DMV Investigations Division

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Investigations Division protects and serves the public interest and maintains the integrity, security, and reliability of DMV’s data, services, and products by providing consumer protection through the enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations applicable to licensees, business partners, the public and DMV employees.

Report a Complaint

If you suspect or have witnessed any DMV violations or unlawful activities, you may file a complaint with the Investigations Division.

Typical complaints focus on the following:

• DMV Document Fraud
  It is illegal for persons and businesses to alter, forge, falsify, or counterfeit DMV-issued documents (for example, driver’s license/identification cards, vehicle titles, registration cards, disabled person parking placards, etc.) that passed or attempted to pass as genuine. Fraud also includes false vehicle-related advertising.
  
  Choose from the following options on the complaint form:
  • Miscellaneous Title/Registration Fraud
  • Driver License’s Related Fraud
• DMV Licensed Businesses Violations
  It is illegal for licensed businesses, such as vehicle dealers, brokers and their salespeople, dismantlers, registration services, and driving and traffic violator schools to violate DMV regulations. Examples include failure to provide registration documents/license plates, vehicle contract violations, overcharging DMV fees, and failing vehicle registration transfer requirements.
  
  Choose from the following options on the complaint form:
  • Salesperson
  • Dismantler
  • Vehicle Dealers
  • Registration Services
• Unlicensed Businesses
  It is illegal for businesses or persons to provide vehicle-related services without a DMV-issued business license. This includes unlicensed vehicle dealers, brokers, and salespeople, also known as “curbstoners.” It is also illegal for any person to act as a vehicle dismantler without having an established place of business, meeting specific requirements, and having a current valid business license or temporary permit issued by DMV. Unlicensed dismantling happens when a vehicle is stripped for parts without the required environmental protections.
  
  Choose Unlicensed Activity on the complaint form.
• Odometer Fraud (Odometer Rollback)
  It is illegal for vehicle dealers, sellers, or brokers to change or alter odometer mileage readings to make a vehicle appear to have lower mileage.
  
  Choose Vehicle Odometer on the complaint form.
• Disabled Person Parking Placard Abuse
  It is illegal for persons to lend their placard to someone else, forge a medical professional’s signature to obtain a disabled person parking placard, use someone else’s placard, possess or display a counterfeit placard or license plates, provide false information to obtain a placard or license plates, and alter a placard or placard registration card.
  
  Choose Disability Placard on the complaint form.

Report DMV Employee Fraud

If you suspect or have witnessed an employee committing a DMV violation or unlawful activities, you may report it by completing the INV 19 Fraud Complaint Form. You can be anonymous, but the more information you provide will help us locate the issue correctly. If we feel this complaint may be better handled by another division, we will forward the complaint.

What we need from you?

• The office where this occurred
• What happened (be detailed)
• When it occurred (what day, time)
• Copies or photos of related DMV documents (DMV permits, driver license printouts, registration, titles).

When providing photos, please provide a photo of the entire document even the letters and numbers printed on the top and bottom page can be helpful to us.

You have two ways to report fraud:

1. Complete INV 19 Fraud Complaint Form
2. Write us at reportfraud@dmv.ca.gov or call us! Northern California (916) 657-7742 or Southern California (626) 851-0173.

We are more than happy to answer your questions or help you to determine if your issue is fraud or not.

Other Important Information

Please be aware of the following information before filing your complaint:

• Attempt to resolve the problem with the business first.
• All complaints are reviewed but not all of them are investigated.
• Complaints that are investigated may result in criminal or administrative actions but not result in any monetary judgment or award to you and/or the victim(s).

DMV only has authority to assist and investigate activities within its jurisdiction; therefore, DMV cannot:

• Provide legal advice.
• Force the dealer to take back a vehicle after a contract is signed.
• Investigate verbal vehicle agreements or statements made by the dealer.
• Act as a go-between to settle contract terms for the buyer or dealer of the vehicle.
• Assist with issues regarding private party vehicle sales.

The following agencies may assist with your complaints:

• New Motor Vehicle Board (nmvb.ca.gov)
  For vehicle contractual purchase or lease disputes, vehicle warranty and repair disputes, issues with used vehicles sold by a new or used dealer (Lemon Law), and issues with used vehicles with original warranties.
• Department of Consumer Affairs (dca.ca.gov)
  For recreational vehicle chassis, chassis cab and drive train complaints.
• California Courts (Small Claims Court) (courts.ca.gov)
  For legal advice, to recover money, property, reimbursement for damages or suffering, or resolve disputes over money owed to, or by another party.
• Better Business Bureau (bbb.org)
  You may find it worthwhile to contact your local Better Business Bureau to register your complaint.