How to Get a New Car Title If You Lost Your Original
Losing the title to a vehicle can be a headache. Not only can you not sell or trade a vehicle without a title, but also a vehicle's title is the only legal ownership document to the vehicle. This means if a title is lost, there is the potential of theft by an individual who can alter the document, presenting it as his or her own. Safeguarding a vehicle's title is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your asset, and if your vehicle's title is lost, you must take steps immediately to replace it.
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Things You'll Need
- Lost Title Application
- Proof of Ownership
- Proof of Identity
- Notary Public
Instructions
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Obtain and complete an application for lost title. This can only occur if you are the legal registered owner of the vehicle and only in the jurisdiction where the vehicle is registered. The application can be obtained online where available, by mail, or in person. The application will ask questions regarding you and your vehicle including: your name, address, telephone number, the year make and model of the vehicle, the color and tag number of the vehicle and any lien-holder information.
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Have the application notarized. Some jurisdictions will require that you have your application notarized if submitting a paper application by mail or in person. A notarized application is simply another method for the DMV to ensure that you have been properly identified.
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Submit an application for lost title. Submission methods can be online where available, by mail or in person. The method you choose for submission will affect how quickly your application is processed and how quickly you receive your duplicate title. Online submissions are usually the quickest.
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Present any proof of ownership and identification requested. Most DMVs will require that you both prove ownership of the vehicle and your identity. This can be accomplished by providing the bill of sale (either from the dealer or from the individual from which you purchased the vehicle) and a copy of a state-issued identification such as a driver's license. You may be asked to provide the information in person of via fax if your application was submitted online.
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Wait for the duplicate title. Some jurisdictions have the ability to print a duplicate title onsite, removing the waiting period, though most will require mailing the duplicate title to you at the address you specify. This address will usually match the vehicle's registered address, however this is not a requirement. Mailed titles can take anywhere from five to 30 days to be received.
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