How to Change Vehicle Ownership
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How To Get Started8 X$ I9 P: ~* i: p# \
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You will always need:
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4 s8 K: Q1 ?7 y4 \# W3 i8 C4 _# OCalifornia Certificate of Title or Application for Duplicate Title (REG 227) , r* ~' S7 g5 W$ E+ s
Signature(s) of seller(s) and lienholder, if any 5 Q! c2 f+ a+ ]5 D
Signature(s) of buyer(s) 4 t; n8 `! f. k# e# F
Transfer fee 1 G( q4 N H- u! U
You may also need:* H1 P$ I# K, A% G* J. b
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Smog certification
8 g x9 _$ [6 p( \Use tax and/or various other fees
' Y' P3 q* s7 _: e5 d+ NAdditional documentation
: w) W# O$ B% p+ O- H* [: }What Constitutes a Change in Ownership?+ t6 b8 I! y8 o3 I1 H6 x
2 A' b% t! w+ B/ DAny change of the registered owner or lienholder (legal owner) of a vehicle or vessel is considered to be a change in ownership that must be updated on the records at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The change is usually due to:
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Sale or Gift
9 g" V' h* V6 T+ n$ q4 gAdding or deleting the name of an owner
* |8 p; s* N3 P: L" B8 nInheritance 1 f& t/ L4 A3 x4 w
Satisfaction of lien (full payment of car loan) ! A, A$ L! L: Q4 w
Transfer—Whenever there is a change of ownership, the DMV refers to the transaction as a “transfer.”
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, J0 H4 L" _& t% Z% {2 D" {Seller—The person(s) and/or company shown as the registered owner on the Certificate of Title (and DMV’s records) is always referred to as the seller, even if the vehicle is a gift.
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: w- ~& _0 G0 k1 D% `Buyer—The person(s) and/or company who is going to become the new registered owner is referred to as the buyer. 4 ?) H" d4 r1 f
# H' N0 _0 G/ D- V5 gWhat Fees Will Be Due? D, K8 i$ i' F; D
C+ K( b/ f {% X( c5 N! ?) y# a( }Fees will be determined when the application is submitted to DMV and may include:
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Transfer
# M8 p5 f. ?8 Z" q |& LDuplicate Title
0 u! F! B. B. @% u: U. W0 o9 {Use Tax - Based on new registered owner’s county of residence. (Add 10% penalty if paid late) , W) J/ K: s8 x" E
Registration Renewal - In most cases, the vehicle will be reclassified based on the current purchase price or market value. Vehicle class is used to determine part of the renewal fees.
+ w4 x+ a) L% t7 ^5 S5 P! yPlanned Non-Operation
1 @9 ?# l9 E- [; {' [6 o0 cDuplicate/Substitute License Plate - (Due if a license plate has been lost or stolen)
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) [9 ?. T6 N8 u, J" W; G0 rNOTE:
1 t- C3 p v$ O* Q- u' K$ B0 ITransfer fees are due within 10 days of the “sale.” Penalties are assessed if payment is not received by DMV within 30 days of the “sale.” If multiple sales occur before DMV is notified, a separate transfer fee is collected for each sale when the application for transfer is received by DMV.) R; m3 @- T/ S. b- ]
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3 k5 J" O) a- p" K. r$ u5 MIs a Smog Inspection Required?: n5 B& n( u5 n+ b9 W* o! V
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The seller is required to obtain smog certification when a vehicle0 ^1 J$ p/ B6 |8 Y: H
is transferred UNLESS the vehicle is:
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Hybrid 2 Q. F0 r2 A/ t
1975 year model or older # t4 e a' j- a0 P+ p/ m4 e
Diesel powered 0 r, d: B7 r1 u- @0 a$ p0 [" o
Electric
3 J) H$ n2 u# pNatural gas powered and has a Gross Vehicle Weight rating of 14,001 lbs. or more 7 d5 E& ]$ h$ I/ E
Motorcycle 5 G2 ^1 ^' E7 E& T- Y
Trailer * {! ~) Y+ w: P
Vessel
5 a& s' i# b& I1 sBeing transferred between family members (spouse, parent child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) or by court order. A Statement of Facts form (REG 256) must be completed for the exemption; however, if registration renewal fees are due, the smog exemption may not apply.
- Z: W; I& q& [1 OMost smog certifications are submitted electronically to DMV. Keep your receipt because it contains an inspection number that may be used to locate your smog certification record at DMV. . y% |3 D8 c7 q8 r( @
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More information regarding smog requirements.
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( ]0 U% p) C, O" c% XWhat Documents Are Required?' {+ {9 Y+ a1 y7 ?6 v1 ?! e2 e
4 u* v) x0 h+ a7 S0 dCalifornia Certificate of Title (pink slip) or Application for Duplicate Title, REG 227
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9 E+ d4 J N0 v- I4 k. dIf the title is missing, you must use a REG 227 to complete the transfer of ownership. The lienholder’s release, if any, must be notarized.$ w1 L" t- b0 w0 R4 x" R0 p
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Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form, REG 262
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If the vehicle has been sold more than once with the same title, the REG 262 is required from each seller.
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Statement to Record Ownership/Statement of Error or Erasure, REG 101
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( M7 l9 ]% U3 I0 I0 lAny names appearing in error require a REG 101 completed by the person(s) whose name(s) appears in error.
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! m* i, \0 T, dStatements of Facts, REG 256
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When the vehicle is a gift or acquired (gift or sale) from a family member the new owner (buyer) completes a REG 256.' i: Y+ {% }/ x8 \, @/ @
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( l! m: f8 w; O! f" PAffidavit for Transfer Without Probate, REG 5
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' x: }2 N% W- B' ?, A/ XThis form is used when the registered owner of a vehicle has been deceased for 40 days, and the value of the decedent’s property in California does not exceed $100,000. The vehicle must be titled in California. The REG 5 is usually completed by the next of kin. (Contact DMV for complete information.)1 P: s4 m k, j- ~
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Declaration of Gross Vehicle Weight/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight, REG 4008
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If the vehicle you are purchasing is a commercial motor vehicle, you may be required to complete a REG 4008 indicating the gross vehicle weight or combined gross vehicle weight at which your vehicle will be operated.7 K4 d( m0 d6 Y/ t
( {+ h0 R, x- pOdometer Disclosure
9 [) @! E7 o% g+ i$ BDisclosing the vehicle’s odometer mileage reading is required by Federal regulations for all transfers except when the vehicle is:) q* m2 u7 w/ U3 e0 D/ @
; L, k( I* \- H5 j" c$ T6 U4 f. j10 years old or older,
, T) R3 z; L5 `! N( L3 B% Z7 eA commercial vehicle with an unladen weight of 8,501 pounds or more (16,001 pounds or more Gross Vehicle Weight): C8 g/ N- `' G, E; X) h, U
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A new vehicle being transferred prior to its first retail sale by a dealer.
6 c \6 x( N$ w; _: t+ B- K% H: {NOTE: If you have an older title or ownership certificate without an odometer certification box, or if the vehicle was sold more than once, complete a Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262).
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9 {8 W6 ` @9 m' G GYou must notify DMV within five days when you sell or transfer ownership of your vehicle 8 ^" n$ |$ z% k3 y& D: v
Complete a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) and mail it to the address on the form.
3 Y; p) \! X. q3 T0 _Keep a copy for your records.
7 Q: B0 @ l5 T; n" _9 ZThe Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability does not remove your name from DMV’s records, but you are no longer responsible for civil or criminal actions regarding the vehicle after the date of sale, and no further renewal billing notices will be mailed to you. & a& x/ _, @- o0 C
BE SURE THE NOTICE OF TRANSFER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY IS COMPLETE AND LEGIBLE
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# u, B2 D% Q0 l; c; a rSee Vehicle Code Section 5900
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% [: G6 K4 ~ I6 b1 U& [Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I determine a selling price for my vehicle?3 y4 ?$ [) |- ]6 J- ^: T
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Check similar vehicles in newspaper classified advertisements or at local used vehicle dealerships. Libraries also have various value/pricing guides that you may be able to reference.1 e' B: ~# [1 T; z* q
, i! I. {9 F4 w% s kWhat do I do with the license plate?3 y9 p% x" R; ]( h
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Most vehicles have sequentially issued “standard” license plates that remain with the vehicle when ownership is transferred. If the license plate is a special interest or personalized license plate, you must decide if you want to retain the plate for use on another vehicle, or release your interest in the plate. Complete a Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17) indicating your retention or release of the special plate. If you are releasing the plates fill out the form, give it to the buyer and retain a copy for your records. If you are retaining the plates follow the instructions on the form. 2 i- K: _* K, {; D; U' P
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How long will it take for everything to be complete?# h9 l& r. t) v8 h* t. @! m
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When you give the buyer all of the required documentation and DMV receives your completed Notice of Release of Liability, the sellers part of the transaction is complete. Once the buyer has provided DMV with all the proper documentation and fees, the vehicle record is updated to reflect the change of ownership and a registration card is issued to the new owner. A new title is issued from DMV headquarters within 60 calendar days.
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% u1 K6 p2 F# {; J* @When can I actually turn the car and keys over to the buyer?
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You may safely turn the vehicle over to the new owner when:
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When you have provided the buyer with all the appropriate documentation, signatures, and certifications noted in this brochure.
& P, w0 @! g$ |) t8 H/ b3 aYour completed Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability is ready to submit to DMV. , u3 k. b Z' R$ Y' L
You are satisfied with the payment that you have received from the buyer. , o: f! y4 w4 x
Will I have to pay for anything after I have sold my vehicle?4 M. g' M. r& m- d N
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All of the transfer fees are the responsibility of the buyer.
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; p* B- C/ D4 a& ?& o5 OShould I keep any papers after the vehicle is transferred?8 ?( [ e) M$ s( _
" ^, y5 n: n# O- I: U2 n! \1 aKeep a copy of the completed Notice of Release of Liability.* k2 ?) a8 U2 G& ^8 f
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1 S0 x9 {- n2 t* r5 K8 ^5 _3 ]6 JWhat is the difference between “and” and “or” between co-owner names on a title?+ p0 i+ p2 ?4 {; o8 b
! g! X( _6 x) @+ wWhen the names are joined by the word “or,” one owner can sell the vehicle without the other’s signature or consent. “And” or a slash (/) requires the signature of each owner to sell the vehicle. |
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