Title Transfer in California
Quick and Easy Online California Title Transfer
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As you answer a few questions about your vehicle such as make/model, VIN number and yourself, the application for duplicate title form gets completed. Nothing extra to do on your end!
Out-of-State Shipping
If you’re away from home, eTags can mail out your title replacement to anywhere you’d like–even if the address doesn’t match what the DMV has on file. All we need is proof of residency!
Assistance Resolving Issues
Some title replacement require a little bit more attention, our title specialists could help resolve issues that may be stopping you from getting a duplicate title for your vehicle like a lien.
Payment Options, Even Over Time
eTags accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, PayPal Pay In 4 for split payments, and PayPal Credit so everyone could enjoy the perks of managing their vehicles paperwork online.
For a legitimate California title transfer, there are crucial steps you need to take to ensure you’re compliant with the CA DMV and the law.
. Get a Smog Inspection Certificate
Should your vehicle meet the requirements, you'll need to obtain a smog certificate, showing proof that the car has passed a smog check in the last 90 days from purchase. You can get a smog inspection almost anywhere in CA, at most auto mechanic and service centers (just look for the sticker in the window). There are also official smog check stations and STAR facilities where you can get this done. California offers smog exemptions for vehicles 6 model years old or newer, which you'll find along with other smog certificate info on the DMV website.
. Remove Yourself From Traffic Ticket Liability
The second thing you'll need to do is fill out and send in a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability form NRL, which MUST be done by you, the seller, within 5 days of selling or you may end up being liable down the road for the new owner's traffic tickets! Completing the NRL lets the DMV know you’re no longer responsible for parking/traffic violations, or civil/criminal actions associated with the vehicle you sold it.
. Official Release of Vehicle Ownership
Step number three on the way to a successful turnover of California vehicle registration is the legal release of ownership from yourself to the new owner. This refers to” you” the seller signing in the applicable fields on your certificate of title (pink slip). In some cases, you'll also be required to complete an odometer disclosure statement. This disclosure statement appears on the title and is required for all vehicles 10 years or newer.
. Filing Certificate of Title
The final step in doing a California title transfer is the filing of the certificate of title--also known as the "pink slip" in CA--which officially transfers ownership and liability of the vehicle to the new owner. This is a crucial step, since it clears the vehicle seller of any potential legal liability through having proper proof of sale on file with the DMV. The CA DMV's website will give you many options regarding this step, and exactly how to choose the title certificate transfer option that best describes your situation.
For close to a decade, we’ve been offering a more personalized experience to DMV paperwork, thanks to registration and title specialists that understand the complexities and laws typical of motor vehicle forms and processes.
The State of California has laws about with owner liability when selling a vehicle and being air quality compliant, which most other states don't have.
You must get a title replacement if the original title got lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed, or became illegible. When a duplicate title is issued, the original vehicle title is automatically voided. If you find the original vehicle title again, destroy it to ensure it’s never used in the sale or transfer of ownership of the vehicle.
If your vehicle was financed, you probably have a lien on it, which stops you from selling the vehicle before its paid off. Your auto loan company can take back the vehicle if payments aren’t regularly made. If the California car title was lost or stolen in this case, only the lienholder could request and receive the title replacement.
If you paid off the auto loan, eTags will need proof that you satisfied the lien before sending you a duplicate title. You could submit a notarized lien satisfied letter or complete the Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Release REG 166 form. REG 166 can’t be used for an electronic title or for a vehicle that’s two model years old or newer.
If your California registration card says Nontranserable/No California Title Issued on it, you have to get the vehicle title from the state it was last titled in. For a CA title replacement under this scenario, you can’t use the Application for Duplicate Title or Paperless Title REG 227 form.
If you can’t get a title from that state for any reason– perhaps you can’t find the seller, or the local DMV can’t locate the title– you have to provide documentation that proves that state can’t provide the paperwork. You may have to get a vehicle bond, depending on the value of the vehicle, which the CA DMV could help you with.