goods and service.
Overall, the cost of living in New York is
25.10% more expensive
than the national average, compared to 14.10% more expensive for New Jersey.
New York Cost of Living Index
125.1
National Avg: 100
On average, the cost of living is higher in New York. You’ll likely pay more for many things in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Cost of Groceries
3.00% more expensive
than the national avg.
Typically, the cost of groceries is lower in New York. You’ll likely pay less for groceries in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Housing Costs
73.30% more expensive
than the national avg.
Generally, the cost of housing (rent/mortgage/etc) is higher in New York. You’ll likely pay more for housing costs in New York than you did in New Jersey.
New York Utilities
2.50% more expensive
than the national avg.
The cost of utilities is typically lower in New York. You’ll likely pay less for your monthly utility bills in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Transportation Costs
6.70% more expensive
than the national avg.
On average, the cost of transportation is higher in New York. You’ll likely pay more on transportation in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Healthcare in New York
4.50% more expensive
than the national avg.
Generally, healthcare costs are higher in New York. You’ll likely pay more for healthcare in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Miscellaneous Costs
9.00% more expensive
than the national avg.
The cost of miscellaneous goods and services are generally higher in New York. You’ll likely pay more for these things in New York than you did in New Jersey.
Relocalate.com Methodology
While big changes like moving to a new state can be exciting, we also know that any move can be stressful. That’s why we created Relocalate.com.
The data and comparisons on this page are designed to give you a high level look at what you can expect when moving from New Jersey to New York.
Our free moving tools and calculators are here to help you play around with the numbers so you can start working on a budget for your big move to New York.
We’ve crunched the numbers from census data, federal government resources, state and local data, as well as interviews and chats with people who’ve made the move from New Jersey to New York.
While there are many things we can’t control when moving to a new state, like the overall cost of living and housing prices, we’ve found that one of the single most effective ways to save money is by getting a better deal on your insurance policies.
That’s why we’ve partnered with trusted insurance providers and some of the best in New York to bring your free quote tools that you can access while you plan out your move.
Good luck! We wish you the best as you get settled into your home and start feeling like a New York local.