A lost California title is replaced with one form and one fee: the Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) and the DMV's $28 replacement title fee. The registered owner signs; if the title shows a lienholder, section 5 must be notarized. The new title is mailed by the DMV. If you're selling the car, the same REG 227 lets the transfer go through without waiting for the paper copy, which matters because the buyer still has only 10 days to transfer.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| The form | REG 227, Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title, submitted in person or by mail (DMV). |
| The fee | $28 for a replacement title under Vehicle Code §9265 (DMV fee schedule). |
| Notary | Only if the vehicle has a legal owner/lienholder: then section 5 of the REG 227 must be notarized (DMV). California caps the notary fee at $15 per signature (Gov. Code §8211). |
| Selling without a title | If the title is missing you must complete the REG 227 first; it doubles as the transfer document (DMV). |
| Deadlines still apply | Buyers have 10 days to transfer; sellers have 5 days to file the release of liability (DMV). |
What do I do if my car title is lost, stolen or damaged?
File a replacement application. The DMV's instruction is one sentence: if lost, stolen, or damaged, submit Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) in person or by mail. The registered owner on the DMV record signs it, the replacement title fee is paid, and the DMV mails a new title to the address on file. Before you file, make sure that address is current; a title mailed to an old apartment is the most common way a duplicate goes missing too.
How much does a duplicate title cost in California?
The DMV fee schedule lists a replacement title at $28. That's the state fee at a DMV office or by mail. A DMV business partner that prepares and submits the application adds its own service fee, which should be quoted before anything is processed. If a notarization is needed, California law caps a notary's fee for taking an acknowledgment at $15 for each signature.
| Item | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement title fee | $28 | Every duplicate title application |
| Notarization of section 5 | $15 per signature (state cap) | Only when the title lists a lienholder/legal owner |
| Transfer fee | $15 | If you're also transferring the vehicle on the same REG 227 |
| Partner service fee | $150 at Ramos (lost or missing title) | Only when a DMV business partner prepares and submits it |
Does the REG 227 have to be notarized?
Only in one situation. The DMV states that if the vehicle has a legal owner/lienholder, then section 5 of the REG 227 needs to be notarized. Section 5 is where the lienholder releases its interest, which is why the DMV wants a notary's verification. A car you've owned free and clear, with no lienholder printed on the record, doesn't need a notary for a straight replacement. If you've paid off a loan but the lienholder is still on the DMV record, you'll also want the lender's release (REG 166) so the new title comes back clean.
Can I sell my car if I lost the title?
Yes, with the REG 227 doing double duty. The DMV's titles page says that if the title is missing you must complete the REG 227 first; the seller signs it as the registered owner releasing interest and the buyer signs as the new owner, and the replacement and transfer are processed together. Don't let the missing paper slow you down: the buyer still has 10 days after purchasing the vehicle to transfer ownership, and the seller still has 5 days to file the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability.
How long until the new title arrives?
The DMV prints and mails titles centrally, so the paper document arrives by mail after the application is accepted; the DMV sets that timeline and it can run several weeks. What's immediate is the application itself and, if you're transferring, the new registration. If you need proof of ownership in the meantime, keep your copy of the submitted REG 227 and the registration card.
From the counter
Duplicate titles are a daily transaction at our counter on E Norris Rd. The two things that stall them are a stale mailing address and a lienholder nobody remembered. We check both on the DMV record before you pay the $28.
Because we're also a notary public, the section 5 notarization happens at the same counter for $15 per signature, the maximum California allows. One visit instead of a trip to a bank notary and back.
Ramos Auto Registration Services · 332 E Norris Rd, Ste 3, Bakersfield · Licensed DMV business partner, not a DMV office
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a duplicate title the same day?
The application can be completed and submitted the same day, and if you're transferring the vehicle, the transfer and new registration are processed with it. The paper title is printed and mailed by the DMV afterward.
Who signs the REG 227?
The registered owner or owners shown on the DMV record. If a lienholder is on the record, the lienholder's release in section 5 must be notarized. For a transfer, the buyer signs as the new owner on the same form.
What if the person on the title has died?
A transfer after a death uses different forms depending on whether there's a will, a trust or a small estate, and often needs a notarized affidavit. Call before filing anything; it's faster to bring the right documents once.