To replace a lost vehicle title in Wyoming, file a sworn Duplicate Certificate of Title Application with the county clerk’s office that issued the original title, have it notarized, and pay a $15 fee. The clerk verifies your ownership against the state’s records and prints a replacement, usually within a few business days. The process covers cars, trailers, mobile homes, snowmobiles, and boats.
What to Bring and Sign
The main document is the Duplicate Certificate of Title Application and Affidavit. Each county publishes its own version, available at the clerk’s office or on the county website, but all follow the same template required under Wyoming law. You’ll need the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, year, the title number if you have it, and your name and address exactly as they appear on the original title. The form also asks for a short written explanation of how the title was lost, destroyed, or damaged.
Because the application is an affidavit, you have to sign it in front of a notary public or the county clerk. Most clerk offices keep a notary on staff, so you can finish everything in one visit. If you plan to mail the application in, get it notarized before you send it.
Under Wyoming’s statute, “owner” means any one person listed on the face of the title, so a single co-owner can apply on their own. Policies vary at the counter, though. Some offices still ask all listed owners to sign. Call ahead if more than one name is on the title.
If There’s a Lienholder
If a lender still has a recorded interest in the vehicle, the county clerk won’t issue a duplicate without the lienholder’s involvement. The lender must either sign the application itself or send a separate letter on company letterhead acknowledging the lien and authorizing the clerk to carry it forward onto the new title.
If the loan is paid off but the release was never recorded, you’ll need a lien satisfaction letter from the lender before you apply. This is a common snag with older loans or with lenders that have since merged or changed names. Call the lender first and ask for the release in writing.
Fee
The duplicate title fee is $15. A few situations require an additional VIN inspection by law enforcement at $10, though that’s more typical with bonded titles than straightforward duplicates. The clerk will tell you if one applies.
Most offices accept cash, checks, and money orders. Some take credit cards with a processing surcharge. Confirm payment options with your county before you go.
Where and How to File
File with the county clerk’s office in the county that issued the original title, either in person or by mail. For a mailed application, send the notarized form and a check or money order for $15 to the clerk’s motor vehicle department. A self-addressed stamped envelope can speed up the return.
One detail that trips people up: Wyoming requires a residential address in the state to hold a certificate of title. If you’ve moved out of Wyoming but still have a Wyoming title, call the issuing county clerk before applying. You may need to title the vehicle in your new state instead.
What Happens After You File
After the clerk accepts the application, processing usually runs a few business days depending on workload. The office verifies your information against the state’s central database, confirms ownership and lien status, and prints the replacement. If there’s an active lien, the duplicate goes to the lienholder. Otherwise it’s mailed to you.
The replacement carries a statutory notation reading “THIS IS A DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO THE RIGHTS OF A PERSON OR PERSONS UNDER THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE.” That language is required by law and appears on every Wyoming duplicate. It doesn’t limit your right to sell or transfer, but it puts buyers on notice that an original existed.
Once the duplicate is issued, any earlier version of the title is legally void. If the original turns up later, destroy it. Store the new one somewhere secure and separate from the vehicle itself.
When the Owner Has Died
If the registered owner has died and the title can’t be found, the process is more involved. An heir or personal representative needs to pull together:
- A certified copy of the death certificate (not a photocopy).
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration from the court, proving authority over the estate.
- A notarized affidavit of lost title explaining that the original cannot be found.
- The standard Application for Certificate of Title used for transfers.
If the total estate (real and personal property minus debts) is worth $200,000 or less, Wyoming allows a simplified small estate affidavit in place of full probate. The Wyoming Judicial Branch publishes information on the small estate process, and the county clerk can tell you which forms to use for the vehicle portion.
If You’re Not Already on the Title
The duplicate process only works when state records already list you as the owner. If you bought the vehicle but never transferred the title into your name, or you acquired it informally and have no ownership documents at all, you can’t get a duplicate. You’ll need a bonded title instead, which requires an affidavit of ownership, a law enforcement VIN inspection, a records search by the Wyoming Department of Transportation, and a surety bond worth twice the vehicle’s retail value (minimum $5,000). Vehicles and watercraft valued under $2,500 are exempt from the bond. The county clerk handles bonded title filings as well.
Selling a Vehicle After the Title Is Lost
You can’t legally transfer a vehicle in Wyoming without a certificate of title. The seller has to endorse the title, sign it before a notary, and deliver it to the buyer, who then applies for a new title in their own name. If the title is missing, get the duplicate before completing the sale.
Co-ownership adds a wrinkle at the sale stage even though a single owner can request the duplicate. All owners whose names are joined by “and” must sign to transfer. For titles issued on or after January 1, 2020, if the names are joined by “or” and the title doesn’t carry a joint tenancy with right of survivorship (JTWROS) designation, only one owner’s signature is needed to sell.
If you’re the buyer and the seller claims the title is lost, don’t hand over money until the duplicate is in their hand and ready to sign over. A bill of sale alone won’t get you a Wyoming title unless you go through the bonded title process.
Having Someone Else File for You
If travel, health, or other reasons keep you from handling the paperwork yourself, Wyoming lets another person act on your behalf through a power of attorney. The POA has to be signed, and the original document (not a photocopy) must be presented at the county clerk’s office along with the title paperwork. The clerk can provide a form, or an attorney can draft one that covers motor vehicle transactions.