Article 4. Transfer By Department of California Vehicle Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 4.

(a) The department upon receipt of a properly endorsed certificate of ownership and the required fee shall reregister the vehicle under its registration number in the name of the new owner and new legal owner, if any, and shall issue a new registration card and certificate of ownership as provided upon an original registration.
  (b) The department shall not issue a new registration card and certificate of ownership pursuant to subdivision (a) on a vehicle that has been issued a nonrepairable vehicle certificate pursuant to Section 11515.2.

If the application for a transfer is made in the manner provided in this code the department shall not be required to withhold the transfer of any right, title, or interest in or to a vehicle if the application on its face appears to be genuine and regular and the department has received neither a request from any law enforcement agency that action on the application be deferred nor an order of a court of the United States or of the State of California restraining the transfer within two years prior thereto.

When application is made for transfer of the ownership of a vehicle for which a certificate of ownership has been issued without registration, upon payment of registration, transfer, and other fees required by law, the department shall issue the usual certificate of ownership and registration card unless the vehicle is not to be operated on the highways and the new owner submits an affidavit satisfactory to the department as to those facts required by subdivision (b) of Section 4452, in which case the new certificate of title and facsimile thereof may be issued as provided for in that section.