How to Get a Replacement Car Title in California

To get a replacement car title in California, submit Form REG 227 (Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title) to the DMV with a $28 fee. You can file by mail, in person at a DMV office, online through the DMV Virtual Office, or at a DMV Now self-service kiosk. Most replacement titles arrive in the mail within 15 to 30 days.¹

When You Can Use REG 227

The California Certificate of Title, sometimes called the pink slip, proves you own the vehicle. You don’t need it to drive, but you’ll need it to sell, trade in, or transfer ownership. The DMV will issue a replacement when the original is:²

Lost or stolen.
Illegible or damaged. Attach the damaged title to your application.
Never received after a purchase or transfer. Wait at least 30 days from the issue date before applying.

One boundary matters before you start. If your registration card says “Nontransferable / No California Title Issued,” the title was issued by another state. REG 227 will not work, and you’ll need to contact the issuing state’s DMV.³

Filling Out the Form and Paying the Fee

Download REG 227 from the DMV website or pick one up at any DMV office. Section 1 asks for your full legal name, current address, and California driver’s license or ID number. Section 3 asks for the license plate, VIN, year, and make of the vehicle, along with a checkbox showing why you need the replacement — lost, stolen, illegible, or not received.²

The fee is $28. When mailing, pay by check, money order, or eCheck. In-person applicants have additional payment options.⁴

If you don’t have a California driver’s license, you can still apply. Bring your out-of-state or out-of-country license or ID plus a secondary photo ID. A valid passport, military ID, ID from another state or U.S. government agency, a college or university student ID, or an ID card issued by a California employer all qualify as the second document.³

If a Lienholder Is on the Title

When a bank or finance company is listed as lienholder, who applies depends on the vehicle’s age. For vehicles two model years old or newer, the lienholder must submit the REG 227. You cannot apply yourself. For older vehicles with no lienholder on record, the registered owner applies directly.³

If you’ve paid off the loan but the lien is still on record, the lienholder needs to release their interest. They usually do this by signing a Lien Satisfied/Title Holder Release (REG 166), which must be notarized when submitted with a replacement title application.⁵ California notaries can charge up to $15 per signature.

Many lenders participate in the DMV’s Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) program, where no paper title exists while the loan is active. When you pay off an ELT loan, the lender notifies the DMV electronically and a paper title is mailed to you, usually within about eight days.⁶ If that title never shows up, you follow the standard REG 227 process described here.

How to Submit Your Application

You have four ways to file. The right one depends mainly on whether the address the DMV has on file matches your current address.

By Mail

Send your completed REG 227, any supporting documents (like the damaged title or a notarized lien release), and the $28 fee to:¹

Department of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 942869
Sacramento, CA 94269

Mail only works if your DMV address is current. If it isn’t, you have to go in person.

In Person at a DMV Office

Bring the completed REG 227, your California photo driver’s license or ID card, and the fee. Book an appointment online first, since walk-in waits can be long. If your address on file is out of date, bring proof of ownership as well, such as your registration card or renewal notice.²

Through the DMV Virtual Office

The Virtual Office lets you start a replacement title request online. You’ll need your driver’s license or ID number, the last five digits of your VIN, and your license plate number. Complete the forms and upload documents through the portal. A DMV representative reviews the submission and contacts you to finalize it.⁷

At a DMV Now Kiosk

The DMV lists “Replace Title” as a service at its self-service DMV Now kiosks, which sit at DMV offices and some retail locations around the state.⁸ Kiosks handle straightforward cases well. They won’t work if your address needs updating or a lienholder is involved.

Selling a Vehicle When the Title Is Lost

You don’t need to replace the title first and sell it later. REG 227 has a “Transfer of Title with Replacement” option built for this. The seller completes Sections 1 through 4 (owner information, missing title statement, and release of ownership). The buyer completes Sections 6 and 7. Both submit the form together to the DMV.²

If there’s a lienholder, Section 5 must also be completed and notarized to certify the lien has been released. And if the seller’s address on file doesn’t match their current address, the application has to be filed in person, with proof of ownership and a photo ID.

Watch out for a fraud-prevention rule that catches sellers off guard. If a replacement title was already issued within the past 90 days, the DMV requires a California Highway Patrol vehicle verification before issuing another one.²

Name Changes and Deceased Owners

A legal name change from marriage, divorce, or a court order doesn’t automatically require a replacement title. If you still have the original, write the correct name directly on the title above the outdated one and submit a Statement of Facts (REG 256), Section F.⁹

If the title is lost and you also need a name change, complete both the REG 256 (Section F) and a REG 227, bring at least one proof of ownership such as your registration card, and file in person. You’ll need your driver’s license or ID plus a second photo ID from the accepted list, and you pay the standard $28 replacement fee.⁹

When the registered owner has died and probate hasn’t been opened, the vehicle can be transferred to the “Estate of” the deceased without signatures on the original title. That process uses a REG 256 declaring that Letters Testamentary have not been issued and stating your relationship to the deceased. No use tax or smog certification is required. California also has an Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate (REG 5) that may be used under certain conditions; the specific requirements are on the form itself.¹⁰

What to Expect After You Apply

Replacement titles usually arrive by mail within 15 to 30 days.¹ You can keep driving while you wait, since the title proves ownership rather than registration.

Check the new title carefully when it arrives. Confirm your name, address, VIN, and vehicle description. Errors are easier to fix now than at the moment of sale.

Once the DMV issues a replacement, the original title is automatically cancelled.² If the original later turns up, don’t use it. Surrender it to the DMV. Using a cancelled title in a sale can create serious problems for you and the buyer. If nothing has arrived after 30 days, contact the DMV to check the status.

1
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Title Transfers and Changes
2
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227)
3
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Chapter 20 Replacements and Substitutes
4
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration Fees
5
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Forms
6
California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) Program
7
California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Replacement Title
8
California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Kiosks
9
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Updating Your Registration Information
10
California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Transfer to “Estate of”