How do I Find My Title Number If I Lost the Title?

All vehicles should have a current title in the United States.

A car title is a must-have for anyone with a vehicle. The title, also called a pink slip, shows that you are the vehicle owner. Proof of ownership for your vehicle becomes important when you purchase insurance, try to sell the vehicle, or even when you get pulled over by police. You may need to provide the vehicle title number to agencies through the duration of ownership, but titles sometimes get lost or destroyed by accident. If this applies to you, you can still find the vehicle title number by following some simple steps.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Check automotive documents like your registration card or tag renewal invitation. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) usually indicates the 8 digit vehicle number somewhere on these documents.

2. Get in touch with the institutions that financed or leased your vehicle. These organizations have a stake in the vehicle and therefore keep records of the title information in most cases.

3. Call the DMV. Ask them for the title number. You may need to provide other proof of ownership by answering a few questions before the representative will provide the number. The representative probably will ask you to confirm the make and model, your driver's license number, or when you registered the vehicle.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a car title because it has been lost or damaged, you should apply for a replacement title once you've located the original title number. In most states, the DMV charges a small fee for this service.

References

• The Unofficial DMV Guide: Replacing a Lost Title
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation: Where Can I Find My Title Number?