DL 142 is the California DMV form for asking that a driver license (DL) or identification card (ID) be cancelled or surrendered. It covers a person's own voluntary surrender and the cancellation of a minor child's license by the person who signed, consented to or now has custody of the minor. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The form itself is published by the DMV at dmv.ca.gov.
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What is DL 142?
Request for Cancellation or Surrender of a Driver License or Identification Card (DL 142) is the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) form on which a person asks for a driver license (DL) or identification card (ID) to be cancelled, or voluntarily surrenders it.
The page identifies the document being cancelled: the name as shown on the license or ID card, the address, the license or ID card number, the date of birth and where the license is now (lost/destroyed, attached to the form, or other, explained on the reverse). A separate block is headed "Voluntary surrender or cancellation of a DL or ID Card." There the person states "I voluntarily surrender and request the cancellation of my" driver license or identification card and gives the reason.
A third block, "Person cancelling minor child's application or driver license," is used when the license belongs to a minor. It asks whether the license is in the minor's possession and whether custody of the minor has changed. It also asks the person to certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of California, how they are connected to the minor's application.
The sheet prints the form twice. The instruction "Cut on line and keep this part for your records" tells you to keep the lower copy. A "DMV use only" area and a DMV employee signature block are reserved for the department. The revision printed on the form is DL 142 (REV. 12/2014).
Who needs to file DL 142?
The main users are people who hold a California driver license or identification card and want to surrender it and have it cancelled. The form's wording is "I voluntarily surrender and request the cancellation of my" driver license or identification card, so it is completed by the holder.
The form also serves a person who is cancelling a minor child's application or driver license. That person must check one statement:
- they signed the minor's application for a license;
- they did not sign the application but gave written consent to the issuance of the minor's license; or
- they did not sign the application but now have custody of the minor.
The same block asks whether the license is in the minor's possession and whether there is a change in custody of the minor. The person completing the form prints their name, signs, dates and gives their address. The form states no other eligibility conditions and names no exclusions, so contact the DMV with questions about your situation.
When to file DL 142
Use Form DL 142 when you decide to surrender a driver license or identification card and want it cancelled, or when you, as the person who signed for, consented to or now have custody of a minor, want the minor's license cancelled. The form prints no deadline and no validity period, so no filing window applies to it. If the license is lost or destroyed, you tick the "Lost/destroyed" box under "Location of license" rather than waiting to find it. The form does not state a processing time.
Documents you need
- The driver license or identification card itself, only if you tick Attached under "Location of license" because you are handing it over with the form.
- A written explanation on the reverse of the form, only if you tick Other under "Location of license."
- Written consent to the issuance of the minor's license, only if you check "I did not sign the application but I gave written consent to the issuance of the minor's license." The form itself does not say that the consent must be attached.
How to fill out DL 142
Enter the name on the license
Under "Information about the document being cancelled or surrendered," write the name of the person exactly as shown on the license or identification card to be cancelled.
Enter the address
Fill in the address, city, state and ZIP code in the boxes provided.
Enter license number and birth date
Write the license or ID card number to be cancelled and the date of birth in the boxes provided.
Mark where the license is
Under "Location of license," check Lost/destroyed, Attached or Other (explain on reverse). If you choose Other, write the explanation on the back.
Complete the voluntary surrender block
Mark whether you are surrendering and requesting cancellation of your Driver License (DL) or Identification Card (ID), then write the reason for the cancellation or surrender.
Answer the minor questions
Only if you are cancelling a minor child's application or license, answer Yes or No to "Is the license in the minor's possession?" and "Is there a change in custody of the minor?"
Check one certification
For a minor, check one statement: you signed the application, you gave written consent, or you now have custody. The statement is made under penalty of perjury under California law.
Print your name and sign
In the block for the person completing the form, print your name, sign, enter the date and write your address.
Leave DMV sections blank
Do not write in "DMV use only" (Doubled From, To) or in the DMV Employee block with signature, ID number, office number and date.
Review, download and keep a copy
Check every box and signature, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Cut on the line and keep one part for your records.
How to submit DL 142
The form prints no mailing address, online portal or appointment rule. It is made to be handled by the DMV: it has a "DMV use only" area and a DMV Employee block with signature, ID number, office number and date. Contact the DMV through its website, dmv.ca.gov, to confirm where and how to submit it for your case.
Before you hand over or send the form, check these points:
- If you ticked Attached under "Location of license," the license or ID card goes with the form.
- If you ticked Other, explain on the reverse.
- The form is printed twice on the sheet. Cut on the line and keep the lower part for your records.
- Leave the "DMV use only" boxes and the DMV Employee block for the department.
The form names no fee. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the DMV's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering a name different from the one shown on the license or identification card; the form asks for the name as shown on the document to be cancelled.
- Leaving all three boxes under "Location of license" unmarked, or ticking Other without writing the explanation on the reverse.
- Checking more than one statement in the minor's certification; the form says to check one.
- Skipping the two Yes/No questions about the minor's possession of the license and any change in custody.
- Signing without a printed name, date or address; the person completing the form provides all four.
- Writing in the "DMV use only" boxes (Doubled From, To) or the DMV Employee block, which are reserved for the department.
- Throwing away both parts of the sheet; the form says to cut on the line and keep one part for your records.
- Leaving the reason for the cancellation or surrender blank in the voluntary surrender block.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DL 142 form used for?
DL 142 is the California DMV's Request for Cancellation or Surrender of a Driver License or Identification Card. You use it to voluntarily surrender your own license or ID card and request its cancellation, or to cancel a minor child's application or driver license.
Who can cancel a minor's driver license with DL 142?
A person who signed the minor's application, who gave written consent to the license, or who now has custody of the minor. The form asks you to check one of those three statements under penalty of perjury, plus whether the minor has the license and whether custody changed.
Can I fill out DL 142 online?
Yes, you can fill out the fillable PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the form to the DMV; you hand it in through the DMV's own channels.
What do I do if my license is lost or destroyed?
Check the Lost/destroyed box under "Location of license." If the license is somewhere else, check Other and explain on the reverse of the form. If you are handing the license over with the form, check Attached.
Where do I send Form DL 142?
The form prints no address or portal. It has a DMV Employee block and a "DMV use only" area, so it is handled by the DMV. Confirm where to deliver it for your case on the DMV's website, dmv.ca.gov, or with a DMV office.
Do I keep a copy of the DL 142 form?
Yes. The sheet prints the form twice and says "Cut on line and keep this part for your records." Keep the lower part after completing and signing both.
Do I fill in the DMV use only boxes?
No. "DMV use only" (Doubled From, To) and the DMV Employee block with signature, ID number, office number and date are for the department. You complete the information, voluntary surrender, minor and signature blocks.
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