New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 15 - Department of Motor Vehicles
Chapter I - REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER
Subchapter B - Registration, Certificate of Title, and Number Plates
Part 21 - TEMPORARY INDICIA OF REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION
Section 21.2 - Temporary indicia of registration

(a) Missing or mutilated registration plate(s).

When one or both registration number plates are missing or mutilated, a motorist may operate or park the motor vehicle or trailer upon the public highways before applying for, or while waiting for the issuance of, a duplicate of such missing or mutilated plate(s), if the motorist places a temporary substitute plate of cardboard or other durable material of the approximate size of the missing plate(s) in the space(s) normally occupied by each missing or mutilated registration plate, and provided all the requirements of section 21.5 of this Part are met. Temporary substitute plates shall be provided by the motorist and shall be valid for a period not to exceed 15 days from the date of loss or mutilation, but not beyond the expiration date of the registration. The temporary plate(s) shall set forth, in a manner so as to be legible at a distance of at least 50 feet: the words "New York", the registration plate number and the date of loss or mutilation.

(b) Missing or mutilated registration sticker.

When a registration validating sticker is missing or mutilated, a motorist may operate or park the motor vehicle upon the public highways, before applying for, or while waiting for the issuance of, a duplicate of such missing or mutilated registration sticker, if the motorist attaches a piece of paper of a size not to obstruct the driver's vision in the inside lower left hand corner of the windshield, and provided all the requirements of section 21.5 of this Part are met. Such temporary substitute registration sticker shall be provided by the motorist and shall be valid for a period not to exceed 15 days from the date of loss or mutilation, but not beyond the expiration date of the registration. The temporary substitute registration sticker shall set forth, in a legible manner, the name of the registrant, the year, make and color of the vehicle, the date of expiration of the validating sticker and the date of loss or mutilation.

(c) New or replaced official registration plates(s).

A motorist operating a motor vehicle registered by any political subdivision or State agency eligible for official registration plates may operate or park the motor vehicle or trailer upon the public highways after the subdivision or agency has applied for, or is waiting for the issuance of, an original or duplicate plate(s), if the motorist places a temporary substitute plate issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles in the rear window, and provided all the requirements of section 21.5 of this Part are met. Such motorist must be able to produce the registration document issued at the time of registration. Temporary substitute plates shall be valid for a period not to exceed 30 days from the date issued.