Short answer: If the title is lost and the car is in your name, order a duplicate from your state before you sell. It costs $2 by mail in Texas, $20 in New York, $28 in California, $72 in Pennsylvania and $75.25 in Florida. If you cannot get a duplicate, or you need the car gone this week, read cash for cars with no title, which covers selling without one.
This page is only about replacing the title. For the sale itself, start with selling a car with no title.
Last checked: September 29, 2026. Forms, fees and waiting times are from dmv.ca.gov, txdmv.gov, flhsmv.gov, dmv.ny.gov and pa.gov. This article replaces a 2026 version.
What does a duplicate title cost in the five largest states?
| State | Form | Fee | Where to apply | Time the state gives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | REG 227 | $28 | DMV office or by mail | Titles usually arrive by mail within 15 to 30 days |
| Texas | VTR-34 | $2 by mail, $5.45 in person | TxDMV regional service center, or by mail to Wichita Falls | Not stated |
| Florida | HSMV 82101 | $75.25, plus $2.50 for a printed title | County tax collector office | Not stated. Fast title costs $10 more where offered |
| New York | MV-902 | $20 | Online, by mail or at a DMV office | Online orders placed before 8 PM are printed the next business day and mailed the day after |
| Pennsylvania | MV-38O | $72 | By mail to PennDOT | Not stated |
Florida's fees are from its published fee schedule, which prices electronic titles and adds $2.50 when a paper title is printed. Pennsylvania's fee is from PennDOT's title fee fact sheet dated July 2025. Fees change, so check the state page on the day you apply.
Texas calls its duplicate a certified copy of title. It replaces the original, and a yard will accept it the same way.
How do you apply?
Every state asks for the same core items: the form, the vehicle identification number, your photo ID and the fee. The details that trip people up differ by state.
In Texas, all recorded owners must sign Form VTR-34 and each must include a copy of a photo ID. The mail-in fee has to be a check, cashier's check or money order. There is also a 30-day waiting period after the last certified copy was issued.
In New York, the duplicate is always mailed. You will not be handed a title at a DMV office. You can apply online only if you are the owner, the vehicle is registered and titled in New York, the DMV has a current US address for you, and nothing else on the title is changing.
In Florida, the form goes to a county tax collector. If your address differs from the state's record, you must bring proof of the new one, such as a driver license or a utility receipt.
In Pennsylvania, no fee is charged when the original was lost in the mail and you apply within 90 days of its issue. Florida has a similar rule with a 180-day window.
In California, you can start a replacement request in the DMV's online Virtual Office with your license, the last five digits of the VIN and the plate number, or send REG 227 by mail.
A video about Form VTR-34 from the Browning's Reliable Cars and Trucks channel, a Texas dealer, published June 2021. Check the fee against the state page, since the video is older.
What if there is a lien on the title?
A lien is the most common reason a duplicate is refused. Look at your registration or old loan papers before you apply.
| State | What the state says about liens |
|---|---|
| California | If the vehicle has a legal owner or lienholder, section 5 of REG 227 must be notarized |
| Texas | The lienholder applies, or gives you an original release of lien. A fax or photocopy is not accepted |
| Florida | The title is mailed to the first lienholder unless the lienholder signs to send it to the owner |
| New York | A duplicate that removes a lien cannot be ordered online |
| Pennsylvania | Form MV-38O is for owners whose lien is satisfied. Lienholders use Form MV-38L |
A paid-off loan can still show on the record. Texas says so directly: a lien that has been paid may still be recorded, and then the original release is required. Ask the lender for the release letter first, because that step often takes longer than the duplicate itself. California keeps a list of lenders that have closed or merged, which helps when the bank no longer exists.
Is it worth waiting for the duplicate?
Usually, yes. With a title in hand you can sell to any yard, any online buyer or a private person, and you can compare offers. Without one, the list of buyers is short and the rules depend on the state. In Texas the whole cost is $2 and a stamp.
It may not be worth it when the car is worth little more than scrap and the fee is high, as in Florida or Pennsylvania, or when a lienholder cannot be found. Several states accept other papers for a car that is going to be scrapped. We list those in documents states accept in place of a title.
While you wait, price the car. The junk car value calculator gives an estimate, and you can request a cash offer so a number is ready when the title arrives.
For what happens after the sale in each state, see our notes for California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.
