How to Replace a Lost Car Title in Utah
Car owners wondering how to replace a vehicle title in Utah must note that this official procedure can be completed through the state Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in a few straightforward steps. Drivers who do not replace a lost, stolen or damaged car title may encounter certain difficulties when conducting business with the state DMV.
Failure to request a replacement car title when needed, for instance, will impede the process of transferring the title from one owner to another after the vehicle is sold in a private sale. To avoid such complications, learn how to replace your car title with the Utah DMV in the following sections.
When do you need to get a duplicate car title in Utah?
The process to replace a lost car title at the DMV in Utah is typically completed by drivers who have mutilated or lost their title certificate and by those who were the victims of a theft of the vehicle title. Note that obtaining a duplicate title in such circumstances can be accomplished by completing the standard title replacement process.
While replacing a car title in UT is not obligatory under current law, you are still encouraged to obtain a title copy if and when you lose the original document due its various general and official uses as a legal proof of ownership.
Documents Required When Applying for a Utah Car Title Copy
During the process to request a car title replacement in Utah, applicants will be required to meet the DMV requirements for replacing a lost or damaged car title, which include submitting certain paperwork and paying a fee. The only document necessary in most cases is a standard application for a duplicate title. However, under certain unique circumstances, customers may be required to submit additional paperwork.
For example, drivers who have purchased a vehicle from a seller with a lost car title have the option of applying for a replacement title and completing the title transfer procedure at the same time. In such cases, buyers first have to ask the seller to fill out and sign the corresponding sections of the application.
Then, in addition to the form, purchasers will have to submit the remaining items necessary to transfer the title and register the vehicle, such as the safety inspection certificates and the bill of sale. Note that requesting a replacement car title and registering a newly purchased vehicle as the buyer is a process that can only be completed if the lost title was issued by the Utah DMV.
Available Methods for Replacing Your Car Title in Utah
Replacing a car title in Utah can currently be initiated by submitting a paper application by mail or in person. You cannot replace a car title online in UT, since the state DMV has not yet implemented this internet service.
The procedure to replace a car title by mail and the in-person process of obtaining a duplicate title generally follow the same steps and requirements. Buyers who are requesting a replacement vehicle title in UT on behalf of the previous vehicle owner, however, may only be limited to the in-person application method, since they are required to submit additional documentation.
How to Replace a Lost Car Title in Utah by Mail
Drivers who choose to replace a vehicle title by mail in Utah will be able to obtain a duplicate title certificate without making an office visit. The process of getting a replacement title by mail can be initiated by sending the same form mentioned above, along with the fee payment to the DMV Mail and Correspondence unit in Salt Lake City.
Note that one of the requirements for replacing a lost or damaged car title in UT by mail is submitting the fee payment in the form of a check or money order directed to the State Tax Commission. Once the state DMV receives and processes a request for a replacement car title, it will produce the duplicate title and mail it within a week to the customer’s address on file or a different address chosen by the applicant.
How to Replace a Lost Car Title in Utah in Person
The option to replace a lost car title in person in Utah can be utilized through a nearby DMV location that offers titling services. Therefore, if you decide to request a replacement auto title in person, contact the division to inquire which locations will process your request and whether or not you are required to submit additional paperwork under your current circumstances.
To expedite the transaction to replace a lost vehicle title in person in UT, you can also obtain the application form via the division’s website and print it before making your title office visit. The state DMV will process your car title replacement request once you submit the title application form, the fee payment and any pertinent documents. Note that, when applying in person, you may also be asked to present an official photo ID, such as a driving license.
How to Fill out the Duplicate Car Title Application in Utah
When requesting a Utah lost car title duplicate, vehicle owners must ensure that they submit an application form that is correctly filled out, since an incomplete request for a replacement car title may lead to a rejected application. The application you submit must typically contain the following information:
- The owner’s full name, address and mailing address (if different from the street address)
- The co-owner’s personal details (if applicable)
- The vehicle identification number, year, make and model
- The owner’s signature and date of signature
- The lienholder and lien release information (if applicable)
If the applicant is replacing a car title as the original vehicle owner, he or she will not be required to enter any additional information. However, customers who are applying for a duplicate of a lost vehicle title and completing the title transfer procedure after purchasing a vehicle will need a form that contains additional information.
The second part of the duplicate title application form is reserved for the seller, who must enter the vehicle odometer reading and the date and price of the sale. In such cases, the buyer will also be required to input his or her personal information.
Utah Car Title Replacement Fees
An important step in the process to replace a lost car title with the DMV in Utah is arranging payment for the applicable fees. Drivers who would like to know what are the fees to replace a lost car title in UT must note that the state DMV charges the same $6 fee that applies for the issuance of new titles.
However, if the applicant is also transferring the title and applying for a new car registration, he or she will also be required to pay the corresponding costs imposed when registering a vehicle.
Car Title Replacement Forms
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
- Replacing Plates, Decals, Registrations, Titles, or Placards from dmv.utah.gov