Replace a lost title (REG 227)
Your pink slip is gone, damaged, or never arrived. The REG 227 is the DMV's replacement-and-transfer form — who can file it, what it costs, and the lienholder rule that catches people out.
California paperwork guides
California Car Paperwork Guides
Most car sales don't stall on price — they stall on paperwork. Start here.
Get my guaranteed offer →The offer we make is the offer you get for 7 days, when the car matches its description. If hidden or unreported damage is found at pickup, any adjustment is shown with photo evidence before you decide.
Paperwork guides, in plain English
Most car sales don't stall on price — they stall on paperwork. These walkthroughs cover the California DMV forms that come up again and again when a title is lost, a car is sold, or an owner has passed away. Every step follows the California DMV's own process. If your situation is one of the ones we buy cars in, you don't have to finish the paperwork alone — we complete it with you at pickup. The seller guides below cover the rest of the sale: smog rules, back fees, loans, what a car is worth, and how our guaranteed offer works.
The guides
Release of Liability (REG 138)
You sold the car — now tell the DMV. California law gives you 5 days to file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability so tickets and tolls stop coming to you.
Title transfer after a death (REG 5)
When a car's owner dies, an heir can often transfer the title without probate using the REG 5 affidavit — the 40-day rule, the documents you need, and when probate is required.
Seller guides: the rest of the sale
How to Sell Your Car in California
The full private-sale sequence for San Diego County sellers, from pricing and smog to the title handoff and the release of liability.
Smog Check Seller Rules
Who provides the certificate, which vehicles are exempt, how the transfer rule differs from the renewal rule, and what to do on a failure.
Selling a Car With Back Fees
How California late penalties stack, why fees follow the car, and the three honest routes: pay up, file PNO, or sell as-is with disclosure.
Selling a Car With a Loan
How a lienholder payoff works, why many California titles are electronic, and what happens when you owe more than the car is worth.
Title Not in Your Name
Why title jumping is illegal, the diligent-effort and bonded-title fixes, and the separate route for inherited cars in California.
What Affects Your Car's Cash Value
The real factors buyers weigh: demand, mileage, condition, title, smog and registration status, local interest, and completeness of keys and records.
Trade-In vs Private Sale vs Cash Buyer
An honest three-way comparison of money, time, effort, paperwork, and risk, including when trade-in or a private sale is the better call.
Selling a Car That Won't Run
Repair, sell as-is, donate, or retire through the state: the real options for a non-runner, including Consumer Assistance Program amounts.
Paperwork Checklist for Selling Your Car
Every document a California sale needs, what each one does, and the mistakes that stall transfers at the DMV counter.
How Our Guaranteed Offer Works
One hand-reviewed offer held for a full decision window, free county-wide pickup, and payment at pickup after verification. No curb-side renegotiation.
Selling with a paperwork problem?
These are the situations our intake is built for:
- No title — sell a car without a title
- Inherited car — sell an inherited car
- Car with a lien — sell a car with a lien
Selling the car instead? We handle the paperwork with you
Ready when you are
Complete one vehicle intake, see your offer, and arrange free local pickup. No obligation, and no strangers coming to your door.
Get my guaranteed offer →