20.005 Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents (REG 156) Form (VC §§4457, 4458, and 4466)

The Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents (REG 156) form is used to replace lost, stolen, mutilated, or illegible license plates, stickers, registration cards, disabled person parking placards and identification (ID) cards, CVRA weight decals and/or year stickers, and vessel certificates of number and/or stickers. A REG 156 completed by the RO is required before replacements are issued.

A REG 156 completed by the RO is required before replacements are issued. A REG 156 may be completed by the dealer or agent of the dealer, such as a registration service, whether or not it is submitted as part of a dealer transfer transaction. The dealer’s agent or registration service does not need to provide proof of their own identity DL/ID. If the REG 156 is submitted by a registration service, the application must include a REG 5065 when the name or address of the RO does not match the vehicle/vessel registration records.

A REG 5065 is not required if submitted by a legal owner, dealer, dismantler, insurer, salvage pool, business, or court-appointed bankruptcy referee whether or not the name or address matches DMV’s record.

Policy—The DMV’s policy is that a REG 156 is:

• Required when the RO applies in person. The REG 156 must show the RO name, address, and signature.

• Not required when the request is made in a letter signed by the RO of record provided there are no changes being made.

Do not process telephone requests for replacement/substitute license plates.

These procedures apply to all applications for substitute and replacement license plates when one or both license plates are lost, stolen, mutilated/illegible, or not received.

Counter Items—The following steps are mandatory, for duplicate or replacement license plates.

The following must be submitted:

• A REG 156.
• Valid photo ID as follows:
• A California photo DL/ID card.
• If the RO is a resident of another state or country, they shall present their out-of-state/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.
• Any remaining license plate.
• The replacement fee and other fees, if applicable.

The procedures below must be followed:

• Visually verify that the person presenting the application is the same person as on the ID.
• Write the DL/ID number and state of issuance, if other than California, on the REG 156.
• Use the following charts for additional processing instructions:
  

Name and address on the application match:

If the Applicant Is	And the Name and Address on the Application Match the	The Following Must be Submitted	The Procedures Below Must be Followed
The RO	Vehicle registration (VR) record and the California DL/ID (if submitting a California DL/ID)	N/A	Key the appropriate type transaction code (TTC). Auto clubs may issue license plates when the RO applies in person and there is no change of address.
A company/ business RO	VR record	Payment on a company check that matches the RO on the VR record	Key the appropriate TTC.  Issue license plates. If payment is not on a company check that matches the RO on the VR record, the procedure below must be followed: Issue a 60-day temporary operating permit (TOP). Advise the applicant that the license plates will be mailed.
The RO with an out-of-state/ country DL/ID and an acceptable secondary photo ID	VR record	N/A	Key the appropriate TTC. Issue license plates. Auto clubs may issue license plates when the RO applies in person and there is no change of address.
The RO with an out-of-state/ country DL/ID and an unacceptable secondary photo ID	VR Record	N/A	Forward the application to DMV headquarters for verification with the other state. Photocopy the DL/ID and attach the photocopy to the application. Complete a REG 256 explaining the applicant did not provide a secondary ID and that verification from the applicant’s home state is required. Issue a 60-day TOP.
A registration service		A REG 5065 is not required	Key the appropriate TTC. Issue license plates.
Not the RO or a registration service	VR Record	N/A	Advise the applicant the license plates will be mailed to the owner.

Name or address on the application do not match:

If the Applicant Is	And the Name and Address on the Application Match the	The Following Must be Submitted	The Procedures Below Must be Followed
The RO with an out-of-state/ country DL/ID and an unacceptable secondary photo ID	VR record	N/A	Forward the application to DMV headquarters for verification with the other state. Photocopy the DL/ID and attach the photocopy to the application. Complete a REG 256 explaining the applicant did not provide a secondary ID and that verification from the applicant’s home state is required. Issue a 60-day TOP.
The RO	VR Record	The California Certificate of Title (or photocopy), California registration card (or photocopy), or renewal notice. A police report, if the license plates were reported stolen. A Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) form completed by CHP, if  substitute license plates have been issued within the last 90 days.	Determine if license plates have been issued within the last 90 days. Key the appropriate TTC and change the VR address. Issue license plates.
The RO	Address on the California DL/ID (if submitting a California DL/ID)	A completed Change of Address (DMV 14) form	Key a printout to verify the DL address on record. Change the DL address from the DMV 14. Issue license plates.
A registration service	VR record	A REG 5065	Key the appropriate TTC. Issue license plates.
Not the RO or a registration service	VR record	• The California Certificate of Title (or photocopy), registration card (or photocopy), or renewal notice. • A police report, if the license plates were stolen. • A REG 31 completed by CHP, if substitute license plates have been issued within the last 90 days. A REG 5065 is not required	Return the application on a report of deposit of fees (RDF) for the RO to appear in person. Issue a 60-day TOP.
The spouse of a nonresident military (NRM) RO may use an out-of-state DL/ID to apply for substitute/duplicate license plates. If the spouse is not the RO, forward the application to RPU I in DMV headquarters for further verification.

Mail Items

The procedures below must be followed:

• Verify the name and address on the application matches the VR record and the California DL/ID record.
• If they match, key the appropriate TTC and process.
• If either the name or address on the application is different from the VR record or the California DL/ID record, RDF the application for the RO to appear in person.

Refer to the previous chart and request the following items, as appropriate:

• California DL/ID or out-of-state/country DL/ID and acceptable secondary photo ID.
• Proof of ownership.
• Police report, if license plates are reported stolen.
• REG 31 completed by CHP, if substitute license plates were issued within the last 90 days.
• The remaining license plate to be surrendered to DMV if one plate is reported lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed.

Applications Submitted by Industry Members—License plates may be issued directly to a dealer or an agent for the dealer, dismantler, insurer or agent for the insurer, registration service, or salvage pool presenting an application on behalf of their customer (see previous sections). If a DMV Occupational Licensee (dealer, registration service, etc.) submits the application, write the Occupational License number below the RO’s ID number on the face of the application.

A licensed registration service must submit a complete notarized REG 5065 with the application when the name or address of the RO does not match the VR records.

The sections are completed as follows:

• Section 1—completed by the RO. Only one RO signature is required even when there are multiple owners.
• Section 2—completed by the registration service.
• Section 3—completed by the notary.

A registration service may submit any standardized notarized form in lieu of the REG 5065 which certifies to the name, address, and signature of the RO shown on the application.

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

• Does not show a trustee.
• Shows a trustee different from DMV’s record, accept a REG 256 stating they are the appointed trustee. Trust documents are not required.

The procedures below must be followed:

• Check the DL/ID of the person presenting the application, unless the application is submitted by a dealer or registration service.
• Pick up remaining license plate(s), if only one license plate was lost/stolen, etc. If none, write “0 license plates picked up” on the REG 156 and initial the notation.
• Issue substitute license plates over the counter to a registration service, if the name and address do not match, if accompanied by a REG 5065.
• Issue substitute license plates over the counter to a dealer or registration service.
• Forward questionable applications to RPU in DMV headquarters. Complete a REG 256 explaining why you question the application.

You must not do the following:

• Accept a REG 156 when the applicant cannot provide either a California DL/ID or an out-of-state/country DL/ID and a secondary photo ID, unless submitted by a dealer or registration service.
• Process telephone requests for replacement/substitute license plates.
• Mail license plates to an RO (mail applications) when the address on the application is different from the address of record. The RO must appear in person with proof of ID and the other items as required.
• Issue substitute license plates over the counter if license plates have been issued in the last 90 days, unless the applicant provides a REG 31completed by CHP.

Exceptions—These procedures do not apply to:

• Vehicles sold through lien sales.
• Revived junk/salvage vehicles.
• Vehicles with unavailable records.
• Disabled Person Placards.
• License plate interchange transactions.
• Vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP).
• Vehicles registered under the Permanent Fleet Registration (PFR) program.
• Implements of husbandry, tow dollies, and vehicles that were issued an ID plate under VC§§5014 (special equipment) or 5014.1 (permanent trailer ID program).