REG 227 is the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) form for requesting a replacement vehicle title or for transferring a vehicle's title to a new owner together with a replacement. Registered owners use Sections 1 to 3 when the title is lost, stolen, illegible, mutilated or never arrived; sellers, new owners, lienholders and dealers complete the other sections on a transfer. 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 REG 227?
REG 227, Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title, is the California DMV form used to request a replacement vehicle title when the original is lost, stolen, illegible, mutilated or not received, or to transfer ownership of the vehicle together with a replacement title.
At the top, you check one of two boxes. Replacement Title means you complete Sections 1 to 3. Transfer of Title with Replacement means the seller completes Sections 1 to 4 and the new owner completes Sections 6 and 7, as needed.
The form has eight sections:
- Section 1: registered owner(s) of record.
- Section 2: legal owner of record (lienholder or title holder).
- Section 3: missing title statement.
- Section 4: registered owner(s) release of ownership and/or interest.
- Section 5: legal owner of record release of ownership and/or interest, which must be notarized.
- Section 6: new registered owner(s).
- Section 7: new legal owner (lienholder or title holder).
- Section 8: dealer's release of acquired vehicle.
The form warns that issuing a replacement title cancels the original title. It cannot be used to release a lien on a vehicle with an Electronic Lien Title (ELT). A separate Statement of Facts (REG 256) is required in one transfer situation, described under who needs it. The DMV uses the information to process replacement or transfer of title requests.
Who needs to file REG 227?
The main users are registered owners of a California vehicle whose Certificate of Title is lost, stolen, illegible or mutilated, not received from the prior owner, or not received from the DMV. They complete Sections 1 to 3 and check Replacement Title.
Other groups complete the form on a transfer:
- Sellers who are registered owners complete Sections 1 to 4. The signature of each owner is required when co-owners are joined by AND (shown by / on DMV records).
- New owners complete Sections 6 and 7, as needed, and each new owner must sign.
- Lienholders (legal owners of record) complete Section 5, which must be notarized.
- Dealers complete Section 8, the dealer's release of an acquired vehicle.
If a vehicle was purchased or received from a qualified relative (parent/child, grandparent/grandchild, spouse, domestic partner, or siblings who must be minors, related by blood or adoption), the new owner must also submit a Statement of Facts (REG 256), Statement of Use Tax Exemption.
Do not use this form to release a lien on a vehicle with an ELT. Section 5 and the Lien satisfied (REG 166) form cannot be used for non-ELT participants with vehicles 2 model years old or newer; in that case the legal owner must first apply for a replacement title and then release interest on the actual title. A company or business signs with its printed name and an authorized representative's countersignature.
When to file REG 227
For a transfer, the new owner must complete the transfer within 10 days of taking possession of the vehicle, as printed on the new-owner side of the form. For a replacement, file the form when the title is lost, stolen, illegible or mutilated, or has not arrived.
If you check Not Received from DMV, the form says to allow 30 days from the issue date before applying. If the title has been replaced within the last 90 days, a CHP vehicle verification is required.
The form prints no other deadline and no processing time.
Documents you need
- Original or photo copy of proof of ownership, such as a Registration Card or Registration Renewal Notice: required if your address differs from the DMV's records, when you file in person.
- Your Driver License or Identification Card: required if your address differs from the DMV's records.
- The old title: attach it if you check Illegible/Mutilated in Section 3.
- CHP vehicle verification: required if the title has been replaced within the last 90 days.
- Statement of Facts (REG 256), Statement of Use Tax Exemption: required if the vehicle was purchased or received from a qualified relative.
- Notarization of Section 5 by a notary public or other officer: required when the legal owner (lienholder) releases interest on this form.
How to fill out REG 227
Choose replacement or transfer
At the top, check Replacement Title (complete Sections 1 to 3) or Transfer of Title with Replacement (seller completes Sections 1 to 4; new owner completes Sections 6 and 7, as needed).
Enter the vehicle information
Write the vehicle license plate number, vehicle identification number and year/make of the vehicle in the boxes under the title checkboxes.
Complete Section 1, registered owners
Print the true full name (last, first, middle, suffix), business name or lessor as it appears on the title/registration, with driver license/ID number and state. Add any co-owner, the physical residence or business address, county, and a mailing address if different.
Complete Section 2, legal owner
Enter the name and address of the bank, finance company or individual having a lien on the vehicle. Do not enter the owners' names from Section 1.
Complete Section 3, missing title statement
Check one reason: Lost, Stolen, Illegible/Mutilated, Not Received from Prior Owner or Not Received from DMV. The owner then enters a printed name, signature, date and telephone number.
Complete Section 4, owners' release
On a transfer, each seller prints a name, signs, dates and gives a telephone number or email address. Every co-owner joined by AND (/) must sign; a company adds its printed name and a representative's countersignature.
Complete Section 5 if a lienholder releases
The authorized agent prints a name, title and telephone number, then signs with the company name and countersignature, dates and gives an email address. The notary completes the Notary Use Only block.
Complete Section 6, new owners
On the back, repeat the vehicle information, enter the date acquired, purchase price or, for a gift or trade, the market value, and each new owner's true full name, license/ID number, addresses and county. Check AND or OR for co-owners, and have every new owner sign.
Complete Section 7, new legal owner
Enter the true full name and address of the new lienholder, or write "None". For an ELT, show the ELT number and electronic lienholder ID exactly as on the ELT listing.
Complete Section 8 for dealers
If a dealer acquired the vehicle, enter the dealership name, buyer name, date sold, R/S number, dealer agent signature and printed name, dealer number and salesperson number.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check that every required section and signature is complete and that nothing is blank, since all information is mandatory. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and take it with the documents listed under How to submit.
How to submit REG 227
The form names one channel: in person. If your address is different from what appears in the DMV's records, you must file the application in person and bring the items listed under required documents. The form prints no mailing address, portal or appointment rule for other cases.
- In person: bring the completed form, plus the original or a photo copy of proof of ownership (for example, a Registration Card or Registration Renewal Notice) and your Driver License or Identification Card when your address differs from DMV records.
- Questions: the form directs questions about it to DMV Customer Service at 1-800-777-0133.
Before filing, confirm that every section that applies is complete, that each required owner has signed, and that Section 5 is notarized when a lienholder release is included. All information on the form is mandatory, and missing information may result in rejection of the application. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the DMV's channels described above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using REG 227 to release a lien on a vehicle with an Electronic Lien Title (ELT); the form states it cannot be used for that.
- Using Section 5 or Lien satisfied (REG 166) for a non-ELT vehicle that is 2 model years old or newer; the legal owner must first apply for a replacement title.
- Filing by mail or without ID when your address differs from the DMV's records; the form requires an in-person filing with proof of ownership and your license or ID.
- Leaving out the CHP vehicle verification when the title was replaced within the last 90 days.
- Applying under Not Received from DMV before 30 days have passed since the issue date.
- Signing Section 4 with only one owner's signature when co-owners are joined by AND (/); each owner must sign.
- Signing for a company without the printed company name and an authorized representative's countersignature, such as ABC CO., by JOHN SMITH.
- Leaving Section 5 un-notarized, or omitting the old title when the original is illegible or mutilated.
- Not submitting REG 256 when the vehicle came from a qualified relative, or leaving information blank when all information on the form is mandatory.
Frequently asked questions
What is REG 227 used for?
REG 227 is the California DMV Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title. You use it to get a replacement title when the original is lost, stolen, illegible, mutilated or not received, or to transfer ownership together with a replacement title.
Does a replacement title cancel my original title?
Yes. Section 3 of the form warns that issuing a replacement title cancels the original title. If you check Illegible/Mutilated, attach the old title to the application.
Can I use REG 227 to release a lien on an ELT vehicle?
No. The form states it cannot be used to release a lien on a vehicle with an Electronic Lien Title (ELT). Section 5 and REG 166 also cannot be used for non-ELT vehicles 2 model years old or newer.
How soon must a new owner complete the transfer?
Within 10 days of taking possession of the vehicle. The new-owner side of the form prints this requirement, and each new owner must sign Section 6.
Do I have to file REG 227 in person?
Yes, if your address differs from the DMV's records. Bring the original or a photo copy of proof of ownership, such as a Registration Card or Registration Renewal Notice, and your Driver License or ID. The form prints no other channel.
What if my title was replaced in the last 90 days?
A CHP vehicle verification is required. The form states this in Section 3 for any title that has been replaced within the last 90 days.
Can I fill out REG 227 online?
You can fill out the REG 227 PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the DMV and does not file or submit the form; you submit it through the DMV's channels.
Who has to sign the REG 227 when there are co-owners?
If co-owners are joined by AND (shown by / on DMV records), each owner must sign Section 4. Co-owners joined by OR need the signature of only one owner for later transfers.
When is a Statement of Facts (REG 256) needed with REG 227?
When the vehicle was purchased or received from a qualified relative: parent/child, grandparent/grandchild, spouse, domestic partner, or siblings who are minors related by blood or adoption. It is the Statement of Use Tax Exemption.
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