ARTICLE 2. Original Identification [38040. - 38060.]

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH 2.

in effect

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 38040. Section 38040.

Application for the original identification of a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, required to be identified pursuant to this division shall be made by the owner to the department upon the appropriate form furnished by it and shall contain all of the following: (a) The true, full name, business or residence and mailing address, and the driver’s license or identification card number, if any, of the owner and the legal owner, if any. (b) The name of the county in which the owner resides. (c) A description of the vehicle, including the following, insofar as it may exist: (1) The make, model, and type of body. (2) The vehicle identification number or any other number as may be required by the department. (d) Information as may reasonably be required by the department to enable it to determine whether the vehicle is lawfully entitled to identification.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 38041. Section 38041.

Application for the original identification of a motorcycle shall be made by the owner to the department upon the appropriate form furnished by it, and shall contain: (a) The true, full name, business or residence and mailing address, and the driver’s license or identification card number, if any, of the owner and the legal owner, if any. (b) The name of the county in which the owner resides. (c) A description of the motorcycle including the following data insofar as it may exist: (1) The make and type of body. (2) The motor and frame numbers recorded exactly as stamped on the engine and frame, respectively, by the manufacturer, and any other identifying number of the motorcycle as may be required by the department. (3) The date first sold by a manufacturer or dealer to a consumer. (d) Such information as may reasonably be required by the department to enable it to determine whether the vehicle is lawfully entitled to identification. (e) The department shall maintain a cross-index file of motor and frame numbers identified with it. The application shall be accompanied by a tracing, tape lift, or photograph of the motor or frame numbers, or where the facsimile of the motor or frame numbers cannot be obtained, a verification of the numbers shall be required.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 38045. Section 38045.

Ownership of title to an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification under this division may be held by two (or more) coowners as provided in Section 682 of the Civil Code, except that: (a) A vehicle may be identified in the names of two (or more) persons as coowners in the alternative by the use of the word “or.” A vehicle so identified in the alternative shall be deemed to be held in joint tenancy. Each coowner shall be deemed to have granted to the other coowners the absolute right to dispose of the title and interest in the vehicle. Upon the death of a coowner, the interest of the decedent shall pass to the survivor as though title or interest in the vehicle was held in joint tenancy, unless a contrary intention is set forth in writing upon the application for identification. (b) A vehicle may be identified in the names of two (or more) persons as coowners in the alternative by the use of the word “or” and if declared in writing upon the application for identification by the applicants to be community property, or tenancy in common, shall grant to each coowner the absolute power to transfer the title or interest of the other coowners only during the lifetime of such coowners. (c) A vehicle may be identified in the names of two (or more) persons as coowners in the conjunctive by the use of the word “and” and shall thereafter require the signature of each coowner or his personal representative to transfer title to the vehicle, except where title to the vehicle is set forth in joint tenancy, the signature of each coowner or his personal representative shall be required only during the lifetime of the coowners, and upon death of a coowner title shall pass to the surviving coowner. (d) The department may adopt suitable abbreviations to appear upon the certificate of identification and certificate of ownership to designate the manner in which title to the vehicle is held if set forth by the coowners upon the application for identification.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 38050. Section 38050.

In the absence of the regularly required supporting evidence of ownership upon application for identification or transfer of a vehicle, the department may accept an undertaking or bond which shall be conditioned to protect the department and all officers and employees thereof and any subsequent purchaser of the vehicle, any person acquiring a lien or security interest thereon, or the successor in interest of such purchaser or person against any loss or damage on account of any defect in or undisclosed claim upon the right, title, and interest of the applicant or other person in and to the vehicle.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 38055. Section 38055.

In the event the vehicle is no longer identified in this state and the currently valid certificate of ownership is surrendered to the department, the bond or undertaking shall be returned and surrendered at the end of three years or prior thereto.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 38060. Section 38060.

(a) Whenever any person, after making application for identification of an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification, or after the identification either as owner or legal owner, moves or acquires a new address different from the address shown in the application or upon the certificate of ownership or identification certificate, that person shall, within 10 days thereafter, notify the department of his or her old and new addresses. (b) Any owner having notified the department as required in subdivision (a), shall immediately mark out the former on the face of the certificate and write with pen and ink or type the new on the face of the certificate immediately below the former address and initial the entry.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026