I Lost My Car Title

I lost my car title – if you said this to yourself today then you’ve landed on the right website. Was it when you were trading your car to a dealership? Or was it when you were selling your car to someone on the street? Or was it when you were trying to get a loan out on your car title? In these scenarios it is basically a deal breaker: you must have ownership documents handy to complete the task at hand. Fortunately for you, obtaining vehicle replacement titles is easy – it’s the waiting part that is hard.

If you lost your car title there are 4 easy ways to get an original title sent to you:

Go directly to a Department of Motor Vehicles field office and request one in person. Click here to locate a DMV office near you.
Mail in your request to the Department of Motor Vehicles (make sure you send a check or money order payable to the DMV). The address to send it to is the following:
Vehicle Registration Operations
- Department of Motor Vehicles
  PO Box 942869
  Sacramento, CA 94269-000
Visit AAA location. AAA has a southern and a northern division. Click here for those links.
1. Click here for AAA of Southern California.
2. Click here for AAA of Northern California
Visit an authorized business partner, like Quick Auto Tags, and process your request instantly at our office for an additional fee.

Scenarios Where You Can't Order a Replacement Title

You cannot order a replacement title if there is a financial institution or individual listed as the lien holder.
If you’re still making payments on the vehicle or you don’t own the car outright, you are not authorized to get a duplicate title.
If there is a pending lien or loan on this vehicle – you cannot order a replacement vehicle title.
If you did not transfer the vehicle into your name, and the previous owner’s information is still on there – you cannot order a duplicate title – for this scenario click here to learn more.

The Previous owner Is on The Title

In the scenario where you purchased a vehicle, and you lost the car title, the solution to your problem is different. There is a way to obtain ownership of the vehicle, even if you lost the car title. Depending on the exact parameters of you situation the solution may vary. Click here to learn more on how to fix your particular problem.

Instructions on filling out the REG 227 form - Application for Replacement title

Make sure that the plate and the full VIN number is completed.

Make sure that Section 1 is completed: this will have the vehicle owner information and mailing address

Make sure that Secstion 3 is signed and completed by the registered owners sign

How Long Does It Take for my Replacement title To Arrive?

When you visit the DMV, AAA, a licensed business partner or send your application off to the DMV – the moment that your order is keyed in – your title is being produced within a day of the order being submitted. The wait doesn’t come from the DMV – but it comes from the United States Postal Service, which is the company they use to deliver the title to you. So as you’re waiting for your title to arrive in the mail you must keep in mind that it is being sent by mail – for most of my customers it takes about 2 weeks to arrive, but for most states it will be around 3-4.

Quick Titles

Currently, as of 08/29/2022, the “rush title” option that was available through the DMV is no longer available. I speculate that this had to do with COVID – and the shortages in staff and demands on the current staff that it created – for now that option has been suspended.

Recommendations to Store your Title

Once you receive your lost new car title store your title in a safe place. It is advisable that you keep your vehicle title in the same place you would keep your social security number card – this is because this is an important document that you don’t want to lose.

Frequently Asked Questions

5 Ways To Get a New Title

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

What is the Fee to Apply for a New Title?

$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.

How long does it take to get a duplicate title?

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.

Where do I mail my duplicate title in California?

Submit your application and fee (if any) to a DMV office or by mail to:

DMV, P.O. Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269.

When Do I Need a Replacement Title?

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.

Which form must I complete to apply for a new title?

The form is called the REG 227.

Does the REG 227 Need to Be Notarized?

You don't need to notarize Form REG 227 if the registration doesn't show a legal owner.

Should I Check the Registration Card?

Yes, you should check the registration card when using a REG 227 for a vehicle purchase. Here's why:

Match Vehicle Information: Ensure the details on the registration card align with the actual vehicle, especially the VIN.
Owner Details: Verify the current owner's name(s) and how they are joined (like “and/or”).
Vehicle Specs: Check the license plate number, VIN, make, year, and expiration date.
Title Brands: Look for any title brands, such as 'salvaged'.
Title Status: If it says “Nontransferable/No California Title Issued,” a REG 227 can't be used for this vehicle.

What is Nontransferable/No California Title Issued

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.

Can I Pick Up the Title at DMV?

Titles are mailed out by the California DMV from Sacramento - you cannot pick these up in person.

Can the Title Be Expedited?

This option may not be available due to staffing issues.

Can I buy or sell a car with a REG 227 form?

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.

QUICK AUTO TAGS – THE DMV EXPERTS YOU NEED TO GET IT DONE FAST!