The Title That Never Came
Veh. Code 4456 — the dealer's application within 30 days of sale for a used vehicle, and 20 for a new one
Notice of the sale. A dealer reports each sale through the reporting system, attaches a report-of-sale form to the vehicle before delivery, and gives the department electronic notice of the transfer by the end of the fifth calendar day after the sale.
| The vehicle | The dealer's application for registration or transfer |
|---|---|
| The vehicleA used vehicle | The dealer's application for registration or transferWithin 30 days from the date of sale |
| The vehicleA new vehicle | The dealer's application for registration or transferWithin 20 days from the date of sale |
Penalties are the dealer's. Penalties for missing those deadlines are paid by the dealer, and the dealer may not charge them to the purchaser.
A returned application. If the department returns an application it first received in time, the dealer submits a corrected one within 50 days from the date of sale for a used vehicle or 40 days for a new one, or within 30 days (used) or 20 days (new) from the date the application was first returned, whichever is later.
A particular sale is a question for the state's motor vehicle agency, its dealer licensing board, or a licensed California attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Veh. Code 4456 — Evidences of Registration
- Veh. Code 5901 — Notice and Application
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.