Need Help? How To Replace a Lost Car Title in California
A duplicate title (also known as a Pink Slip) must be obtained when an original title is lost, stolen, mutilated, illegible, or not received. An Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title (REG 227) form must be completed by the vehicle's legal owner and submitted with the duplicate title fee. If no legal owner (lienholder) is on DMV record, the vehicle's registered owner is allowed to complete and submit a REG 227. This page will explain everything you need to know about applying for and receiving a duplicate title, and how to do it the fastest way possible.
A duplicate title cannot be issued if the whereabouts of the original title is known, but not readily available. In otherwords, you know you have the title somewhere, you just can't find it. The DMV will not issue a replacement. Note, once a replacement title is issued, the original title is invalidated. "DUPLICATE" will be printed at the top of the replacement title.
How fast can I get my replacement title?
Depending on how you choose to file your duplicate request, it can take as short as 2 weeks (through NeedTags) or as long as 3 months (through the DMV). The process takes longer when requesting your duplicate title directly through the DMV, whether that be via online or in-person, mainly because of backlog. Applying for a duplicate title through the DMV is the most common way (and free) but requires that you participate in a bit of a waiting game. The average timeline for DMV duplicate title processing from application to receipt is 8-12 weeks. Assuming your duplicate application has no glitches, you should expect to receive your duplicate title in around 8 weeks from the time you apply online. Remember you still need to mail your REG 227 and ensure it gets to the DMV in a timely manner, and to the right department.
Get your duplicate title faster. Submit your application through NeedTags. Answer a few questions online, mail-in your REG 227 (overnight allowed), speak directly to the expert DMV advisor assisting you, and get the entire process completed in minutes rather than weeks. Through NeedTags you simply bypass DMV lines and wait times. Your order will be processed the same day your documents arrive at our office, and your request will be placed in queue for duplicate title printing through DMV headquarters in Sacramento immediately. This makes the process infinitely faster. With us you can expect to receive your duplicate title faster than ever, and to your correct address... which leads us into the next question.
Can I pickup my title at a DMV office?
Unfortunately not. Contrary to the common misconception, you cannot get a duplicate title by visiting a DMV office in-person. All California titles, duplicates included, are printed and mailed from a secure centralized California Department of Motor Vehicles production facility and not available for local pickup. The DMV mails all duplicate titles via United States Postal Service.
What paperwork do I need to apply for a duplicate title?
You will always need an Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title (REG 227), and a copy of your driver license or identification (DL/ID) card. The REG 227 actually serves a few different purposes. Banks and financial institutes use it to record paperless title transactions. Vehicle owners use it to request duplicate titles, and for transferring vehicle ownership without title. In cases where only a duplicate title is needed, complete Sections 1-3. The remaining sections can be left blank.
Depending on your particular circ*mstance, you may also need:
- Your vehicle's registration card
- A Statement of Facts (REG 256) form
- A Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) form
- A Notice of Change of Address (DMV 14) form
IMPORTANT: If a duplicate title was issued to you in the past 90 days (regardless of whether you received the duplicate title) a completed Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) form will be required with your next application. The vehicle verification must be completed by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Contact the DMV by calling (800) 777-0133 to make a VIN verification appointment.
I have my documents ready. What's next?
Once you have your documents in order and are ready to pay the duplicate title fee you may begin the title replacement process. Submit your application online through NeedTags (recommended), the Virtual DMV office, or by visiting a local DMV service provider.
If you choose to apply for a duplicate title online, it will be required that you mail in your documents before being issued a duplicate title.Unless your transfer has special circ*mstance(s), a REG 227 accompanied by your drivers license or identification card will suffice to complete this transaction. For DMV in-person service, you must make a DMV appointment prior to your visit.
I've moved. Where will my duplicate title be mailed?
By default all duplicate titles are mailed to the DMV address on records. Meaning, if you've moved but have not completed a DMV Address Update at least 10 days prior to submitting your duplicate title application, your duplicate title will be mailed to your last known DMV address. We can help you resolve this matter by updating your mailing information with the DMV electronically prior to submitting your replacement title request. You will be issued a duplicate title with your updated address once we're done. Simply mail in a completed Notice of Change of Address (DMV 14) form along with your REG 227 and ID. Your duplicate title will be mailed exactly where it needs to be.
When is notarizing the REG 227 required?
In certain situations you'll need to have the REG 227 notarized. Like when a legal owner other than yourself (also known as a lienholder) is shown on the vehicle's registration card, and you wish to remove the lienholder from your vehicle's duplicate title. If this applies in your case, the DMV will not allow you to request a duplicate title with lienholder information removed unless your REG 227 is notarized. Notarizing the REG 227 will confirm your legal application for duplicate title with lienholder information removal. Please note, you are only eligible to request a duplicate title with lienholder information removed if and when your lienholder obligation(s) has been fulfilled, i.e. bank note has been paid off. Notarized proof of payment will be required and should be provided to you by your financial institute. Read more on lienholder information removal below. The process will require a title transfer as opposed to a duplicate title request.
Will lienholder information be removed from my duplicate title?
No. A duplicate title is exactly that, a duplicate (copy) of the lost or missing title. The word "DUPLICATE" will be printed along the top of the new title you are issued.
If your vehicle's lien was satisifed and you received
orwere mailed the now missing or lost "signed-off" or "released" title from the lienholder, the legal requirement is that you request a title transfer, and along with your application for transfer (using a REG 227 or REG 262 in lieu of the original title), a notarized Lien Satisfied letter or notarized Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Release (REG 166) form.
- A notarized Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Release (REG 166) form
Only then will the DMV remove the lienholder information from DMV records, and issue you a new title with the lienholder's name and address removed. The title you receive after a title transfer will be an original and not a duplicate. A duplicate title request will not remove lienholder information from DMV records.
Important: Regardless of your vehicle's value and/or age, if the title was lost with the legal owner’s (lienholder) release, you must obtain a notarized Lien Satisfied letter from the legal owner to remove their information. For vehicles two (2) model years old and newer, a lien cannot be released using a REG 227 or any notarized Lien Satisfied document in conjunction with the REG 227. Only the legal owner can apply for a duplicate title, and upon receipt, release interest by signing the duplicate title. Locate a financial institution which has moved, merged, closed down, or performed a name change.
On a sidenote, at the time your vehicle was paid-off, a title transfer with lienholder removal should have been performed through the DMV. This would have removed the lienholder information from the title and allowed for the issuance of a new title with only the new legal and registered vehicle owner's information. To clear up any possible confusion, when no lienholder exists, a vehicle's owner is both the legal owner and registered owner.
My registration card reads "Nontransferable/No California Title Issued", can I use a REG 227?
No, a REG 227 cannot be used in this case. This type of vehicle registration is referred to as a Goldenrod, and is nontransferable. A nontitle nontransferable Goldenrod registration may be issued when out-of-state titling documents are not submitted at the time of application for vehicle registration. You must obtain a duplicate or orignal title from the state where the vehicle was last titled. If you are unable to obtain a title from that state, you will need to provide documentation explaining why the state cannot issue a title. You may need to purchase a motor vehicle bond to ensure the legitamacy of your vehicle ownership.
