California DMV Form FO 247: Completing, Copies, and Submission

California DMV Form FO 247, the Transmittal of Registration Applications, is the cover sheet dealers, dismantlers, and registration services attach to the front of a bundle of vehicle registration applications before handing them to the DMV. It works as an itemized inventory so an intake technician can verify every application and payment in the package without sorting through loose paperwork. The form comes in three parts (an original and two copies) and is available as a free download from the DMV website or at any Industry Business Center.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Transmittal of Registration Applications – Form FO 247 If you’re only filing one application, you don’t need it; the form exists to keep multi-application packages organized.

Before You Fill It Out

Organize the physical stack first. Group all used-vehicle transactions together and all new-vehicle transactions together. The form’s columns mirror that split, and mixing them creates confusion at the processing center.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Transmittal of Registration Applications – Form FO 247 Have your dealer, dismantler, or registration service number ready, along with the Report of Sale or acquisition number, buyer name, VIN or plate, date of sale, and fees collected for each transaction.

You will only write in the shaded area. The rest of the form is reserved for DMV use.

How to Complete the Form

Start with the header: your business name, mailing address, and your registration service or dealer/dismantler number, then the name and telephone or fax number of the person responsible for the bundle.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Transmittal of Registration Applications – Form FO 247 The mailing address is where completed plates, stickers, and titles will be returned.

Each row represents one transaction. The numbered columns are:

  • Column 4: Check if the item is for posting fees only.
  • Column 5: California license plate currently on the vehicle, or the VIN if no plate exists.
  • Column 6: Buyer’s name.
  • Column 7: Report of Sale number or acquisition number.
  • Column 8: Mark “X” if the vehicle is new.
  • Column 9: Mark “X” if the vehicle is used.
  • Column 10: Date of sale or acquisition.
  • Column 11: Total DMV fees collected by the dealer or registration service.
  • Column 12: Additional application information, if applicable.
  • Column 13: Prior credit amount.
  • Column 14: Amount of cash, check, or credit submitted.
  • Column 15: The sum of columns 13 and 14. This must equal those two added together.
  • Column 16: Any over- or underpayment amount.
  • Column 17: Any credits submitted.
  • Column 18: Authorized agent’s comments.
  • Column 19: Authorized agent’s signature for pickup.

Before you submit, run back through every row and confirm column 15 actually equals columns 13 plus 14. One mismatched line can trigger a review of the entire bundle.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Transmittal of Registration Applications – Form FO 247

The Three Copies and Where They Go

Prepare the original plus two copies — three parts total — and keep them together when you submit the bundle so DMV can separate and route them.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Transmittal of Registration Applications – Form FO 247

  • Original: retained by the DMV.
  • First copy: returned to you with the completed documents after processing. This is your receipt.
  • Second copy: if ISF fees are due, the field office forwards it to the ASF/ISF Unit at P.O. Box 932366, M/S L224, Sacramento, CA 94232-3660.

Attach the original to the front of the application stack, with payment, so the intake technician sees it first.

Where to Submit the Bundle

Completed packages go to one of eleven DMV Industry Business Centers:2California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Service Centers

  • Bakersfield IBC: 5800 District Blvd, Suite 100, Bakersfield, CA 93313
  • Fairfield IBC: 4630 W America Dr, Fairfield, CA 94534
  • Fresno IBC: 6420 North Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA 93710
  • Los Angeles Metro IBC: 1365 North Grand Avenue, Suite 100, Covina, CA 91724
  • Mountain View IBC: 595 Showers Dr, Mountain View, CA 94040
  • Placentia IBC: 2390 Rose Dr, Placentia, CA 92870
  • Rancho San Diego IBC: 1530 Hilton Head Rd, El Cajon, CA 92019
  • Sacramento-Florin IBC: 7226 Florin Mall Dr, Sacramento, CA 95823
  • San Bernardino IBC: 473 East Carnegie Drive, Suite 125, San Bernardino, CA 92408
  • San Marcos IBC: 590 Rancheros Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078
  • Winnetka IBC: 20725 Sherman Way, Winnetka, CA 91306

You can drop the package off in person or mail it. If you mail it, use a tracked shipping method; a lost bundle means re-collecting every application and payment inside.

What Happens After Submission

A technician reviews the FO 247 against the contents of the package. Finished plates, stickers, or titles are mailed to the address on the transmittal form, along with your first copy as a receipt. Two outcomes short of a clean clearance come up often enough to plan for.

Suspense Items

If an application needs additional processing at DMV headquarters, such as a special-interest plate or a record verification, it’s flagged as a suspense item while the rest of your bundle moves ahead normally. When you already know an application will need extra handling, include a screen print or a Statement of Facts (REG 256) explaining why.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. Definitions for Clearing, Suspense, and Incomplete Applications (RDF)

Incomplete Applications (RDF)

An application with missing documents or information is treated as incomplete, also called a Report of Deposit of Fees. The DMV keeps the fees and returns the documents with an RDF receipt so you can fix the problem.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. Definitions for Clearing, Suspense, and Incomplete Applications (RDF) A few rules on these:

  • You must deposit the full registration or renewal fees upfront to avoid penalties. Use tax can be paid later when the application is cleared, with no added penalty for the delay.
  • No license plates or registration stickers are issued on an RDF.
  • A Temporary Operating Permit (REG 19) is generally not issued for an incomplete application.

Once you correct the deficiency, include the fixed application in a future FO 247 bundle and resubmit it to your IBC.

Two Things That Get Bundles Kicked Back

Odometer disclosure is the fast one. For 2026, federal rules require an odometer disclosure on every transfer of a model year 2011 or newer vehicle, covering the first 20 model years; model year 2010 and older vehicles are exempt.4National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Consumer Alert: Changes to Odometer Disclosure Requirements A missing disclosure is one of the quicker ways to see an application returned as incomplete.

Sales tax is the other. If you are a used-vehicle dealer, California law requires you to pay sales tax and any applicable district use tax directly to the DMV when you submit the registration application. The DMV assesses the tax based on the selling price you report, and a late submission draws a 10-percent penalty on the tax owed.5California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Used Vehicle Dealers Build that into the payment total you record in column 14.