What you need to do to transfer a California car title

To transfer a car title in California, you submit form REG 135 (process for Title or Registration) to the Department of Motor Vehicles, along with proof of ownership, a bill of sale, and payment. The DMV processes the transfer and issues a new title in the new owner's name. The process takes about two to three weeks by mail, or you can complete it in person at a DMV office for faster service on some steps.

California requires the title transfer to happen within 10 days of the sale. If you are the seller, you must also submit form REG 138 (Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability) to protect yourself from liability for anything the new owner does with the vehicle after the sale.

Key Takeaways

  • You must submit form REG 135 to the DMV along with the signed title, bill of sale, and a check or money order for the transfer fee, which varies based on the vehicle's value.
  • California law requires the title transfer to be completed within 10 days of purchase, and sellers must file form REG 138 to release liability.
  • You can mail your process to the DMV or visit an office in person; in-person visits are faster but require an appointment in most counties.
  • If the title is lost or the seller will not sign it, you can request a duplicate or file for a court-ordered title through the DMV.
  • Scammers sometimes pose as buyers or sellers and disappear after receiving payment or the vehicle; always meet in a public place and verify the title matches the vehicle identification number before handing over money.

Documents you need to gather before you start

The signed original title is the most important document. It must be signed by the current owner (the seller) in the spaces marked for transfer. If the title has two owners listed, both must sign unless one has already released their interest.

You also need a bill of sale. California does not require a specific form, but the DMV provides form REG 135A as a template. The bill of sale must include the vehicle identification number (VIN), the sale price, the date of sale, and signatures from both buyer and seller. Write the sale price even if no money changed hands — the DMV uses this to calculate fees.

Bring proof of identity: a driver's license, passport, or state ID. If you are buying the vehicle, bring proof of California residency such as a utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days. If you are the seller, you do not need proof of residency.

You will also need a check or money order for the title transfer fee. The fee depends on the vehicle's value and ranges from about $15 to $250. The DMV website has a fee calculator where you enter the vehicle value to see the exact amount.

How to submit your process by mail

Complete form REG 135 in black or blue ink. Print clearly and fill in every required field. Section 1 asks for the new owner's information; Section 2 asks for the vehicle details; Section 3 asks for the current owner's information. Do not sign the form yet — you will sign it in front of a notary or at the DMV.

Gather the signed title, the completed bill of sale, your proof of identity, and your check or money order. Make a copy of everything for your records. Place the original documents in an envelope and mail them to the DMV office that serves your county. You can find the correct address on the DMV website by entering your county name.

Mail takes about two to three weeks. You can track the status of your process by visiting the DMV website and entering your process number, which you should write down before mailing. The DMV will mail the new title to the address you listed on form REG 135.

How to transfer the title in person at a DMV office

Visit the DMV website and book an appointment at an office near you. Most counties require appointments; walk-ins are not accepted. Bring the original signed title, the bill of sale, your proof of identity, and your check or money order.

At the office, a DMV representative will review your documents and may ask you to sign form REG 135 in front of them. They will process the transfer on the spot and give you a receipt. The new title will be mailed to you within two to three weeks, though some offices can issue a temporary registration document the same day.

In-person service is faster for getting your receipt and temporary registration, but the title still arrives by mail. If you need the title urgently, ask the DMV representative whether they can issue an interim document that proves ownership while you wait for the official title.

What sellers must do to release liability

As the seller, you are legally responsible for the vehicle until the DMV records show the new owner's name on the title. To protect yourself, submit form REG 138 (Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability) to the DMV within 10 days of the sale. You can mail it or submit it online through the DMV website.

Form REG 138 asks for the vehicle's VIN, the date of sale, and the new owner's name and address if you have it. You do not need the new owner's signature. Once the DMV receives and processes this form, you are no longer liable if the new owner gets a traffic ticket, is in an accident, or commits a crime with the vehicle.

If you do not file form REG 138, you may receive notices for parking tickets, toll violations, or registration renewal notices for a vehicle you no longer own. Filing this form is free and takes five minutes.

When the title is lost, damaged, or the seller will not sign

If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the DMV by submitting form REG 227 (process for Duplicate or Triplicate Title). You can mail it or submit it in person. The fee is about $20. The DMV will mail a duplicate title to the current owner's address on file, which usually takes two to three weeks.

If the seller will not sign the title, you cannot complete the transfer through the normal process. You have two options: wait for the seller to sign, or file for a court-ordered title. To file for a court-ordered title, contact the superior court in the county where the vehicle is located and ask about the process for obtaining a title when the owner refuses to sign. This requires a court hearing and may take several weeks or months.

If you suspect the seller is not the legal owner or the title is fraudulent, contact the DMV's Fraud Investigations Unit before submitting your process. Submitting a fraudulent title to the DMV is a crime, and you could face penalties even if you did not know the title was fake.

Scams and safety warnings for title transfers

Buyer scams: A scammer poses as a buyer, arranges to see the vehicle, and offers to buy it. They may ask you to hold the car while they get financing, or they may ask you to ship the car before payment clears. They then disappear without paying or return the vehicle after damaging it. Always meet in a public place during daylight, accept payment only in cash or a cashier's check (not a personal check), and do not release the vehicle until the payment has cleared your bank.

Seller scams: A scammer poses as a seller and shows you a vehicle with a clean title. You pay them and they disappear, or the title turns out to be stolen. Before handing over money, verify that the VIN on the title matches the VIN on the vehicle (usually found on the dashboard and driver's side door jamb). Run the VIN through a free service like the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to check whether the vehicle is reported stolen. Never wire money to a seller you have not met in person.

Title washing: A scammer buys a vehicle with a salvage or flood title (which means it was in an accident or flood and declared a total loss), takes it to another state to get a clean title, and sells it back in California without disclosing the damage. You can check a vehicle's history using a free report from the California DMV or a paid service like Carfax. Always request the vehicle history report before buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get the new title after I submit my process?

The DMV typically mails the new title within two to three weeks of receiving your process. If you submitted by mail, add another week for mail delivery time. You can check the status of your process on the DMV website using your process number.

Do I need to get the title notarized?

No. California does not require a notary for a title transfer. You sign the title in front of the seller (or the buyer, depending on which side of the sale you are on), and that is sufficient. If you are submitting by mail, you do not need a notary either.

What if I bought the car from a private seller and they already transferred the title to someone else by mistake?

Contact the DMV when ready and explain the situation. The DMV can investigate and may be able to reverse the incorrect transfer if it was done recently. You will need proof of your purchase, such as the bill of sale and proof of payment. If the title was transferred to someone else, you may need to pursue a civil claim against the seller or contact law enforcement.

Can I transfer the title if the vehicle has a lien on it?

No. The lienholder (usually a bank or finance company) must release the lien before the title can be transferred. Ask the seller to contact their lienholder and request a lien release. Once released, the lienholder will send a document to the seller confirming the lien is paid off. Include this document with your title transfer process.

What if I bought the car out of state and need to transfer it to California?

You must transfer the out-of-state title to a California title. Submit form REG 135, the out-of-state title, a bill of sale, proof of identity, and proof of California residency to the DMV. Some states require additional documents such as an odometer disclosure form. Check the DMV website for the specific requirements of the state where the vehicle was titled.