Replacing a lost title in Arkansas costs $10 and involves submitting an Application for Title or Replacement Title to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). You can file in person at any state revenue office or by mail, and the DFA asks you to allow at least three weeks for the new title to arrive.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Replacement Titles Until you have a valid title in hand, you cannot sell the vehicle or transfer ownership, so it is worth getting the paperwork right the first time.
What to Gather Before You Apply
Pull two pieces of information off the vehicle itself: the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), stamped on a metal plate visible through the driver’s side of the windshield, and the current license plate number. The DFA uses both to locate your record and confirm you are the titled owner.
You will also need a valid photo ID that matches the name on the title and the $10 fee ready to go.2Justia. Arkansas Code 27-14-720 – Lost or Damaged Certificates and Plates If a lender still holds a lien on the vehicle, the process changes; see the lien section below before you fill anything out.
Filling Out the Application
The form is called the Application for Title or Replacement Title, available at any state revenue office or on the DFA’s motor vehicle forms page.3Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Motor Vehicle Forms Fill in your VIN, license plate number, and current name and address, and mark the option for a replacement title rather than an original.
Signature rules trip people up. If the existing title lists two owners connected by “and,” both must sign the application. If they are connected by “or,” either owner can sign alone.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Replacement Titles Check your registration card or insurance documents if you are not sure how ownership was recorded.
If the title was damaged rather than completely lost, include the damaged document with your application so the DFA can use it to verify your information.
If Your Vehicle Has an Active Lien
When a lender still holds a lien, you cannot have the replacement title mailed to you. The lienholder must complete and sign a separate form, the Permission to Issue a Replacement Title (Form 10-315), and once the replacement is issued it goes to the lienholder, not to you.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Replacement Titles4DFA.Arkansas.gov. Official Release of Lien or Permission to Issue a Replacement Title
If you recently paid off the loan and believe the lien should already be cleared, you will need a lien release from the lender. Even with that release, the DFA notifies the lienholder and gives them ten business days to confirm. If the lienholder does not respond within that window, the title is printed and sent to you. If the lienholder disputes the release, the title goes to them instead.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Replacement Titles Call your lender before you apply so nothing catches you off guard mid-process.
Where and How to Submit
You can file in person or by mail. Going in person to any Arkansas state revenue office is the faster route, because staff can check your paperwork on the spot and flag errors before they cost you weeks.
To mail your application, send the completed form and $10 payment to:
Department of Finance and Administration
Special License Unit
P.O. Box 1272
Little Rock, AR 722031Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Replacement Titles
Mail-in payment must be a check or money order made payable to the Department of Finance and Administration. Do not send cash. In-person applicants may have additional payment options such as debit or credit cards, though a small convenience fee often applies to card transactions.
After You Apply
Allow a minimum of three weeks for the replacement title to arrive.1Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Replacement Titles It is mailed to the address on file in the state motor vehicle database, so confirm your address is current before you submit. If you have moved and not updated your records, fix that first or your title will be sent to the old address.
Once the DFA issues the duplicate, the original lost title is void. If it later turns up, destroy it. Keeping both in circulation invites title fraud or confusion the next time you sell or transfer the vehicle. Store the replacement somewhere secure but accessible, since you will need it for any future sale, trade, or transfer.
Common Mistakes That Slow Things Down
Most rejections and delays come from a small set of avoidable errors:
- Missing signatures when the title lists two owners joined by “and.” Both must sign; a single-signature application will come back.
- Wrong payment amount or form. Sending cash by mail, or underpaying by even a dollar, stops processing.
- Ignoring an active lien. The DFA checks lien status against its records, and applications submitted without lienholder involvement will not go through.
- An outdated address on file. The title ships to the address the DFA has recorded, and a wrong address means starting over.
If you are unsure about lien status or how ownership is recorded on your title, call your nearest revenue office before you submit. A short phone call is cheaper than another three-week wait.