California Form REG 343 is the Application for Title or Registration used by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to title and register vehicles that are entering the California registration system for the first time. You file it when you buy a vehicle from a private party, bring a car in from another state, revive a junked or salvaged vehicle, or place a previously unregistered vehicle on the road.
The current revision in widespread use is REG 343 (REV. 12/2022), and the California DMV forms page hosts the official PDF you should download. Missing the 10-day private-party transfer window or the 20-day new-resident window triggers penalty fees that can quickly exceed $100, so getting every box right on the first try matters more than most people expect.
In 2024, the California DMV processed more than 31 million vehicle registration transactions, and internal DMV audits show that roughly 1 in 5 mailed REG 343 packets gets returned for at least one correctable error, most often in the odometer or lienholder sections, according to the DMV Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual.
Here is what this guide covers:
- 📄 What REG 343 is, who must file it, and which vehicles it covers
- 🧾 Every document and ID number you need before you start writing
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of all nine sections with sample entries
- 👥 Three full filled-out examples for the most common filing scenarios
- ⚠️ The mistakes, deadlines, and fees that trip up first-time filers
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
REG 343 is the master application the DMV uses to open a brand-new California title and registration record for a vehicle. It tells the agency who owns the vehicle, who holds any lien, where the vehicle came from, what the odometer reads, and whether smog and use-tax obligations have been met. The form is authorized by California Vehicle Code §4150, which requires every owner of a vehicle operated in California to apply for registration with the department.
You must file REG 343 if you are a private-party buyer of a used vehicle, a new California resident registering an out-of-state vehicle, an owner reviving a junked or salvaged vehicle, or an owner registering a previously unregistered specially constructed or off-highway vehicle. Dealers also use REG 343 when transmitting first-time registration packets through the DMV Business Partner Automation program, and lessors use it when titling leased vehicles in the lessor’s name with the lessee listed.
The form is not used for renewal of an existing California registration, which uses the renewal notice or DMV online renewal portal instead. It is also not used by itself for a simple ownership transfer between two California residents on a vehicle already in the DMV system, which is handled with the title transfer form on the back of the California Certificate of Title or with REG 227 when the title is missing.
New California residents have a tighter clock than most filers realize. Under California Vehicle Code §6700, a non-resident vehicle may be operated in California only until residency is established, after which the owner has 20 days to register the car. Private-party buyers, by contrast, must apply for transfer within 10 days of the purchase date under California Vehicle Code §5902, and miss that window and the late-transfer penalty schedule kicks in.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gathering everything in advance is the single best way to avoid a rejected packet. The DMV does not partially process REG 343 applications, so a missing odometer disclosure or smog certificate sends the entire packet back to you and the registration clock keeps running. Build the checklist below before you write a single word on the form.
- The vehicle’s title or REG 227. Without proof of ownership, the DMV cannot issue a new title, and your application will be rejected on receipt.
- Bill of sale, ideally REG 135. It documents the purchase price and date, which the DMV uses to calculate use tax and the late-transfer penalty.
- Smog certification (if required). Under California Vehicle Code §4000.1, most vehicles older than four model years need a current smog certificate; without it, the DMV cannot issue a title.
- Odometer disclosure. For vehicles less than 10 model years old, federal law requires an odometer statement, and Section 5 of REG 343 itself collects this information for California-titled vehicles.
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) verification. Out-of-state vehicles need a REG 31 completed by a DMV employee, peace officer, or licensed VIN verifier before you submit the packet.
- Your California driver license or ID. Section 2 requires the DL or ID number for individual owners, and a mismatch with the SSA name file can stall your title.
- Lienholder name, address, and ELT number (if any). California uses Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) for almost all lenders, and the DMV ELT participant list is the source for the exact name format.
- Funds for fees. Plan for the base registration fee, CHP fee, transportation improvement fee, vehicle license fee, and use tax, which together commonly run $400 to $900 for a typical used car.
- Out-of-state plates and registration card (for new residents). Section 8 of REG 343 asks what happened to the prior plates, and the DMV will not finalize registration if those facts are blank.
- Power of attorney, if someone else signs. If a dealer or family member signs for you, attach REG 260 or a notarized power of attorney to avoid a signature mismatch rejection.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official, fillable PDF lives on the California DMV REG 343 page and is free to download. You can also pick up a paper copy at any DMV field office, at AAA branches that handle DMV services, and at most licensed Business Partner Automation (BPA) registration agents. The DMV updates the form periodically, and the revision date appears in the bottom-left corner of every page; always confirm you have the most current version before filing.
You may complete the form three ways: by printing the PDF and writing in black or blue ink, by typing into the fillable PDF using Adobe Acrobat Reader and then printing for signature, or by letting a DMV-licensed BPA agent or AAA representative fill it out on your behalf. The DMV does not currently accept REG 343 as a fully electronic submission from members of the public; even BPA submissions require a wet-signed paper copy retained by the agent under CVC §1685.
The form is also embedded inside the dealer report-of-sale workflow, so if you bought from a California dealer, you may never see REG 343 because the dealer transmits it for you. Private-party buyers, out-of-state transplants, and revived-junk owners are the filers who actually need to fill it out themselves, and that is the audience this guide is built for.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out California Form REG 343 Line by Line
REG 343 is organized into a header strip and nine numbered sections. Work through them in order and never skip a field; even fields that look optional, like the lienholder block, must say NONE if they do not apply to you, or the DMV will return the packet.
Header Strip: California Title or Plate/CF Number, and Vehicle Identification
The header strip across the top asks for the existing California title number, the California license plate or CF number, and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or Hull Identification Number (HIN). For a brand-new California vehicle or an out-of-state vehicle, the title-number and plate fields stay blank because the DMV will assign these. For a revived-junk or revived-salvage vehicle, you copy the prior California title number from the salvage certificate.
The VIN is the field the DMV cross-checks against the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), and a single transposed digit can flag the vehicle as a different car entirely. Maria Lopez writes 1HGCM82633A004352 in the VIN box, copying it directly from the dashboard plate and her bill of sale.
If your vehicle is from out of state, leave the California title number blank and write OUT OF STATE in the plate field; this signals to the technician that a REG 31 verification should accompany the packet. A common mistake here is entering the VIN in lowercase or with the letter O instead of the number 0, and the consequence is an automatic kick-back because the OCR system reads only uppercase alphanumeric characters. Filers also wrongly assume the VIN on the title controls if it differs from the dashboard; in fact, the DMV treats the physically inspected VIN on REG 31 as the source of truth.
Section 1: Vehicle Information
Section 1 collects the make, year model, body type model, motive power, vehicle type, fuel type, number of axles, unladen weight, and several yes-or-no questions about commercial use, body modifications, and out-of-state plates. You copy the make and year directly from the title and the federal certification label on the door jamb, and you select the body-type-model code from the DMV Body Type Model Codes list. Motive power is almost always G for gasoline, D for diesel, E for electric, or H for hybrid.
Carlos Nguyen, registering a 2018 Honda Civic LX sedan, writes HOND in MAKE, 2018 in YEAR MODEL, 4D in BODY TYPE MODEL, G in MOTIVE POWER, and AUTO in VEHICLE TYPE. The unladen weight on a passenger car comes from the door-jamb label or the manufacturer’s spec sheet and does not need to be exact to the pound for non-commercial cars.
A nuance many filers miss is the question about commercial use. Even a personal pickup truck used occasionally for a side gig hauling can count as commercial under California Vehicle Code §260, which would force you to also file REG 4008. The most common mistake in Section 1 is leaving the modifications question blank; the DMV reads a blank as YES and demands a REG 5036 Statement of Construction, which you then have to chase down. A widespread misconception is that the unladen-weight box can be skipped for cars under 6,000 pounds; in fact, the DMV uses unladen weight to compute the weight fee on trucks and to validate the body-type code on cars.
Section 2: Registered Owner
Section 2 captures the true full legal name of every registered owner, the co-owner relationship word (AND, OR, AND/OR), the California driver license or ID number, the physical residence address, the county, and the mailing address if different. The relationship word is far more consequential than it looks. Owners joined by AND both must sign every future title transfer; owners joined by OR let either owner act alone, which can be helpful or dangerous depending on the relationship.
Aisha Patel and her husband Ravi Patel write PATEL, AISHA M as owner, AND, PATEL, RAVI K as co-owner, with both California DL numbers, and 1428 ELM ST, FRESNO, CA 93704 as the physical address. If your mailing address is a P.O. Box, you still must list a physical residence in the top address line because CVC §1808.21 requires service of process to a real location.
A nuance unique to leased vehicles is that Section 2 lists the lessor (the leasing company) as the owner and the lessee in the line below, not the other way around. The most common mistake is writing a nickname or shortened first name; the DMV runs the name against driver-license records, and Mike instead of Michael triggers a hold. A widespread misconception is that married couples must use AND; in reality, OR is often the better choice for spouses who want either partner to sell or transfer the car without dragging the other to the DMV.
Section 3: Legal Owner (Lienholder/Title Holder)
Section 3 is the lienholder block, and it is the second-most-common cause of REG 343 rejection. If you financed the vehicle, you write the exact name and address of the bank or finance company as it appears on the DMV ELT participant list, along with the three-digit ELT number. If you paid cash, you must affirmatively write NONE in the name field; leaving it blank is treated as incomplete.
Marcus Reed financed his truck through Bank of America, so he writes BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. with ELT number 25 and the address shown on the ELT list. If your lender is not on the ELT list, you write the lender name and physical address, and the DMV mails a paper title to that lender after registration is complete.
A nuance for trade-ins is that the lienholder of record is the new loan, not the old one; do not list the lender from the car you traded in. The most common mistake is misspelling the bank name or guessing at the address; the DMV’s ELT system rejects mismatches and your title cannot be perfected. A widespread misconception is that the ELT number is optional; for any ELT-participating lender, omitting the ELT number causes an automatic kick-back.
Section 4: Vehicle Body Change Statement
Section 4 asks whether any body-type modifications, additions, or alterations have been made since you bought the vehicle, and forces a yes-or-no answer. If you converted a pickup to a flatbed, swapped a passenger van to a cargo van, or added a permanent camper shell that changes the body code, you mark YES and attach REG 5036. For most ordinary used-car purchases the answer is NO.
Janet Kim, who bought an unmodified 2020 Toyota RAV4, marks NO and moves on. The nuance is that aftermarket wheels, tinted windows, and lift kits are usually not body modifications under DMV guidance; the test is whether the body-type-model code itself changed.
The most common mistake is marking YES out of an excess of caution and triggering a REG 5036 demand for a vehicle that does not need one, which delays your registration by weeks. A widespread misconception is that any visible aftermarket part counts as a modification; the DMV cares about structural body changes, not cosmetic ones.
Section 5: Vehicle Acquisition and Odometer Disclosure
Section 5 is dense. It asks the date you obtained the vehicle, the date the vehicle was first operated in California, the purchase price (or GIFT if no money changed hands), the source (dealer, private party, dismantler, family member), whether the sale was inside or outside California, and the odometer reading with one of three brand boxes (actual, not actual mileage, exceeds mechanical limits). Federal law under the Truth in Mileage Act, 49 U.S.C. §32705 requires this disclosure for vehicles less than 20 model years old.
Carlos Nguyen writes 03/14/2026 as the acquisition date, 03/14/2026 as the date first operated in California, $11,500 as the purchase price, marks PRIVATE PARTY and INSIDE CA, and writes 64,238 in the odometer box with the ACTUAL MILEAGE box checked. If the seller signed a separate odometer statement on the back of the title, you still complete this section.
A nuance for family transfers is that you write GIFT in the price box and check the IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER box, which can exempt you from use tax under CVC §10781 when paired with a REG 256 Statement of Facts. The most common mistake is writing the odometer reading with the tenths digit; the DMV wants whole miles only, and including a decimal triggers a manual review. A widespread misconception is that NOT ACTUAL MILEAGE is a red flag that will get the title rejected; in fact, the box exists precisely to allow a clean title to issue with the brand attached.
Section 6: Smog Certification and Use Tax
Section 6 ties the smog certificate and use tax obligations to the registration. You enter the smog certificate number from the Bureau of Automotive Repair VIR, unless the vehicle is exempt because it is less than four model years old, electric, a 1975 or older gas vehicle, or a 1997 or older diesel of 14,000 lbs GVWR or less. You also report any sales or use tax already paid, attaching proof.
Maria Lopez bought her 2020 Subaru Outback from a private party in 2026 and enters smog certificate number 12345678901 in the Section 6 line, then leaves the use-tax-paid line blank because she will pay use tax to the DMV at the counter. The DMV calculates use tax based on the purchase price you wrote in Section 5 at the rate set by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, which in 2026 ranges from 7.25% to 10.75% depending on the county.
A nuance for new residents is that California credits sales tax already paid to another state, but only with proof such as the original purchase invoice. The most common mistake is entering an expired smog certificate number; smog certificates are valid for 90 days, and the DMV rejects anything older. A widespread misconception is that gift vehicles always escape use tax; only transfers between qualifying immediate family members are exempt, and you must mark the box and attach REG 256.
Section 7: New California Resident Information
Section 7 only applies to new residents and asks for the date you went to work in California, obtained a California driver license, or otherwise became a resident. The earliest of those three dates starts the 20-day registration clock under CVC §6700.
Janet Kim moved from Phoenix to San Diego on 02/01/2026 and started a new job on 02/03/2026, so she writes 02/01/2026 as the residency date. If you are not a new resident, you leave Section 7 blank.
A nuance for active-duty military is that nonresident service members stationed in California can keep their home-state plates under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. §4001, and they note their status here. The most common mistake is using the date you crossed the state line, when the DMV wants the date residency was actually established by employment, license, or voter registration. A widespread misconception is that the 20-day clock starts when you register your vehicle; it starts when residency starts, even if you never drive the car for weeks.
Section 8: Out-of-State Plates and Prior Registration
Section 8 asks what happened to the out-of-state plates: expired, surrendered to California DMV, destroyed, retained, or returned to the prior state’s motor vehicle department. You also indicate whether the plates were ever affixed to the vehicle and whether the vehicle is dual-registered.
Janet Kim surrenders her Arizona plates at the San Diego DMV office and checks SURRENDERED TO CA DMV. The DMV physically destroys surrendered plates and notes the surrender in the file, which is what later proves you complied with CVC §4456.
A nuance for snowbirds is that dual registration is allowed only when the vehicle is genuinely operated in both states and the prior state’s law permits it. The most common mistake is checking RETAINED and then driving back home with California plates, which violates the prior state’s surrender requirement. A widespread misconception is that you can simply throw out-of-state plates in the trash; doing so without checking DESTROYED and signing the certification is a misdemeanor under several states’ theft-of-government-property statutes.
Section 9: Certifications and Signatures
Section 9 is the perjury block. Every registered owner listed in Section 2 must print, sign, and date here, certifying under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct, that the mailing address is valid, and that the owner consents to service of process under CVC §1808.21. Business owners must include the printed business name and an authorized representative’s countersignature.
Aisha Patel signs as PATEL, AISHA M and Ravi Patel signs as PATEL, RAVI K, both dating 03/15/2026. If a co-owner cannot appear, attach a notarized power of attorney or REG 260.
A nuance for trusts and LLCs is that the trustee or managing member signs as trustee or member, not personally, and must include that title under the signature. The most common mistake is signing in cursive when the form asks for printed name above the signature; the DMV needs both. A widespread misconception is that one spouse can sign for both when ownership is AND; the joinder word controls, and AND requires both wet signatures.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three scenarios cover the most common reasons a member of the public fills out REG 343. Each shows what the named filer enters in the most important sections of the form.
Scenario 1: Carlos Nguyen, Private-Party Buyer of a Used 2018 Honda Civic
Carlos buys a 2018 Honda Civic LX sedan from a neighbor in San Jose for $11,500 cash, and he files REG 343 within 10 days as required by CVC §5902.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Header VIN | 1HGFC2F59JH123456 |
| Section 1 Vehicle Info | HOND, 2018, 4D, G, AUTO, 2,762 lbs |
| Section 2 Owner | NGUYEN, CARLOS T, DL D1234567, 2200 OAK AVE, SAN JOSE, CA 95128 |
| Section 3 Legal Owner | NONE |
| Section 4 Body Change | NO |
| Section 5 Acquisition | Acquired 03/14/2026, price $11,500, PRIVATE PARTY, INSIDE CA, odometer 64,238 ACTUAL |
| Section 6 Smog | Smog cert 12345678901, no use tax pre-paid |
| Section 9 Signature | NGUYEN, CARLOS T, signed 03/15/2026 |
Scenario 2: Janet Kim, New California Resident from Arizona
Janet moves from Phoenix to San Diego, establishes residency on 02/01/2026, and registers her 2020 Toyota RAV4 within the 20-day window required by CVC §6700.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Header VIN | 2T3P1RFV5LW123456, plate field OUT OF STATE |
| Section 1 Vehicle Info | TOYT, 2020, 4D, G, AUTO |
| Section 2 Owner | KIM, JANET S, CA DL D7654321, 901 MISSION BLVD, SAN DIEGO, CA 92109 |
| Section 3 Legal Owner | TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT, ELT 14 |
| Section 5 Acquisition | Acquired 06/12/2024 in Arizona, first operated in CA 02/01/2026, DEALER, OUTSIDE CA, odometer 38,902 ACTUAL |
| Section 6 Smog | Smog cert 98765432109, AZ sales tax $1,720 attached |
| Section 7 New Resident | Residency date 02/01/2026 |
| Section 8 Out-of-State Plates | SURRENDERED TO CA DMV |
| Section 9 Signature | KIM, JANET S, signed 02/15/2026 |
Scenario 3: Marcus Reed, Buyer of a Financed Used Truck
Marcus buys a 2021 Ford F-150 from a private party for $32,000, financing $25,000 through Bank of America, and files REG 343 with the lien recorded.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Header VIN | 1FTFW1E50MFA12345 |
| Section 1 Vehicle Info | FORD, 2021, PK, G, TRUCK, unladen weight 4,705 lbs |
| Section 2 Owner | REED, MARCUS J, DL D2468135, 512 PINE ST, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 |
| Section 3 Legal Owner | BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., ELT 25 |
| Section 4 Body Change | NO |
| Section 5 Acquisition | 03/05/2026, $32,000, PRIVATE PARTY, INSIDE CA, odometer 21,455 ACTUAL |
| Section 6 Smog | Smog cert 11223344556 |
| Section 9 Signature | REED, MARCUS J, signed 03/06/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
REG 343 must travel as part of a packet, never alone. The DMV explicitly notes on the REG 343 description that the form is not to be mailed by itself. Include the title, smog certificate, bill of sale, REG 31 (if applicable), odometer disclosure (if not on the title), and any required statement of facts.
In person at a DMV field office. Walk into any DMV field office with the packet, pay by cash, check, money order, or debit card (most offices do not take credit cards), and walk out with a temporary operating permit and a registration card mailed within four to six weeks. Make an appointment first through the DMV appointment portal because walk-in waits routinely exceed two hours.
By mail. Mail the packet with a check or money order to DMV, P.O. Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269-0001. Processing takes six to eight weeks, and your only proof of filing is the certified-mail receipt and the canceled check, so use USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt every time.
Through AAA (members only). AAA branches that handle DMV services accept REG 343 packets, charge no service fee for members, and process most transactions same-day. Bring the same documents you would bring to a DMV office, plus your AAA membership card.
Through a Business Partner Automation (BPA) agent. Licensed BPA agents listed on the DMV BPA program page can transmit your registration electronically. The BPA service fee is capped by regulation, and effective January 1, 2026 a $2 BPA EVR transaction fee was added to most electronic transactions, according to California DMV fee guidance for 2026.
What Happens After You File
Once the DMV accepts your packet, a technician keys the data into the registration database, calculates the final fees, and either issues plates and stickers on the spot (in person) or mails them to you. You receive a registration card, two license plates (or one for motorcycles and trailers), and one validation sticker. The new California Certificate of Title arrives separately, typically four to ten weeks later, mailed either to you or to the lienholder under the DMV ELT program.
If the packet has errors, the DMV mails it back with a deficiency notice listing the missing or incorrect items. You have 30 days to correct and resubmit before the application is closed and you must start over with a fresh REG 343. The late-transfer penalty under CVC §9553 keeps accruing during the correction window, so respond fast.
The DMV also forwards the registration data to the California Highway Patrol, the Franchise Tax Board, and the county tax assessor where applicable, so an accepted REG 343 has tax and law-enforcement consequences beyond just the title. Keep a copy of the entire packet for at least four years to defend any later use-tax audit by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
These are the rejection causes that DMV technicians cite most often when sending packets back. Each one is fixable in five minutes if you catch it before mailing, and each one costs weeks if you don’t.
- Leaving the lienholder block blank instead of writing NONE. The DMV reads blank as incomplete, and the packet bounces.
- Misspelling the lienholder name. ELT mismatches kick the application out of the electronic title workflow.
- Writing the odometer with a decimal. The DMV wants whole miles, and a decimal forces manual review.
- Skipping the modifications question in Section 4. Blank is read as YES, triggering a REG 5036 demand.
- Using a nickname in Section 2. SSA name mismatches stall the title.
- Forgetting to surrender out-of-state plates. New residents who keep prior plates violate CVC §4456.
- Submitting an expired smog certificate. Smog certificates expire after 90 days.
- Mailing REG 343 by itself. The form must travel with the title and supporting documents.
- Signing only one spouse when ownership is AND. Both wet signatures are required.
- Missing the 10-day or 20-day deadline. Penalties begin immediately under CVC §9553.
- Forgetting REG 31 for an out-of-state vehicle. No verification, no title.
- Writing GIFT without REG 256. Without the statement of facts, use tax is assessed on fair market value.
Do’s and Don’ts
These quick rules summarize the habits that separate clean filings from rejected ones.
- Do download the most current revision from the official REG 343 link, because outdated revisions are not accepted.
- Do print in black or blue ink, because other colors do not scan reliably.
- Do verify the VIN against the dashboard, the title, and the door jamb, because a single mismatch flags fraud.
- Do include REG 31 for any out-of-state vehicle, because the DMV cannot title an unverified vehicle.
- Do keep copies of every page you submit, because the DMV does not return your originals quickly.
- Do use certified mail for any mailed packet, because the postmark is your only proof of timely filing.
- Don’t sign in cursive in the printed-name box, because the DMV needs both printed and signed.
- Don’t leave any field blank, because blanks read as incomplete.
- Don’t guess at the lienholder address, because ELT records control.
- Don’t assume gift transfers escape use tax, because only qualifying family transfers do.
- Don’t drive on expired out-of-state plates past your residency date, because law enforcement can cite and tow.
- Don’t wait until day 9 or day 19, because counter waits and mail delays eat into the deadline.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most people can file REG 343 themselves, but the trade-offs are real, and weighing them up front saves time.
- Pro of pro se filing: cost. No service fee, just DMV fees.
- Pro of pro se filing: control. You see every entry and every fee.
- Pro of pro se filing: speed at the counter. With a complete packet, in-person appointments often finish in under 30 minutes.
- Pro of pro se filing: learning. You will know how to handle the next vehicle.
- Pro of pro se filing: privacy. No third party sees your purchase price or address.
- Con of pro se filing: error rate. First-time filers see roughly 20% rejection rates per DMV procedures manual audits.
- Con of pro se filing: time. Reading the manual, gathering documents, and waiting at the counter consume a full afternoon.
- Con of pro se filing: deadline risk. Missing the 10-day or 20-day window costs real money under CVC §9553.
- Con of pro se filing: no advocate. A DMV technician is not your lawyer when issues arise.
- Con of pro se filing: learning curve. ELT codes, body-type-model codes, and smog rules are not intuitive.
REG 343 vs. REG 227: Which Form You Actually Need
These two forms are often confused, and choosing the wrong one wastes a counter visit.
| Feature | REG 343 vs. REG 227 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | REG 343 opens a new title record; REG 227 replaces or transfers an existing California title. |
| Typical filer | REG 343: new resident, private buyer, revived junk; REG 227: California buyer with lost title. |
| Out-of-state vehicles | REG 343 yes; REG 227 no. |
| Lien recording | Both can record liens, but only REG 343 opens the original ELT record. |
| Smog requirement | Both trigger the smog rule under CVC §4000.1. |
| Notarization | Neither is notarized, but signatures must be wet. |
FAQs
Do I file REG 343 or REG 227 when I buy a used car from another Californian?
No. For a vehicle already in the California system with a title in hand, you use the title transfer block on the back of the title; REG 227 is for missing titles, and REG 343 is for first-time California registrations.
Do I need a smog certificate for a four-year-old car?
No. Vehicles four model years old or newer are exempt under CVC §4000.1, although a smog transfer fee still applies at registration.
Do I write GIFT in the price box if my parent gave me the car?
Yes. Write GIFT in the price field, check the IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER box in Section 5, and attach a REG 256 Statement of Facts to claim the use-tax exemption.
Do I list my P.O. Box in the residence address line of Section 2?
No. The physical residence line must show a real street address; your P.O. Box only goes on the mailing-address line because CVC §1808.21 requires service of process to a physical location.
Do I need to write NONE if there is no lienholder in Section 3?
Yes. Blank is treated as incomplete; you must affirmatively write NONE in the legal-owner name field for a paid-in-full vehicle.
Do I check ACTUAL MILEAGE if the seller’s title says NOT ACTUAL?
No. Carry the seller’s brand forward; checking ACTUAL on a not-actual vehicle is odometer fraud under 49 U.S.C. §32705.
Do I have 30 days as a new resident to register my out-of-state car?
No. New residents have only 20 days from the date residency is established under CVC §6700, not 30.
Do I owe California use tax if I already paid sales tax in another state?
No. California credits sales tax already paid to another state when you submit proof, per CDTFA use tax guidance; you only owe the difference if California’s rate is higher.
Do both spouses need to sign Section 9 when ownership is joined by AND?
Yes. AND requires both wet signatures; OR allows either spouse to sign alone.
Do I file REG 343 alone if the car is from Arizona?
No. Out-of-state vehicles need a REG 31 verification, the out-of-state title, smog certificate, and proof of prior tax paid bundled with REG 343.
Do I get to keep my Arizona plates after registering in California?
No. Section 8 requires you to indicate the plates are surrendered, destroyed, returned, or expired; California will not register a vehicle whose prior plates remain active and unaccounted for.
Do late-registration penalties really start on day 11?
Yes. Under CVC §9553, penalties of up to 40% of the vehicle license fee and weight fee accrue once the 10-day private-party transfer or 20-day new-resident window closes.
Do I need to attach my driver license photocopy to REG 343?
No. The DMV does not require a license photocopy with REG 343, but you must show the license at the counter or write the DL number in Section 2.
Do I file a separate odometer form if Section 5 already collects the reading?
No. Section 5 itself satisfies the federal Truth in Mileage Act for first-time California titling, although a separately signed odometer disclosure on the back of the title is also acceptable.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California Form TR-110 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form REG 138 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form REG 227 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form REG 256 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form REG 31 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form REG 4008 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Delaware DMV Application for Duplicate Title (Form MV213) + FAQs