What to bring
- Your driver's license or other government photo ID
- The license plate number and VIN, or the current registration card if you have it
- A lien release from the finance company if the title lists a lienholder that's been paid off
- Payment for the $28 DMV replacement title fee and our $150 lost-title service fee (cash price; cards add 3.79%)
What it costs
- Lost or missing titleAny lost or stolen title, with or without a transfer
- $150
All service fees are in addition to the DMV’s own fees, which are the same everywhere and are passed through at cost.
Posted prices are cash prices. Paying by credit card adds a 3.79% convenience fee on the total.
All sales are final. There are no refunds on service fees once processing has begun; DMV and state fees, penalties and third-party charges are non-refundable.
How do I get a duplicate title in California?
The DMV's instruction is simple: if the title is lost, stolen or damaged, submit an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227). The registered owner signs it, the $28 replacement title fee is paid, and the DMV mails a new title to the address on record. We fill the form out with you, check the vehicle record for anything that would stop it, and submit it as a DMV business partner so it doesn't sit in a mail pile.
Does a REG 227 need to be notarized?
Only when there's a lienholder. The DMV states that if the vehicle has a legal owner or lienholder, section 5 of the REG 227 needs to be notarized. If you've paid the vehicle off, that section is where the finance company releases its interest. We're a notary public in the same office, so the notarization happens at the counter instead of being a second errand.
I'm selling the car but lost the title. What now?
The REG 227 doubles as a transfer form. The DMV says that if the title is missing you must complete the REG 227 first; the seller signs as the registered owner releasing interest and the buyer signs as the new owner, and we process the replacement and the transfer together. Remember the buyer's 10-day transfer deadline still applies, so don't wait for a paper title to arrive before starting.
How long does a replacement title take to arrive?
The DMV prints and mails titles from Sacramento, so the paper title arrives by mail after the application is accepted; the DMV sets that timeline, not us, and it can take several weeks. What you can do today is confirm the address on the record is current, because a title mailed to an old address is the most common reason people end up back in this office.
Duplicate (missing) title: common questions
How much does a duplicate California title cost?
The DMV charges $28 for a replacement title. Our service fee for a lost, stolen or missing title is $150 (cash price; cards add 3.79%), which covers preparing and submitting the REG 227 and any transfer filed with it. If the title has a lienholder, the notarization of section 5 is $15 per signature, the maximum California allows.
Who has to sign the duplicate title application?
The registered owner (or owners) listed on the DMV record sign the REG 227. If the title shows a lienholder, the lienholder's release in section 5 must be notarized. If you're also transferring the vehicle, the buyer signs as the new owner on the same form.
Can I get a duplicate title the same day?
The application is completed and submitted the same day at our Bakersfield office. The paper title itself is printed and mailed by the DMV, so it arrives later by mail. If you need to sell or transfer right away, the REG 227 lets the transfer proceed without waiting for the paper copy.