Chapter 20 Replacements and Substitutes

20.000 Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) (VC §§4457, 4458, 4459, 4466 and 5752)

A duplicate California Certificate of Title must be obtained when the original is lost, stolen, mutilated, illegible, or a paperless title. An Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) form must be completed by the legal owner/lienholder (LO) of record for a vehicle two model years old or newer or by the registered owner (RO), when there is no LO on record, and submitted with the replacement fee.

A Lien Satisfied/Title Holder Release (REG 166) form and any other types of lien releases for California titled vehicles two model years old or newer are not acceptable. The LO must request the title. Renewal fees and parking violations are not required to be paid to issue a replacement Certificate of Title only.

Refer to Chapter 10 for Emission Compliance for Heavy Duty Vehicles

Refer to Chapter 11 for procedures when a REG 227 is submitted in conjunction with a transfer application.

Verification of RO Name and Address

—Before a replacement title application can be submitted solely to issue a replacement title to the RO, the owner’s name and address shown on the REG 227 must be verified against the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) records.

This applies to mail applications, but does not apply if the LO of record is applying for the replacement title or if there is any type of transfer being submitted.

The following must be submitted:

• A REG 227 with the following sections completed:
  • Section 1: RO’s name, address, driver’s license/identification (DL/ID).
  • Section 3: Missing Title Statement.
• If being submitted by a registration service and the name or address of the RO does not match the vehicle/vessel registration records, a Registered Owner Notarized
• Certification (REG 5065) form with the following sections completed:
  • Section 1: Completed by the RO. Only one RO signature is required, even when there are multiple ROs.
  • Section 2: Completed by the registration service.
  • Section 3: Completed by the notary.

A REG 5065 is not required when submitted by or through a lienholder, dealer, dismantler, insurer, agent of an insurer, salvage pool, business, or court appointed bankcruptcy referee, whether or not the name or address matches DMV’s records.

• Any remnants of a mutilated or illegible title.
• If DMV’s records indicate that a replacement title was issued in the past 90 days and the address does not match the VR record, a Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) form completed by the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
• The replacement title fee and any other fees.

The procedures below must be followed:

• If the REG 227 is presented in person:
  • Verify the applicant’s photo DL/ID card and write the DL/ID number in the
    upper- right corner of the REG 227.
  • Review the REG 227 for the correct vehicle description, the RO name, address,
    and DL/ID number shown in the designated space (or in Section 1 on forms
    without a designated space).
• Process the application as follows:

If the RO Name	And the REG 227 Is Submitted by	Process the Application as
And address and DL/ID number match the name, address, and DL/ID number on the vehicle registration (VR) record	The RO in person	Clearing, if all requirements are submitted.
And DL/ID number match and the address on the application matches the address on the DL/ID record
Or address do not match the VR record	If a replacement title was issued in the past 90 days and the address does not match the VR record, a REG 31 completed by CHP is required	Clearing, if the RO can present: Their DL/ID. Proof of ownership for the vehicle (photocopy is acceptable). Forward to DMV headquarters if the RO does not have: Their DL/ID. Proof of ownership for the vehicle (photocopy is caceptable).
	The LO in person or by mail	Clearing, if all requirements are submitted. A REG 5065 is not required.
And address, and DL/ID number match the name, address, and DL/ID number on the VR record	The RO or others by mail	Clearing, if all requirements are submitted.
Or address do not match the VR record	The RO or others by mail	Forward to DMV headquarters and request the RO to appear in person to present: Their DL/ID. Proof of ownership for the vehicle (photocopy is acceptable). A REG 5065 is not required if submitted by a legal owner, dealer, dismantler, insurer, agent of an insurer, salvage pool, business or court–appointed bankruptcy referee.
Address, and DL/ID number match the name, address and DL/ID number on the VR record	A registration service in person or by mail	Clearing, if all requirements are submitted. A REG 5065 is not required.
Or address do not match the VR record		Clearing, if all requirements are submitted. Note: A REG 5065 is required.
The REG 227 may be submitted by someone other than the RO of record, but it must be signed by the RO. When a REG 227 is submitted in conjunction with a transfer, see Chapter 11.

Inquiries—An inquiry will help you determine if a replacement title was recently issued, or if the name and/or DL/ID number on a REG 227 matches the vehicle subrecord. DL/ID numbers appear on most registration records.

Acceptable Photo ID (VC §4466 (a)(2)(A))—The following must be submitted:

• A California photo DL/ID card.
• If the RO is a resident of another state or country, the RO shall present their
  out-of-state or out-of-country DL/ID and one of the following secondary photo
  IDs.
  • Valid passport.
  • Military ID card.
  • ID card issued by another state or U.S government agency.
  • Student ID card issued by a college or university.
  • ID card issued by a California-based employer.

Acceptable Proof of Ownership Documents (VC §4466(a)(1))—Proof of ownership may be any of the following documents (original or a photocopy, if the photocopy matches DMV’s records):

• California Certificate of Title.
• Registration card.
• Registration renewal notice (original only).
  

Exclusions—The RO is not required to appear in person with proof of ownership
for the vehicle and acceptable photo ID if either:

• The RO name, address, and DL/ID number shown on the application match the name, address, and DL/ID number on DMV’s records.

• The application is submitted by or through one of the following:
  • The LO, if the LO is not the same person as the RO or the lessee.
  • A dealer or an agent of the dealer.
  • A registration service.
  • A dismantler, as part of the dismantler’s transaction.
  • An insurer or an agent of the insurer, as part of the insurer’s transaction.
  • A salvage pool on behalf of an insurance company.
    

Owner Verification for Company/Business-Owned Vehicles

The procedures below must be followed:

• Verify the ID of the authorized representative.
• Print the authorized representative’s ID number.
• Initial the application.

If the Address on the Application	And the Payment Is	Process the Application as
Matches the VR record	On a company check that matches the RO on the VR record	Clearing, if all requirements are submitted.
	Not on a company check	Clearing in postal mode, if all requirements are submitted.
Do not match the VR record	On a company check or not on a company check	Forward to DMV headquarters and request: A letter from the company on their letterhead that details the old and new addresses and requests a replacement title. Proof of ownership, which is either a: California Certificate of Title (photocopy is acceptable). Registration card (photocopy is acceptable). Renewal notice. A REG 5065 is not required.

Vehicles Registered in the Name of a Trust—If the VR record shows the RO as a trust, consider the trustee the RO for ID and issuance purposes.

When the record of a vehicle registered to a trust does not show a trustee or the trustee is different from DMV’s record:

• Accept a Statement of Facts (REG 256) form stating they are the appointed
  trustee.
• Trust documents are not required.