Replacing Lost or Stolen Plates, Stickers and Registration Cards in California in 2026

Replacement plates: the applications

Plates and stickers that are lost, stolen, damaged or illegible in any way must be replaced immediately, per the DMV's replacement plates and stickers page. The application depends on the plate: standard plates can be replaced online; the Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents (REG 156) covers disabled person and disabled veteran, exempt, foreign organization, off-highway vehicle and tow dolly plates; the Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17) covers special interest plates; the Special Recognition License Plate Application (REG 17A) covers special recognition plates; the Application for Special Equipment Identification Plate (REG 88) covers special equipment plates; and the Motorized Bicycle Instructions/Application (REG 230) covers moped plates. A police report comes with the application when the plates were stolen, any remaining plates must be surrendered, and the fees apply. Lost or stolen plates are replaced with substitute plates carrying a new configuration; special plates that are still in hand can be replaced with the same configuration, with the rules on the plates guide.

Online, in person or by mail

Online. The DMV's online replacement plate request is for standard and non-personalized special plates. It needs the plate number, the last three digits of the VIN and the registered owner on record, a check of the vehicle's eligibility, and payment from a bank account or a card; the online page lists the replacement fee at $27 for regular auto, commercial and motorcycle plates and a 2.3 percent card service fee, while the DMV's fee schedule lists replacement plates at $28 and a 1.95 percent card fee online, so both figures are given. Sequential special interest replacements through the same service: $35 for Breast Cancer Awareness, California 1960s Legacy, California Agriculture, Memorial, Museums, Collegiate, Lake Tahoe, Pet Lovers, Whale Tail and Yosemite plates, $22 for Arts Council, $20 for Kids. The address cannot be changed on the form. Not eligible online: all personalized plates, disabled person plates, motorcycles with sequential special plates other than Legacy, sequential Collegiate and Veterans plates, a vehicle with two stolen plates or a motorcycle with a stolen plate, vessels, off-highway vehicles, special equipment and farm equipment, a registration due within 30 days, an expired or suspended registration, planned nonoperation, junked, salvage certificate and nonrepairable vehicles, titles surrendered to another state, open collections actions, an active release of liability on the record, holds for processing, titling, citations or theft, Permanent Fleet Registration, International Registration Plan and Partial Year Registration vehicles, and all trailers including Permanent Trailer Identification; those use the REG 156 or REG 17 by mail or at an office.

In person. At a DMV office: the completed application; a valid California driver's license or ID card, or an out-of-state or foreign one together with a passport, military ID, a state or U.S. government ID card, a college or university student ID or a California employer's ID card; proof of vehicle ownership (a copy of the title or registration card) when your address differs from the DMV's record; a police report for stolen plates; a Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) completed by the California Highway Patrol if replacement plates were already issued within the last 90 days; the remaining plates, surrendered; and the duplicate or substitute plate fee. By mail. Only the registered owner at the same address as the DMV record, with the application, the surrendered plates and the fee, to the address on the form or to the Department of Motor Vehicles, PO Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269-0001.

Stickers and the registration card

A lost, stolen, damaged or illegible year sticker on a currently registered vehicle must be replaced, with a substitute sticker fee, online through the DMV's replacement sticker or registration card service or with the REG 156 by mail or at an office; a replacement month sticker is free from a local office or by calling 1-800-777-0133, if eligible. The online service needs the plate number, the registration information, the last five digits of the VIN and payment, and the same ineligible list as the plates (vessels, off-highway vehicles, special equipment, registrations due within 30 days, expired, suspended or PNO registrations, junked and salvage vehicles, holds, fleet and IRP registrations and PTI trailers). A sticker order includes a new registration card, mailed within 14 days to the registered owner's address on record; a person with no California license or ID enters NONE in that field; the address cannot be changed in the order, so the DMV says to use its online change of address first and confirm it has processed; an order not received after two weeks goes to customer service; and an original sticker that turns up after the order must be destroyed. A registration card alone is replaced online, at a DMV kiosk with the plate number and the last five digits of the VIN, or on the REG 156 with the fee, by mail to Registration Operations, PO Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269-0001, or at an office, per the DMV's registration card replacement page. The fee schedule lists $28 for a replacement registration card and $28 for a sticker; replacements are not issued to a vehicle whose registration has expired, and are ordered with the renewal instead.

Checking a renewal's status

The DMV's vehicle registration status service shows the status of a renewal with the plate number and one of the last five digits of the VIN or hull identification number, the registered owner's last name, or the company or lessor's name, all of which are on the registration card. The DMV says a person who already submitted a renewal payment must not stop payment or pay again, since that can delay the renewal. The registration renewal guide covers the renewal itself.

Driving while plates or stickers are outstanding: temporary permits

A Temporary Operating Permit may be issued when all registration fees have been paid but plates or stickers have not been issued, per the DMV's temporary operating permits page; use tax need not usually be paid to get one if every other fee is. The DMV's fee schedule lists the permit at $50. The kinds the DMV lists: a biennial smog certification TOP for a vehicle that failed its biennial smog inspection, with the renewal fees, the failed inspection report, proof of insurance and the $50 nonrefundable fee, valid 60 days from the registration expiration date or the date the vehicle came off planned nonoperation, once per vehicle in two years, with the fee waived for a Bureau of Automotive Repair letter of eligibility for the Consumer Assistance Program; a one-time 30-day TOP on an incomplete application for a nonresident vehicle, an impounded vehicle with all fees paid, a vehicle referred to the CHP for VIN inspection or assignment, a vehicle having trouble passing an original or transfer smog inspection with a BAR referee appointment card or proof of parts on order, a vehicle whose federal heavy vehicle use tax expires on a date other than July 31, or when the office manager finds it appropriate; a one-time 60-day TOP for a vehicle that failed an original or transfer smog inspection with all fees paid, a commercial vehicle having trouble filing the heavy vehicle use tax with a July 31 expiration, a salvage retention vehicle being revived with fees paid and brake and light certificates filed, or a mailed application for sequential special plates issued by headquarters; and a one-time 90-day TOP while headquarters issues plates and stickers or assigned personalized plates. No TOP is issued to a vehicle that needs a Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection certificate, and the DMV's affidavit of non-use page says none is issued to a vehicle with a suspended registration.

A one-day vehicle moving permit is free, for moving a vehicle on planned nonoperation between storage places, to or from a repair shop, for dismantling, for inspection by the DMV or the CHP, for VIN assignment or verification, for a smog device inspection, for weighing, for a VSSI certificate, for an incomplete vehicle under construction, for dealer and manufacturer moves, or from an impound yard; the moving date must be within 60 days of issue and entered and endorsed by a DMV, CHP, Auto Club or Business Partner agent. A one trip permit, $28 on the fee schedule, substitutes for registration under Vehicle Code section 4003 for one continuous unladen trip into, out of or within California by the most direct route, or for a parade or exhibition round trip of up to 100 miles within 60 days; it also lets a nonresident move a newly purchased trailer coach into California and a member of the armed forces move an unregistered trailer coach, but cannot move a crane or a trailer coach owned by a California resident. The PNO guide explains the moving permit for a stored vehicle.

Questions about replacing California plates, stickers and cards

What does a replacement plate, sticker or registration card cost?

The DMV's registration fee schedule lists $28 each for replacement plates, a registration card and a sticker; its online replacement plate page lists $27 for a regular auto, commercial or motorcycle plate and $20 to $35 for sequential special interest plates. Both DMV figures are given here because the DMV gives both.

My plates were stolen. Do I get the same number back?

No. The DMV says lost or stolen plates are replaced with substitute plates carrying a new configuration; a police report is part of the application.

Can I replace a sticker if my registration has expired?

No. The DMV says replacement plates and stickers are not issued to a vehicle that is not currently registered; the replacement is ordered when the registration is renewed.

My new sticker never arrived. Can I drive?

Yes. The DMV says you may legally operate the vehicle until the new stickers and registration arrive, under Vehicle Code section 4606, and that law enforcement allows a grace period for mailed items; after eight weeks, call 1-800-777-0133, and if the originals were mailed and never received, a REG 156 gets replacements at no charge.

Does a replacement sticker order include a new card?

Yes. The DMV says a replacement sticker order includes a new registration card, mailed within 14 days to the registered owner's address on record.

How do I check whether my renewal went through?

With the DMV's vehicle registration status service, using the plate number and either the last five digits of the VIN or hull number, the registered owner's last name, or the company name. The DMV says not to stop payment or pay again while a renewal is processing.