REG 227 Form PDF – CA DMV Replacement and Title Transfer
The California REG 227 is the official form used when your vehicle title is lost, stolen, mutilated, or never arrived and you need to get a new one. It also handles a situation that trips people up all the time: what do you do when you need to sell a car but you cannot find the title? The DMV REG 227 solves both problems in a single document. The seller uses it to request a replacement title, and if ownership is also changing hands, the buyer’s sections on the back of the same form complete the transfer simultaneously.
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Form Number REG 227 |
Revision Date September 2021 |
Transfer Deadline 10 Days |
ELT Lien Release Not Permitted |
What Is the REG 227 Form?
The REG 227, officially called the Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title, is California’s go-to form when the original vehicle title is unavailable. It was last updated in September 2021 and is the only version the DMV currently accepts.
What makes it different from most DMV forms is that it does two jobs at once. If you just need a duplicate title for a car you are keeping, you fill out the front page and you are done. But if you are in the middle of a private sale and the seller cannot find the original, both of you complete different sections of the same form and the DMV issues a brand new title directly in the buyer’s name. No waiting. No back and forth. One form, one trip.
One thing to know before you start: this form cannot be used to release a lien on a vehicle with an Electronic Lien Title, also called an ELT. If your car has an active ELT lien, your lender handles that process separately. This form does not cover it.
When Do You Need the REG 227?
There are six situations where the REG 227 is exactly what you need. Find yours below.
You lost your title
You own the car but cannot find the paperwork. Maybe it got buried in a move or tossed out by accident. Check “Lost” in Section 3 and you are good to go.
Your title was stolen
If it was taken along with other documents or personal belongings, check “Stolen” in Section 3. Filing a police report before you submit is a smart move for your own records.
Your title is too damaged to use
Water damage, a bad tear, years of fading — if the title exists but is unreadable, check “Illegible/Mutilated” and attach the old damaged copy when you submit. The DMV takes it from you and issues a clean replacement.
Title Not Received from Prior Owner
You bought the car but the seller never came through with the paperwork. Check “Not Received from Prior Owner.” Depending on your situation, you may need extra proof of purchase.
Title Not Received from DMV
This happens more often than you would think. If the DMV already issued a title and it got lost in transit, you have to wait at least 30 days from the issue date before submitting this form. That is a firm DMV requirement.
Selling a Vehicle Without the Original Title
You want to sell or transfer your vehicle but cannot produce the original title. This is the Transfer with Replacement use case. The seller completes Sections 1–4, the buyer completes Sections 6–7. The DMV issues the title directly in the buyer’s name.
Documents You Need for the REG 227
Pulling everything together before your DMV visit saves you from making a second trip. Here is the complete list.
📋 Completed REG 227 Form
The September 2021 revision is what you need, available as a free PDF download on this page. Fill it out in blue or black ink with original signatures only. The DMV does not accept photocopies of the completed form.
🪪 California Driver License or ID
Required to verify identity of the registered owner in Section 1. Enter your DL/ID number in the form field. Bring the physical card to an in-person DMV visit.
💳 Payment for Duplicate Title Fee
The DMV charges a fee to issue a replacement title. The exact amount is subject to change so confirm the current rate before your visit. Payment is accepted by check, money order, or card at any DMV location.
🔢 VIN / License Plate Number
Required on both pages of the form. Verify the VIN against the plate visible through your windshield or the sticker inside your driver’s side door jamb. One wrong character and your application gets kicked back.
🗒️ Damaged Old Title (Section 3 — Mutilated)
If your reason for applying is a mutilated or illegible title, you have to surrender the original. Bring it to your appointment or include it with your mailed submission.
📬 Proof of Ownership (Address Change Only)
If your address has changed since your last DMV record, bring the original or a copy of your registration card or registration renewal notice to prove ownership when applying in person.
🚓 CHP Vehicle Verification (Recent Replacement)
If your title was already replaced within the last 90 days, a California Highway Patrol VIN verification is required before the DMV will process another one. Not a common situation, but worth knowing.
📄 REG 256 — Statement of Facts
Only needed when the buyer is a qualifying family member claiming a use tax exemption on the vehicle transfer. Not required for standard private sales.
🏦 Notarized Section 5 (Lienholder Release)
If a lienholder is releasing their interest through this form, Section 5 must be completed in front of a notary public. Skipping the notarization is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected.
🛡️ Proof of California insurance
The new owner must have California liability insurance in place when registering. Proof of insurance is required at the DMV office for title transfer transactions.
How to Fill Out and Submit the REG 227
Follow these steps in order depending on which scenario applies to you. The process differs slightly between a simple replacement and a transfer with replacement.
Download the free REG 227 PDF on this page
Download the current version right here. The revision date on the form should read September 2021. If you have an older printed copy lying around, do not use it. The DMV only accepts the current revision.
Fill in the vehicle description header on both pages
Before touching any section, enter the license plate number, the full VIN, and the year and make of the vehicle at the very top of both page 1 and page 2. These have to match DMV records exactly.
Replacement only (no sale)? Complete Sections 1, 2, and 3
Section 1 is your name as registered owner, written exactly as it appears in DMV records. Section 2 is the lienholder name, or “None” if there is no lien. Section 3 is where you check the reason your title is unavailable and sign under penalty of perjury. That is the entire form for a straightforward duplicate title request.
Transfer with replacement? Seller completes Sections 1 through 4
After Sections 1 through 3, the seller completes Section 4 to formally release ownership. Every registered owner listed on the vehicle must sign. If a lienholder needs to release their interest at the same time, they complete Section 5 in front of a notary public. Do not skip the notarization.
Buyer completes page 2 — Sections 6 and 7
On the back of the form, the buyer fills in their name, purchase date and price, how co-ownership should be listed if applicable, their address, and their signature. Section 7 records the new lienholder, or “None” if the buyer has no financing.
Gather all supporting documents
Go through the documents list above and pull together every item that applies to your situation. Showing up with one thing missing means coming back.
Submit to the CA DMV — in person or by mail
You can mail the form if your address matches DMV records and no CHP verification is needed. For everything else, go in person. If the transaction involves a title transfer, the 10-day submission deadline starts the moment the vehicle changes hands. Book a DMV appointment in advance to avoid a long wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Download This Form
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Form Number |
CA REG 227 |
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Revision |
September 2021 |
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Pages |
2 Pages |
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Transfer Deadline |
10 Days |
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Section 5 |
Must Be Notarized |
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Submit To |
CA DMV Office |
Which Sections Do You Need?
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📋 Replacement Only (No Sale) Complete Sections 1, 2, and 3 |
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🔄 Transfer + Replacement Seller: Sections 1–4 Buyer: Sections 6–7 |
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🏦 Lienholder Release Needed Add Section 5 (notarized) Not for ELT vehicles |
Other CA DMV Forms
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REG 262 – Transfer Form |
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REG 343 – Title Application |
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REG 256 – Statement of Facts |
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REG 135 – Bill of Sale |
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DL 44 – Driver License App |