Who Can Apply For A Duplicate Car Title?

Who can apply for a duplicate title for a motor vehicle? In all 50 states, the only person entitled to make an application for a duplicate title or replacement title is the current titled owner.

What does ‘current titled owner’ mean?

The current titled owner means the actual person who is currently listed on the official title records with the DMV. 

So if you had a title that was signed over to you on the back, but it was lost before it could be submitted to the DMV, you are not the current titled owner; those changes aren’t reflected in the official title records until you make an application. Until you submit the title transfer documents to the DMV and receive a new title printed in your name, you are not the current titled owner and cannot apply for a duplicate title.

Multiple owners & lienholders

If there are two or more people listed on the title, everyone listed on the title must sign the form before a duplicate title can be issued. Similarly, if there is a lienholder listed on the title records, they will need to sign the form before a duplicate title can be issued. Even if you’ve paid off your loan, if your lienholder didn’t remove themselves from the title record, they still have to sign since they’re listed on the title. The bank might know the loan is paid off, but the DMV won’t until they’ve been given proper notice. That’s why it’s crucial to get a vehicle lien release from your lender as soon as your loan is satisfied.

In summary, if you’re listed as the current titled owner on the DMV title records, you are entitled to apply for a duplicate title. If you’re not the current titled owner, you are not eligible to file for a duplicate title; however, other methods of title recovery may be available.

Want a CarTitles.com professional to do it for you?

For as little as $159 for most processes, we will save you the headache and prepare all of the car title paperwork needed to get you a new title. Simply choose the title recovery method you’d like to use and we’ll get started!

Select your title recovery method:

Order Vermont Title LoopholeOrder Deceased Owner Title TransferOrder Bonded Title ProcessOrder Abandoned Vehicle ProcessOrder Prior Owner ContactOrder Lien Release Request LetterPGlmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmFjdWl0eXNjaGVkdWxpbmcuY29tL3NjaGVkdWxlLnBocD9vd25lcj0xOTQ4ODEyNiZhcHBvaW50bWVudFR5cGU9MjMwNjY0MTAiIHRpdGxlPSJTY2hlZHVsZSBBcHBvaW50bWVudCIgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iODAwIiBmcmFtZUJvcmRlcj0iMCI+PC9pZnJhbWU+PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZW1iZWQuYWN1aXR5c2NoZWR1bGluZy5jb20vanMvZW1iZWQuanMiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+