Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

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Section 12 of 38

Chapter 11: Transfers

11.100 Legal Owner Is a Dealer Out of Business (as determined by DMV’s records)

When a dealer is shown as the legal owner/lienholder of record and cannot be located, the owner must contact the local DMV field office to:

  • Determine if the dealer is out of business (DOB)
  • Obtain the DOB owner’s name and telephone number shown on DMV records.

If the input document does not have a designated space for the lessee address, the lessor must provide the lessee’s address on a Statement to Record Ownership (REG 101) form whenever it differs from the registered owner address shown on the application documents.

The owner must contact the local DMV field office:

DOB Contact Chart

IfThen
The DOB owner can be locatedObtain a release on the original title or Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) or a Lien Satisfied/Title Holder Release (REG 166).
The DOB owner cannot be locatedEvidence of the applicant’s attempt to obtain the owner’s release or lien satisfied in the form of a certified letter returned to the sender, unclaimed and unopened, must be submitted.
The letter was delivered, but a response was not receivedThe postal receipt acknowledging receipt of the letter by the addressee must be submitted. Sufficient time (at least 30 days) must have elapsed to give the recipient time to respond.
  • Statement of Facts (REG 256) form stating the current retail value of the vehicle and what efforts were made to obtain the release.
  • A Motor Vehicle Bond for the value of the vehicle must be submitted.
  • Any fees due.
  • If you have difficulty locating the legal owner/lienholder to obtain a release, the Financial Institution Listing on the DMV website dmv.ca.gov is an alphabetized listing of banks, credit unions and financial/lending institutions, developed to help locate the legal owner/lienholder shown on the vehicle record.
    • This information can also be obtained on the FDIC website, fdic.gov and search for Bank/Institution Directory.
  • When the legal owner/lienholder cannot be located for a release or lien satisfied, in addition to all transfer or nonresident requirements, the following are required:
    • Statement of Facts (REG 256) form stating the current retail value of the vehicle and what efforts were made to obtain the release.
    • Evidence of the applicant’s attempt to obtain the legal owner’s release or lien satisfied in the form of a certified letter returned to the sender, unclaimed and unopened.