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Replace a Lost or Missing California Title

Xpress Registrations replaces lost, stolen, damaged, or never-received California titles. We prepare the REG 227 Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title for the registered owner to sign, you send it back with a photo of your ID and current registration card, and we file it with the DMV. If a lienholder is on record their release must be notarized. The duplicate title is mailed by the DMV, typically within 15-30 days. A duplicate can be filed together with a transfer when you are selling or have just bought the vehicle.
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What you need to send

The same checklist our staff works from, taken from the DMV requirements for this transaction. Clear phone photos are enough; originals are needed only where noted.

Usually required
  • REG 227 (Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title)Signed by the registered owner. We prepare it for you to sign.
  • Current registration card or a vehicle reportProof of the current record when filing for a duplicate title.
  • Photo ID of the registered ownerDriver license or state ID.
Only if it applies to you
  • REG 262 (Vehicle/Vessel Transfer & Reassignment)Required when a duplicate title is being processed together with a transfer, or to carry the odometer. Original only.
  • Lienholder release (notarized)If a lienholder is on record, their release must be notarized when submitted with a REG 227.

Get your exact DMV total, free

Plate and a phone number is all we need to pull your record. No payment until you see the number.

Licensed DMV business partner. Quote by email within one business day. No card needed.

Who this is for

  • Owners who cannot find the title and need it to sell, gift, or refinance
  • Buyers who bought from a dealer or private seller and never received the title
  • Owners whose title was damaged, stolen, or has an old lien that was never released
  • Anyone doing a transfer where the seller’s title is missing

Key facts

Form
REG 227 signed by the registered owner (we prepare it; original signature required, no photocopies).
Lienholder
If a lien is on record, the lienholder’s release must be notarized when submitted with a REG 227.
ID
Driver license or state ID of the registered owner.
DMV timing
Duplicate titles are typically mailed by the DMV within 15-30 days of filing.

How it works

No line, no appointment, no second trip because one form was wrong.

  1. 1Today

    Tell us the plate or VIN and send a photo of your ID and registration card.

  2. 2Within 1 business day

    We prepare the REG 227 for signature and invoice the DMV fee + our fee.

  3. 3After you sign and pay

    We file it electronically; if a transfer is involved we file both together.

  4. 415-30 days

    The DMV mails the new title to the registered owner’s address on record.

How your documents get back to you

FreePickup at OfficeReady at our Montebello office
$20USPS Priority (tracked)1-3 business days, tracking included
$50USPS Express (tracked)1-2 business days, tracking included

Common questions

Straight answers. If yours is not here, ask us.

How do I get a duplicate title in California?

File a REG 227 Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title, signed by the registered owner, with proof of ID and the duplicate title fee. We prepare and file it for you.

How long does a duplicate California title take?

The DMV typically mails duplicate titles within 15-30 days of the application. We file the same day your signed form and payment arrive.

Can I get a duplicate title if there is a lien on the car?

Yes, but the lienholder must sign a notarized release, or the title is issued showing the lienholder. If the loan was paid off years ago we help you obtain the release.

I bought a car and the dealer never sent the title. What do I do?

If you are the registered owner on the DMV record, a duplicate title application solves it. If the record still shows the dealer, a transfer needs to be completed first; send us your registration card and we will tell you which case you are in.

My title was stolen. Do I need a police report?

Not to file the duplicate application, but a report is worth having if the stolen title is later used fraudulently. Filing the duplicate voids the old one.

Can I sell my car while waiting for the duplicate title?

A duplicate and a transfer can be filed together so the buyer receives the new title directly. Send us both parties’ information and we handle it as one job.

Related guides

Title Transfer Deadlines: The Clock Started at the HandshakePutting a Deceased Family Member’s Car in Your Name

Other services

Renew Your California Registration Without the DMVTransfer a California Vehicle Title Without a DMV VisitRegister Your Out-of-State Vehicle in CaliforniaRemove, Add or Change the Lienholder on Your California TitleJunk or Salvage a Vehicle in CaliforniaRe-Register a Rebuilt Salvage or Junk VehicleRegister a Vehicle in California for the First TimeRegister a Boat, Jet Ski or Vessel with the California DMVCommercial Vehicle Registration in CaliforniaUnusual Title and Registration Situations
Xpress Registrations is not the DMV. We are a licensed private vehicle registration service (a California DMV Business Partner). The services we provide are also available directly from the California DMV without our added service fee. dmv.ca.gov

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