Section 4466 Of Article 4. Evidences Of Registration From California Vehicle Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 4.
4466
. (a) The department shall not issue a duplicate or substitute
certificate of title or license plate if, after a search of the
records of the department, the registered owner's address, as
submitted on the application, is different from that which appears in
the records of the department, unless the registered owner applies
in person and presents all of the following:
(1) Proof of ownership of the vehicle that is acceptable to the
department. Proof of ownership may be the certificate of title,
registration certificate, or registration renewal notice, or a
facsimile or photocopy of any of those documents, if the facsimile or
photocopy matches the vehicle record of the department.
(2) A driver's license or identification card containing a picture
of the licensee or cardholder issued to the registered owner by the
department pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 12500) of
Division 6. The department shall conduct a search of its records to
verify the authenticity of any document submitted under this
paragraph.
(A) If the registered owner is a resident of another state or
country, the registered owner shall present a driver's license or
identification card issued by that state or country. In addition, the
registered owner shall provide photo documentation in the form of a
valid passport, military identification card, identification card
issued by a state or United States government agency, student
identification card issued by a college or university, or
identification card issued by a California-based employer. If a
resident of another state is unable to present the required photo
identification, the department shall verify the authenticity of the
driver's license or identification card by contacting the state that
issued the driver's license or identification card.
(B) If the registered owner is not an individual, the person
submitting the application shall submit the photo identification
required pursuant to this paragraph, as well as documentation
acceptable to the department that demonstrates that the person is
employed by an officer of the registered owner.
(3) If the application is for the purpose of replacing a license
plate that was stolen, a copy of a police report identifying the
plate as stolen.
(4) If the application is for the purpose of replacing a
certificate of title or license plate that was mutilated or
destroyed, the remnants of the mutilated or destroyed document or
plate.
(5) If the department has a record of a prior issuance of a
duplicate or substitute certificate of title or license plate for the
vehicle within the past 90 days, a copy of a report from the
Department of the California Highway Patrol verifying the vehicle
identification number of the vehicle.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply if any of the following
applies:
(1) The registered owner's name, address, and driver's license or
identification card number submitted on the application match the
name, address, and driver's license or identification card number
contained in the department's records.
(2) An application for a duplicate or substitute certificate of
title or license plate is submitted by or through one of the
following:
(A) A legal owner, if the legal owner is not the same person as
the registered owner or as the lessee under Section 4453.5.
(B) A dealer or an agent of the dealer.
(C) A dismantler.
(D) An insurer or an agent of the insurer.
(E) A salvage pool.
(c) At the discretion of the department, subdivision (a) does not
apply in any of the following circumstances:
(1) An application for a duplicate or substitute certificate of
title or license plate is submitted by a licensed registration
service representing any of the following:
(A) A person or entity listed in subparagraphs (A) to (E),
inclusive, of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).
(B) A business entity recognized under the laws of this state or
the laws of any foreign or domestic jurisdiction whose laws are in
parity with the laws of this state.
(C) A court-appointed bankruptcy referee.
(D) A person who is an individual, is not included in
subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, and submits to the licensed
registration service an application with a signature that is
validated by a notary public. The licensed registration service shall
maintain full and complete records of its transactions conducted
pursuant to this subparagraph and shall make those records available
for inspection by an investigator of the Department of Motor
Vehicles, investigator of the Department of the California Highway
Patrol, a city police department, a county sheriff's office, or a
district attorney's office, if the investigator requests access to
the record and the request is for the purpose of a criminal
investigation.
(2) The vehicle is registered under the International Registration
Plan pursuant to Section 8052 or under the Permanent Fleet
Registration program pursuant to Article 9.5 (commencing with Section
5301).
(3) The vehicle is an implement of husbandry, as defined in
Section 36000, or a tow dolly, or has been issued an identification
plate under Section 5014 or 5014.1.
(d) The department shall issue one or more license plates only to
the registered owner or lessee. The department shall issue the
certificate of title only to the legal owner, or if none, then to the
registered owner, as shown on the department's records.