Lost title · Orange County
Lost your title? You can still sell your car
A missing pink slip is one of the most common reasons people put off selling a car. In California, the registered owner can apply for a duplicate title, and we can help you fill out the DMV paperwork so the sale goes smoothly. What matters is that the car is registered in your name and you can prove it.
How it works when the title is lost
- Check who owns the car. Your registration card shows the registered owner. If it's you (and the car is paid off), you're in a good position.
- Duplicate title with REG 227. The California DMV form REG 227, Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title, is how a registered owner replaces a lost, stolen or damaged title. We help you fill it out correctly and sign it with the rest of the sale paperwork.
- Firm offer first. Send the form with photos and we give you a firm cash offer, usually within about 30 minutes during business hours.
- Paid the same day. Once the paperwork is signed we pay you by cash, cashier's check or Zelle, and we take care of the DMV filing.
What we can't do — and why it protects you
We only buy a car from the person who can prove they own it. If the car isn't registered in your name, or you can't show who owns it, we can't buy it — no licensed dealer should. That rule is what keeps stolen cars off the road and protects honest sellers.
If the car is in someone else's name — a relative, an ex, a previous owner who never transferred it — read our page on selling a car that's not in your name. If you bought it and the title was never transferred, call us and we'll explain the options before you spend money at the DMV.
If there is still a loan
If you're still paying the car off, you probably don't have the title at all: your lender holds it, often electronically. You don't need a duplicate in that case. We request the payoff from your lender, pay them directly, and pay you any difference the same day; the lender then releases the title.
How it works
- Tell us about the carFill out the 1-minute form or call. A few photos and an honest description keep the price firm.
- Get a real offer in 30 minutesMark, the owner, reviews it and texts you a firm cash offer during business hours.
- Get paid the same dayBring it to our Santa Ana shop or we tow it free anywhere in Orange County. Cash, cashier's check or Zelle.
What to have ready
- Current or recent registration card in your name — this is the most helpful document when the title is lost.
- Photo ID of the registered owner(s).
- Loan account info, if you still owe money (then you don't need a duplicate title).
- Keys and remotes you have.
Questions sellers ask
Can I sell my car without the pink slip?
Yes, if you're the registered owner. We help you complete DMV form REG 227 for a duplicate title as part of the sale, so you don't have to wait for a new title before getting paid.
Do I have to go to the DMV first?
Usually not. We help fill out the paperwork with you and handle the DMV filing ourselves. If something in the DMV record needs your visit, we'll tell you before you sign.
My registration expired too. Is that a problem?
Not by itself. Expired registration doesn't stop the sale. We look at what the DMV record shows and explain it to you before you sign.
The car was never registered in my name. Can you still buy it?
Not until ownership is sorted out. The person on the title has to sign, or the car has to be transferred to you first. We'll explain how — just call or send the form.
Ready to see what your car is worth?
It takes about a minute. No obligation, no spam — we only use your number to send the offer.