Need to transfer your California vehicle title? You’ve come to the right place. Everything can be handled online, and there are two ways you can transfer your car’s title. You can do so with Car Registration or with the California DMV. We’ll discuss both options, so you can make an educated decision and choose which option suits you best.
When you transfer your car’s title with Car Registration, you will need the following information to get started:
There are other steps in the CA car title transfer process that you will be guided through to ensure you have everything you need to transfer your car title. Be advised that the services provided by Car Registration are paid services. Although no one looks forward to paying fees, it’s better to pay the required fees now than wait later to transfer your car’s title and possibly have to pay additional fees or fines.
To prove ownership of a vehicle, you must have a valid, up-to-date, and accurate California Certificate of Title.
Anytime the ownership of a vehicle or vessel changes, CA DMV records must be updated within 10 days and the California Certificate of Title must be transferred to the new owner. A change in ownership can change due to any of the following:
To transfer a California car title, you will need the following:
Depending on the type of transfer, you may be required to complete and submit additional forms. You must submit your California title transfer paperwork and fee(s), at any to a CA DMV branch or mail it to the following address:
California Department of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 942869
Sacramento, CA 94269
You can request an expedited title by asking for rush title processing for an additional fee. If you plan on requesting a rush title, it’s a good idea to call before visiting the CA DMV and ask about all applicable fees that you are required to pay.
Depending on the type of transfer you’re doing, you may be required to pay the following fees:
You can view the full list of California fees here. Renewal fees and parking or toll violation fees are not required to be paid to issue a replacement California Certificate of Title.
Here is a list of forms that may be required when you are transferring ownership of a vehicle or vessel.
There are different situations when you are required to transfer ownership of a vehicle.
When you purchase a new car from a dealership, the dealer will handle the required paperwork and you will receive your title from the CA DMV in the mail.If you purchase a vehicle in a private sale (the sale of a car between two individuals), you must also transfer ownership of the car by transferring the car’s title. If you have the California Certificate of Title for the car, the car’s seller must sign the title to release ownership of the vehicle. The car’s buyer must take the signed title to a CA DMV branch to apply to transfer ownership of the car.If you don’t have the California Certificate of Title, you must use an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (Form REG 227) to transfer ownership of the vehicle. If a lien release is required, it must be notarized. The car’s buyer must take the completed form to a CA DMV branch to be issued a new CA registration and car title.
Whether you’re the car’s seller or the buyer of a car, there are additional steps you are required to take to complete the California title transfer process.
As the car’s seller, you may be required to complete the following:
Once you give the buyer the required documents and the CA DMV receives the completed NRL, your part of the transfer process is complete. Be advised that if the vehicle has been sold more than once with the same title, a REG 262 is required from each seller.
If you’re the buyer of a car, you will need to do the following: Check the registration card for the following:
After you provide the CA DMV with the proper documents and fees, the vehicle record is updated to reflect the change of ownership and a registration card will be issued. A new title is issued from CA DMV headquarters within 60 calendar days.
To transfer a vehicle between family members, you must submit the following:
In California, you can transfer a vehicle from an individual to the estate of that individual without signatures on the Certificate of Title. To do so, you must submit the following:
Use tax and a smog certification are not required when you are transferring the ownership of a vehicle from an individual to an estate.
Vehicle ownership can be transferred to a deceased owner’s heir 40 days after the owner’s death as long as the value of the deceased’s property in California does NOT exceed the following:
If the heir will be the new owner, you must submit the following to a CA DMV branch:
If the heirs prefer to sell the vehicle, the buyer must also (in addition to the items above), complete the following:
If there comes a time that you have to transfer a vehicle title in California, you may have a few questions. Here are answers to the questions that are commonly asked.Q. Does the REG 227 need to be notarized?If the vehicle has a legal owner or lienholder, section 5 of form REG 227 MUST be notarized. However, if the registration does NOT show a legal owner or lienholder, notarization of this form is NOT required.Q. How do I locate an out-of-business legal owner?If you need help finding the lienholder on your vehicle’s title, you can check for the following types of business that may have gone out of business, merged, changed their name, or been acquired by another financial institution.
Q. My registration card says “Nontransferable/No California Title Issued.” Can Form REG 227 be used?No. You are required to obtain a title from the state where the vehicle was previously titled. If you’re unable to get a title from that state, you must provide documentation that they can’t issue a title. You may be required to have a motor vehicle bond.
