Selling or junking a car in California, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the California DMV using REG 227, Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller signs the California Certificate of Title and gives it to the buyer, who submits it to DMV. The seller also supplies smog certification and must file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within 5 days. If the title is missing, a REG 227 has to be completed first.
- Deal with your plates. DMV says plates generally stay with the vehicle they were issued to, though certain personalized and special plates can be moved to another vehicle at the owner's request.
- File the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL). The seller must notify DMV within 5 calendar days of the sale, which protects them from parking, traffic and civil liability that arises afterward. It can be filed online or on paper, and it does not by itself transfer ownership to the buyer.
How to sign over a title in California
The seller signs the California Certificate of Title and gives it to the buyer, who submits it to DMV. The seller also supplies smog certification and must file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within 5 days. If the title is missing, a REG 227 has to be completed first.
Official page: dmv.ca.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in California
A lost, stolen or damaged title is replaced by submitting a REG 227 in person or by mail. The page describes no online option.
- Form: REG 227, Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title — download
- Available online: no
- Official page: dmv.ca.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL)
The seller must notify DMV within 5 calendar days of the sale, which protects them from parking, traffic and civil liability that arises afterward. It can be filed online or on paper, and it does not by itself transfer ownership to the buyer.
- Form: REG 138
- Can be filed online: yes
- Official page: dmv.ca.gov
Why it matters: release of liability when selling a car.
License plates after you sell
Plates generally stay with the vehicle. DMV says plates generally stay with the vehicle they were issued to, though certain personalized and special plates can be moved to another vehicle at the owner's request.
Source: dmv.ca.gov
Junk and salvage titles in California
DMV's registration procedures manual says individuals who are not licensed dismantlers may junk or dismantle a vehicle. Vehicles transferred to be wrecked or dismantled are exempt from the smog inspection requirement.
Official page: dmv.ca.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in California
We didn't find an official California page describing a no-title option, so the safest route is to request a duplicate first. Our guide to junking a car without a title covers the general options buyers may accept.
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California title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in California?
A lost, stolen or damaged title is replaced by submitting a REG 227 in person or by mail. The page describes no online option. The form is REG 227, Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title.
Do I need to notify California when I sell or junk my car?
California uses the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL). The seller must notify DMV within 5 calendar days of the sale, which protects them from parking, traffic and civil liability that arises afterward. It can be filed online or on paper, and it does not by itself transfer ownership to the buyer.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in California?
DMV says plates generally stay with the vehicle they were issued to, though certain personalized and special plates can be moved to another vehicle at the owner's request.
Can I junk a car without a title in California?
It depends on the car and the buyer. The simplest route is usually to request a duplicate title first. Our guide to junking a car without a title explains the general options.
Official sources
- California DMV — homedmv.ca.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titledmv.ca.gov
- REG 227, Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title formdmv.ca.gov
- Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL)dmv.ca.gov
- License plates after a saledmv.ca.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesdmv.ca.gov
Summarized from official California government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the California DMV before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.