DMV & vehicle title notary
REG 262 transfers, duplicate titles, lien sales and impound releases, notarized wherever the car is. Plus the mistakes that get DMV forms rejected.
Vehicle paperwork is one of the most common reasons people need a notary in California, and one of the easiest to get wrong. The DMV rejects forms for small, fixable reasons, and a rejection usually means starting again with the other party's signature – who may by then be unreachable.
Vehicle documents we notarize
- REG 262, Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form
- REG 227, Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title, where a notarized signature is required
- Lien sale paperwork and impound release documents
- Out-of-state title transfers that require notarization in the origin state
- Powers of attorney for vehicle transactions, including military PCS moves
- Boat, trailer and RV transfers
REG 5, the Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate, does not need a notary. Where an heir's supporting documents do, such as an affidavit for a bank or an out-of-state DMV, we notarize those.
REG 262 cannot be downloaded. It is a secure, controlled form with a unique number, available only from a DMV office or an authorized provider. If you have a printout from a website, it is not valid and the DMV will reject it. Get the real form before booking the appointment.
What trips people up
- Signing before the notary arrives. Where a notarized signature is required, such as an out-of-state title or a power of attorney, it must be signed in the notary's presence. Signed in advance means a new form.
- The wrong name variant. The name on the title, the name signed and the name on the ID all have to line up. A middle initial on one and not the others causes rejections.
- Only one party present. Every signature being notarized needs that person there, with their own ID. A seller cannot sign for a co-owner.
- Blank fields. A notary may not notarize a document with blanks. Odometer reading, sale price, date – fill them in or write N/A first.
- ID expired more than five years ago. California accepts an ID that is current or was issued within the last five years. Check before we drive out.
Powers of attorney for vehicles need a thumbprint
California requires a notary to take the signer's right thumbprint in the journal for any power of attorney, as well as for deeds and other documents affecting real property. If your vehicle transaction uses a power of attorney, expect the thumbprint. It is routine and we bring the pad.
Impound and lien release
Getting a vehicle out of impound often needs notarized authorization, often in a hurry and often when the registered owner is not the person collecting it. We can meet you at the tow yard or wherever is convenient. Bring the title or registration if you have it, photo ID, and whatever paperwork the yard has told you they need.
Cost
The usual mobile rate: $95 for the visit, including travel and up to three notarized signatures. If a buyer and a seller both need notarizing, that is still the one $95 visit fee for up to three signatures in total, then $15 for each additional signature. Full detail on the fee page.
We come to you anywhere in San Diego County – your driveway, the buyer's parking lot, a tow yard, a dealership. Call or text (858) 888-8060.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print a REG 262 from the internet?
No. REG 262 is a secure form with a unique control number and is only available from the DMV or an authorized provider. Printed copies from websites are not accepted, and this is probably the single most common reason a vehicle notarization has to be redone.
Does the buyer need to be there too?
Only if the buyer's signature is one of the ones being notarized. Each person whose signature needs notarizing must be present with their own current photo ID. Check which signatures on your form actually require notarization.
Can you help with a title for a car I inherited?
The DMV form for that, REG 5, is signed under penalty of perjury and does not need a notary. Where a bank, an out-of-state DMV or another party wants a notarized affidavit from the heir, we notarize that. Whether your situation qualifies is a question for an attorney or the DMV, not for us.
Why do I need a thumbprint for a vehicle power of attorney?
California requires a notary's journal to include the signer's right thumbprint for powers of attorney and for documents affecting real property. It is a statutory anti-fraud requirement and applies to every notary in the state.
Next step
Tell us what you need
We will come back with a time and a firm price. If it is urgent, call or text (858) 888-8060.