2021 Reference Card

Power of Attorney (POA)

Documents that can be signed by POA

• California Title — sections 1a, 1b, 9a, 9b
  
• Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title — REG 227 — sections 4 & 6
  
• Application for Title or Registration — REG 343
  
• New Vehicle Report of Sale — REG 397 — Application Certification section
  
• Used Vehicle Report of Sale — REG 51 — Signature of Purchaser(s) section
  

Documents that cannot be signed by POA

• Any Odometer Disclosure
  
• Statement of Facts — REG 256
  
• Miscellaneous Certifications — REG 256A
  
• Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title — REG 227 — section 3
  
• Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents — REG 156
  
• Special Recognition License Plate Application — REG 17A
  
• Special Interest License Plate Application — REG 17
  
• Exempt License Plate Request — REG 5050
  
• Declaration of Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (CGW) — REG 4008
  
• Nonresident Military (NRM) Vehicle License Fee Exemption — REG 5045
  

Signatures

• 2 registered owners joined by OR, only ONE owner must sign
  
• 2 registered owners joined by AND (/), then BOTH owners must sign
  
• 2 registered owners with no conjunction, then BOTH owners must sign
  

• Example: Joseph Donald Smith may sign Joe D Smith or another variation of the first and middle name(s)
  

• Example: Virgina D. Smith signed Denise Smith
  

• Example: Richard Cotswald by POA We Sell Cars Charles Wright
  

• Example: Luxury Auto by M Fields
  

• Example: GMAC by L Meyers
  

• Example: Carl Jones Family Trust by Karen S Jones Trustee
  

Commercial vehicle document checklist

Gross vehicle weight rating — REG 4008

• Commercial vehicles with an unladen weight of 6,001 lbs. or more
  
• Open-bed (pickup-like) trucks with no body type modifications and an unladen weight of 8,001 lbs. or more, a GVWR equal to or greater than 11,500 lbs. or an open box-type bed greater than 9 feet in length
  
• Body type model (BTM) must be changed from “PK” to “VA”
  

• Pickup trucks with an open box-type bed not exceeding 9 feet in length, an unladen weight of less than 8,001 lbs. and a GVWR less than 11,500 lbs.
  

Weight certification

• Dealers may not certify weight on a New Vehicle Report of Sale — REG 397 for commercial vehicles weighing between 8,001 and 10,000 lbs. unladen
  
• Must obtain a weight certificate
  
• Nonresident vehicles being registered for the first time in California require a weight certificate in most circumstances
  
• Weight Certificate is not required on a nonresident vehicle with an unladen weight of 6,000 lbs. or less when the title or registration indicates that the vehicle weight is:
  
• Empty
  
• Unladen
  
• Tare weight
  
• Scale
  
• Shipping
  
• WT/Wheels Weight
  

Odometer disclosures

• Required for autos and motorcycles twenty (20) model years old and newer, beginning with model year 2010
  
• Not required (but still accepted) for commercial vehicles with an unladen weight of more than 8,501 lbs. or a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of more than 16,000 lbs.
  
• The same person cannot acknowledge or sign the odometer disclosure statement for both buyer and seller. For example, with leased vehicles, if an authorized employee of the dealership countersigns for the lessor, the same individual cannot countersign as an authorized agent for the dealership
  
• Certification of mileage can never be signed by power of attorney
  
• Must be disclosed and acknowledged by both parties with hand-printed names and wet ink signatures of each individual
  

Fee exemptions

• Nonresident military members and their spouses are exempt from the Vehicle License Fee (VLF) and the Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF) if the following criteria is met:
  
• The nonresident military owner is shown as a lessee or registered owner of the vehicle
  
• The duty station is located in California
  
• The vehicle is not used in a trade or business
  
• The nonresident military service member is on active duty status as verified by reviewing a valid Military ID Card
  
• California tribes or tribal members living on a federal reservation or rancheria and will be operating the vehicle on public roads are exempt from Vehicle License Fees (VLF)
  
• Vehicles registered to a federally-recognized tribal name and operated solely within the boundaries and jurisdiction of the tribe are exempt from all fees except for the basic annual Registration Fee
  
• Disabled veterans, former Prisoners of War, and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are exempt from all fees for one vehicle (auto, motorcycle or commercial with an unladen weight of less than 8,001 lbs.) provided the vehicle displays special recognition plates and is not used for hire or compensation
  
• Exemption does not apply to duplicate plate or sticker fees
  
• Disabled individuals that assign their disabled plates to the vehicle that is registered to them are exempt from the weight fee for one commercial vehicle with an unladen weight less than 8,001 lbs.
  
• California Exempt vehicles registered or leased to qualified state, federal or local agencies are exempt from all registration fees
  

Lien release

• For all vehicles regardless of year model that indicate “Paperless Title” on the CA DMV record, the lienholders release of interest must be processed electronically through the Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) program
  

• The vehicle is older than two (2) model years AND
  
• The CA DMV record does not indicate “Paperless Title”
  

Smog requirements/exemptions

• Smog is not required on a lease buyout unless the biennial smog is due
  
• Smog history can be verified at the following website: www.bar.ca.gov
  
• Dealer smog certificates on vehicles in the dealer’s inventory are valid for two (2) years; however, a copy of the smog certificate must be submitted with the transfer application
  
• Smog certifications are required on the following:
  
• Vehicles 1976 or later
  
• Transfer of ownership for gasoline or hybrid vehicles more than four (4) model years old, and any used diesel vehicle subject to smog check
  
• Nonresident vehicles
  
• Diesel-powered vehicles manufactured after 1998 with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 14,000 lbs. or less
  
• Smog certifications are not required on the following:
  
• Gasoline-powered vehicles 1975 and older
  
• Transfers of a California vehicle that is four (4) model years or less
  
• Diesel or natural gas-powered vehicles with a GVWR over 14,000 lbs.
  
• Diesel-powered vehicles manufactured prior to 1998
  
• Electric vehicles
  
• Motorcycles
  

Transaction Types