You’ve searched for hours and can’t find your original title. Now you’re wondering what to do next. Don’t waste any more of your valuable time looking for the original copy of the vehicle’s certificate of ownership (title).There’s a hassle-free solution to getting your lost car title replaced quickly, easily, and affordably with Quick Auto Tags! We will help get your replacement title in no time at all.
The form is called the REG 227. Click here for the application for replacement title form. Note the following:
Only the person that is on the record is authorized to submit a request duplicate title. in order for you to obtain a new title, you must have the personal information, a court order, or power of attorney to be able to obtain the duplicate title.
When it comes to ordering a new title another thing that you must keep in mind is the address where the title will be delivered. If the address needs to be updated there are two forms that are needed:
However, if you are getting a duplicate title through a registration service, you must also have a form 5065 form notarized. Furthermore, per the DMV’s manual, request that require a change of address must be submitted in person.
If you have a title that has a lienholder on it, and you have misplaced it, you will NOT be able to order a new title. The titleholder Is still the old lienholder, even if you’ve paid it off. Once you have obtained a release from the entity that has the lien you must do what is called a “legal transfer” (to remove the entity that has the lien).
If your car was bought on finance, it likely has a lien, preventing you from selling it until it’s fully paid off. The lender has the right to repossess the vehicle if payments are missed. In situations where the California car title is lost or stolen, only the lienholder can apply for and receive a replacement title.
Once you’ve cleared your car loan, the DMV requires proof that the lien is settled before issuing a duplicate title. You can provide this proof either by submitting a notarized letter confirming the lien is satisfied or by completing the “Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Release” (REG 166) form. However, note that REG 166 is not applicable for electronic titles or for vehicles that are less than two model years old.
Losing your title before you were able to title it into your name is not uncommon. In situations like these, however, you will not be able to obtain a duplicate title. What happens in these scenarios is that we have to “reconstruct” the missing title so that we can transfer it into your name. Depending on the value, or if the vehicle has a legal owner/lien holder, you can use a bill of sale in lieu of an actual title. These situations are fixable.
The DMV clearly states in its manual: every owner is entitled to a copy of their title, regardless of the circumstance, that includes unpaid back fees. There are few scenarios that will prevent you from getting a replacement title but owing back fees is not one of them.
An ARB hold will not prevent you from getting a duplicate title. However, you will need to wait just a little bit longer to get your title due to the hold being on file.
Under the Electronic Lien and Titling Program (ELT), the California Department of Motor Vehicles stores lienholders’ title information digitally, eliminating the need for a physical paper title. These electronic titles contain all the same vehicle information as paper titles and serve the same purpose. When a vehicle is fully paid off, the original lienholder sends a notice of lien satisfaction to the DMV. Subsequently, the car title is either issued to the registered owner or updated with a new lienholder, if applicable. Digital titles help in reducing fraud, mailing costs, and the need for storage space.
Only lien holders/legal owners can make changes on an electronic title. Registered owners cannot have an electronic title. You cannot have both an electronic title and a paper title. Only legal owners/lien holders can request a printed copy of a title.
If the initial vehicle title is lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed, or becomes unreadable, it is necessary to obtain a replacement title. Once a replacement title is provided, the original title becomes invalid. Should the original title be recovered later, it should be destroyed to prevent its use in any future sale or ownership transfer of the vehicle.
The cost to get a replacement title is $27. If you do send this out to the DMV make sure you have a check or money order written to the California DMV. Services like licensed registration services do have an additional fee to process the request.
It is advisable to replace a title that is so badly damaged that the DMV will not accept it. It avoids future headaches for you as the seller and the buyer, if you ever do sell the vehicle or pass it on.
For titles that are from other states you must request the title through the respective state’s DMV. The California DMV does not process replacement/duplicate titles for out of state vehicles.
If your California registration card indicates “No title issued/Vehicle not transferrable”, you must obtain the vehicle’s title from the state where it was last titled. In this case, for replacing a California title, you cannot use the “Application for Duplicate Title or Paperless Title REG 227” form. If obtaining a title from that state is impossible – for example, if the seller is unreachable or the local DMV cannot find the title – you must present evidence showing that the state is unable to issue the necessary documents. Depending on your vehicle’s value, you might need to acquire a vehicle bond, which the California DMV can assist you with. This means the vehicle is registered ONLY and is NOT titled. A REG227 cannot be used to request a duplicate title in this case.
We’ll walk you through the process of getting a replacement title in case yours is missing or damaged. It’s fast, easy, and affordable! You won’t have to wait long for your new car title either. If you need us sooner, just let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Our friendly staff members are standing by ready to answer any questions that may come up along the way so don’t hesitate to give us a call at (951)409-9091 today!
Just complete the form below. We will contact you if we need more information.
1 - Apply in person at the DMV
2 - Apply online at the DMV
3 Apply in person at AAA
4 Apply in person at Quick Auto Tags
5 Apply online at Quick Auto Tags
$27.00 - as of this year. However, this fee changes annually. You may also get a new title free of charge IF the DMV never sent it AND if there is no change in address.
Generally speaking, the average customer gets their title within 2 weeks and sometimes sooner. The DMV will issue your title the next day - however, they use the United States Postal Service - so the DMV may send it, but the USPS may not deliver it.
Submit your application and fee (if any) to a DMV office or by mail to:
DMV, P.O. Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269.
When the original California Certificate of Title is lost, stolen, damaged, unreadable, or not received, you must get a replacement. To do this, the vehicle's legal or registered owner (if there's no legal owner on record with the DMV) needs to fill out the "Application for Replacement or Paperless Title" (REG 227) form and pay the required fee for a replacement title.
The form is called the REG 227.
You don't need to notarize Form REG 227 if the registration doesn't show a legal owner.
Yes, you should check the registration card when using a REG 227 for a vehicle purchase. Here's why:
This means that a California title was NOT issued - an out of state title exists, and therefore is NOT transferrable in California without an actual title. DO NOT BUY A CAR THAT HAS THIS BRANDING WITHOUT A TITLE.
Titles are mailed out by the California DMV from Sacramento - you cannot pick these up in person.
This option may not be available due to staffing issues.
The answer is "it depends". If there is a legal owner (finance company) the REG 227 must be signed and notarized by that legal owner. There are other reasons that will prevent you from buying a car with a REG 227 - in general - if the title is free of legal/lien holders and it's low in value - the REG 227 will suffice.
5586 Mission Blvd Ste B
Riverside, CA 92509
Tel: (951)409-9091
