Page 36 – California DMV

Chapter 21: Special Plates

20.085 Stickers Only (VC §§4457 and 4853)

The registered owner (RO) must apply for a substitute sticker when the year sticker is lost, stolen, mutilated, or illegible.

The following must be submitted:

An Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents (REG 156) form.
The fees due.

The procedures below must be followed:

If the REG 156 shows a new address:
- Key the new address
- Give the RO a Change of Address (DMV 14) form.
- Advise the RO to mail the completed DMV 14 to the address shown on the form to correct the address on their DMV records.
Collect the substitute sticker fee.
Issue the appropriate year sticker.

Month stickers are replaced for no fee and a REG 156 is not required. Verify the month of expiration from the registration or VR record and issue a new month sticker.

20.080 Special License Plates—Substitutes (VC §§4457 and 4458)

Substitute (not replacement) license plates are issued for the following special license plates. The requirements for issuance are shown:

Type of Plate	Requirements
Type of Plate Antique Motorcycle Disabled Person Historical Vehicle Horseless Carriage	Requirements The following must be submitted: The correct substitute license plate application. Any remaining license plates. The procedures below must be followed: Collect the fee due. Issue a 60-day Temporary Operating Permit (REG 19). Forward the application to DMV headquarters.
Type of Plate California 1960s Legacy (sequential) California Agriculture (CalAg) (sequential) California Arts Council (sequential) California Coastal Commission (Whale Tail) (sequential) California Firefighter (sequential) California Memorial (sequential) California Museums (sequential) Collegiate (sequential) Foreign Organization (TECO) Gold Star Family Honorary Consul Kids – Child Health and Safety Funds (sequential) Lake Tahoe Conservancy (sequential) Legion of Valor Moped Pearl Harbor Survivor Pet Lover’s Veterinary Board (sequential) Purple Heart Recipient Special Equipment Veterans’ Organization (sequential) Yosemite Foundation (sequential)	Requirements The following must be submitted: The correct substitute license plate application. Any remaining license plates. The procedures below must be followed: Collect the substitute license plate fee. Issue a REG 19. Forward the application to the Special Processing Unit (SPU) in DMV headquarters.

Type of Plate

Requirements

Type of Plate

Antique Motorcycle
Disabled Person
Historical Vehicle
Horseless Carriage

Requirements The following must be submitted:

The correct substitute license plate application.
Any remaining license plates.

The procedures below must be followed:

Collect the fee due.
Issue a 60-day Temporary Operating Permit (REG 19).
Forward the application to DMV headquarters.

Type of Plate

California 1960s Legacy (sequential)
California Agriculture (CalAg) (sequential)
California Arts Council (sequential)
California Coastal Commission (Whale Tail) (sequential)
California Firefighter (sequential)
California Memorial (sequential)
California Museums (sequential)
Collegiate (sequential)
Foreign Organization (TECO)
Gold Star Family
Honorary Consul
Kids – Child Health and Safety Funds (sequential)
Lake Tahoe Conservancy (sequential)
Legion of Valor
Moped
Pearl Harbor Survivor
Pet Lover’s Veterinary Board (sequential)
Purple Heart Recipient
Special Equipment
Veterans’ Organization (sequential)
Yosemite Foundation (sequential)

Requirements

The following must be submitted:

The correct substitute license plate application.
Any remaining license plates.

The procedures below must be followed:

Collect the substitute license plate fee.
Issue a REG 19.
Forward the application to the Special Processing Unit (SPU) in DMV headquarters.

20.075 Special License Plates—Replacements (VC §4457)

Replacement license plates are issued for the following types of special license plates:

Amateur Radio License
California 1960s Legacy (personalized)
California Agriculture (CalAg) (personalized)
California Arts Council (personalized)
California Coastal Commission (Whale Tail) (personalized)
California Firefighter (personalized)
California Memorial (personalized)
California Museums (personalized)
Citizens Band Radio (personalized)
Collegiate (only UCLA is available) (personalized)
Congressional Medal of Honor
Disabled Veteran
Environmental License Plates (ELP) (personalized)
Exempt
Ex-Prisoner of War (POW)
Kids – Child Health and Safety Fund (personalized)
Lake Tahoe Conservancy (personalized)
Legislative (fee-paid)
Pet Lover’s Veterinary Board (personalized)
Veterans’ Organization (personalized)
Yosemite Foundation (personalized)

Exceptions—Replacement license plates cannot be issued when the application is for two lost or stolen personalized special interest license plates for passenger or commercial vehicles or one license plate for motorcycles or trailers unless the vehicle is registered to an exempt agency. Exempt vehicles are always issued duplicate license plates (VC §4458). The Special Processing Unit (SPU) places a “plates lost or stolen” status on the record and the configuration cannot be issued for four years from the date reported lost or stolen.

When replacement license plates cannot be issued, the owner must select a new configuration and pay the duplicate fee or be issued regular series license plates, as explained in this section.

When duplicate license plates cannot be issued and the license plate owner selects a new configuration as a substitute, the following must be submitted:

A Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17) form.
The duplicate/substitute license plate fee and any other fees.

Note A license plate owner cannot select a new configuration for the replacement fee when the issuance of replacement license plates is acceptable.

The procedures below must be followed:

Write “Substitute ELP” in bold letters at the top of the REG 17.
Collect the replacement/substitute license plate fee shown in Appendix 1F.
Make the reservation as an original request. Refer to Chapter 7.
Issue a 60-day temporary operating permit (TOP).
If the vehicle is not registered in the license plate owner’s name, the usual registration and/or transfer documentation is required.
Place the REG 17 as the top document.
When replacement license plates cannot be issued, complete a REG 256 with the ELP configuration, license plate owner’s name, date the license plates were lost or stolen, make and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle the license plates were assigned to and notify DMV headquarters by:
- Forwarding the REG 256 to SPU.

DMV headquarters will place a “plates lost/or stolen” status on the vehicle record and that configuration cannot be reissued for four years from the date reported lost/stolen.

Amateur Radio (HAM) License Plates—HAM license plates were originally issued with spaces; however, DMV is now issuing these license plates without spaces. All existing license plates with spaces are still valid.

If a customer requests new HAM license plates without spaces, the following must be submitted:

A Special License Plate Application (REG 17A) form.
A REG 256 stating they wish to keep the current license plates until the new license plates are received and that the current plates will then be destroyed.

The procedures below must be followed:

Waive the replacement license plate fee.
Forward the application to SPU in DMV headquarters.

The following must be submitted:

A REG 17 with the correct spacing indicated (particularly important if the owner retains one plate) and checked for issuance of duplicate plates.
The fees due.

The procedures below must be followed:

Confirm that the REG 17 shows the disposition of the original license plate(s), the number of license plates surrendered, and if new stickers are needed.
Refer to the Reg Tech DART (Job Aid 9) for processing codes.
Attach the DMV File Copy to the REG 17 and circle the license plate configuration choice.
Issue a 60-day TOP and sticker(s), as necessary.
Advise the customer to:
- Place the stickers (if issued) on the remaining plate and place the license plate at the rear of the vehicle if one license plate remains on the vehicle.
- Keep the stickers attached to the receipt until the new license plates are received if no license plates remain on the vehicle.

Other License Plate Series—The following must be submitted:

A REG 156 or REG 17A, as appropriate.
The fees due.

The procedures below must be followed:

Confirm the license plate application shows the number of license plate(s) taken up and if new stickers are needed. If the application is for a nonreflectorized Exempt License Plate, pick up both license plates and indicate that two plates are to be ordered.
Collect the appropriate duplicate license plate fee.
Issue a 60-day TOP.
Advise the license plate owner that the TOP does not give any privileges normally associated with display of the special license plates. Example: The TOP would not have the same parking privileges afforded vehicles with Disabled Veteran License Plates.
Forward the application to DMV headquarters. The license plate owner name keyed must match the vehicle record or an error message will be returned. If an error message is received:
- Ask the customer if the name keyed is the license plate owner’s name. If the name on the vehicle record appears to be incorrect, accept the application and forward it to DMV headquarts. Write “verification of plate owner name required” on the DMV File Copy.
- Issue a 60-day TOP. DMV will key the duplicate request when the license plate owner name is verified.

20.070 Special Equipment (SE) License Plates/Stickers, Identification (ID) Cards

Chapter 20 Replacements and Substitutes

20.070 Special Equipment (SE) License Plates/Stickers/Identification(ID) Cards (VC §9261)

An SE registered owner (RO) may obtain replacements for lost, stolen, mutilated, or illegible license plates, stickers, and ID cards.

The following must be submitted:

An Application for Special Equipment Identification Plate (REG 88) form.
The fees due.

Note If the SE renewal fee is due and both the billing notice and last- issued ID card are lost, the RO places a check mark in the “Renewal Special Equipment Plate” box. A replacement ID card fee is not due in conjunction with renewal or an application for a substitute plate.

The procedure below must be followed:

Forward the application to the Special Processing Unit (SPU) in DMV headquarters.

20.065 Salvage or Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificates (VC §§4459 and 9265)

When a salvage certificate is lost, stolen, or mutilated to the extent that essential information is no longer legible, the insurance company or person who applied for the original salvage or nonrepairable vehicle certificate may apply for a replacement.

The following must be submitted:

An Application for Salvage Certificate or Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificate (REG 488C) form.
A Statement of Facts (REG 256) form, which describes the vehicle and certifies to the disposition of the original salvage or nonrepairable vehicle certificate.
The duplicate fee and any other fees.

The procedures below must be followed:

Collect the replacement fee and any other fees. Refer to Appendix 1F for fees.
Process the replacement certificate application and clear normal.
Forward the application to the Special Processing Unit (SPU) in DMV headquarters, if the salvage owner is not shown on the database.

Note The salvage owner only displays on the database when an automated salvage certificate has been issued. The salvage owner is not updated when a salvage certificate is issued manually.

Nonreceipt of Salvage Certificate—Issue a no-fee replacement salvage certificate when DMV’s records show a salvage certificate was issued, and the applicant states it was not received. Allow 30 days from issuance of the salvage certificate before processing a nonreceipt application.

The following must be submitted:

A REG 488C.
A REG 256, certifying they did not receive the original salvage certificate issued by DMV.

20.060 Registration Cards Only (VC §§4457 and 9265)

The registered owner (RO) must apply for a replacement vehicle registration card when the original is lost, stolen, mutilated, or illegible.

Exception: A replacement registration card application and fee are not required in conjunction with any other application (for example, a transfer).

The following must be submitted:

A REG 156.
The replacement registration card fee.

The procedure below must be followed:

Issue a new registration card.

20.055 Notarized Lienholder Signatures for Replacement Certificates of Title (VC §5752)

The legal owner/lienholder (LO) releasing signature on an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) form, including when used to transfer an Electronic Lien and Titleholder (ELT), must be notarized.

Exception: A notarized signature is not required when:

A sole RO signs the LO section to transfer the legal ownership to a financial institution.
An insurance company and/or an agent for the insurance company transfers a total loss salvage vehicle to the insurance company and an acceptable lien satisfied document from the LO indicated on DMV’s records is submitted.

Note The LO’s releasing signature must be notarized if the insurance company sells the vehicle using the REG 227.

Notary Requirements—A California notary’s stamp must include the notary’s name, the commission number and expiration date, the county and state in which the commission number was granted, and the state seal. An out-of-state notary’s stamp is acceptable as submitted, since other states may not require the same information as California.

Notarization may be:

Next to the LO’s releasing signature on the REG 227.
On a separate sheet of paper attached to the REG 227.
On any other document submitted in lieu of the releasing signature on the REG 227 that shows satisfaction of the lien, such as a REG 166.

Do not question the validity of the notarized signature, the notarization stamp, or the notary’s signature.

RDF Procedure—When the LO’s releasing signature on a REG227, or an acceptable attachment, is not notarized as required, return the application on a report of deposit of fees (RDF) using Reason Code B and completed as Signature of “notary” on Section F with notary’s stamp.

Note A REG 227, REG 166, and any other type of lien release for a California-titled vehicles two model years old or newer are not acceptable.

20.050 Nonreceipt of Certificates/License Plates/Stickers/Disabled Persons (DP) Parking Placards (VC §4457)

DP Parking Placards—A no-fee replacement DP placard is issued when the (permanent or temporary) DP parking placard issued is not received within 30 days of the issue date, as determined from a vehicle identification number (VIN) inquiry
using the applicant’s six-digit birth date followed by the first three letters of the last name (Example: MMDDYYDOE). Refer to the Disabled Person (DP) Parking Placards section in this chapter for the requirements.

Salvage Certificate—A no-fee replacement is issued when the original Salvage Certificate is not received within 30 days of the issue date. Refer to the Salvage or Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificates section in this chapter for the requirements.

Certificate of Title, Registration, and/or Plates/Stickers—No-fee replacements are issued when the title, registration, license plates, and/or stickers issued are not received within 30 days of the issue date. The Not Received from DMV box must be checked on the application form. Refer to the specific section in this chapter for the requirements.

Note In general, allow 30 days before processing a nonreceipt application.

20.045 Moped License Plates or ID Cards (VC §5035)

A moped owner may obtain replacements for a lost, stolen, mutilated, or illegible moped license plate and/or ID card.
The following must be submitted:

A Motorized Bicycle Instruction/Application (REG 230) form with Sections B and D completed.
The appropriate fee(s). Refer to Appendix 1F.

Was this page helpful?