Section 5753 Of Article 2. Endorsement And Delivery Of Documents From California Vehicle Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.
5753
. (a) It is unlawful for any person to fail or neglect properly
to endorse, date, and deliver the certificate of ownership and, when
having possession, to deliver the registration card to a transferee
who is lawfully entitled to a transfer of registration.
(b) Except when the certificate of ownership is demanded in
writing by a purchaser, a vehicle dealer licensed under this code
shall satisfy the delivery requirement of this section by submitting
appropriate documents and fees to the department for transfer of
registration in accordance with Sections 5906 and 4456 of this code
and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) (1) Within 15 business days after receiving payment in full
for the satisfaction of a security interest and a written instrument
signed by the grantor of the security interest designating the
transferee and authorizing release of the legal owner's interest, the
legal owner shall release its security interest and mail, transmit,
or deliver the vehicle's certificate of ownership to the transferee
who, due to satisfaction of the security interest, is lawfully
entitled to the transfer of legal ownership.
(2) If a lease provides a lessee with the option to purchase the
leased vehicle, within 15 business days after receiving payment in
full for the purchase, and all documents necessary to effect the
transfer, the lessor shall mail, transmit, or deliver the vehicle's
certificate of ownership to the transferee, who, due to purchase of
the vehicle, is lawfully entitled to the transfer of legal ownership.
(d) The certificate of ownership delivered pursuant to subdivision
(c) shall be signed by the legal owner or lessor to reflect release
of the legal owner's interest or transfer of the lessor's interest in
the vehicle or accompanied by a form provided by the department to
accomplish the same result and signed by the legal owner or lessor.
If the legal owner or lessor is not in possession or control of the
certificate of ownership, the legal owner or lessor shall, within the
time provided in subdivision (c) for the mailing, transmittal, or
delivery of the certificate of ownership, take any action required by
the department to release the legal owner's security interest or
transfer the lessor's interest in the vehicle and within that time
shall mail, transmit, or deliver written notice of its taking that
action to the transferee.
(e) A legal owner or lessor that fails to satisfy the requirements
of subdivisions (c) and (d), shall, without offset or reduction, pay
the transferee twenty-five dollars ($25) per day for each day that
the requirements of subdivisions (c) and (d) remain unsatisfied, not
to exceed a maximum payment of two thousand five hundred dollars
($2,500). If the legal owner or lessor fails to pay this amount
within 60 days following written demand by the transferee, the amount
shall be trebled, not to exceed a maximum payment of seven thousand
five hundred dollars ($7,500), and the transferee shall be entitled
to costs and reasonable attorneys fees incurred in any court action
brought to collect the payment. The right to recover these payments
is cumulative with and is not in substitution or derogation of any
remedy otherwise available at law or equity.
(f) A legal owner, upon written request of the transferee, shall
disclose any pertinent information regarding the amount of payment
and the documents necessary to release the obligation secured by the
legal owner's interest.