MV-454

The NY DMV form MV-454, titled Affirmation for Renewal/Lost Registration for Absentee Owner, is a legal document that allows a representative to act on behalf of a vehicle registrant who is currently serving in the U.S. military and cannot be reached to sign official paperwork. This form is specifically used to renew a vehicle registration or report a lost registration certificate when the service member is stationed away from home but has granted permission for the representative to use the vehicle.

The document requires the representative to affirm their relationship to the registrant, provide the vehicle's plate number and expiration date, and certify that the service member is unavailable due to military service. By signing the form, the representative assumes legal responsibility for the accuracy of the statements, as falsifying information on government documents is a criminal offense punishable by fines or imprisonment. While this form facilitates registration tasks for military families, it cannot be used as a Power of Attorney for transferring vehicle ownership.