Lost Car Title: How to Get a Replacement

How to replace a lost or damaged car title in your name, what it costs in several states, and what to do when there is a loan.

If the title was in your name

Apply for a duplicate or certified copy from your state. It is the cheapest route and needs no bond.

Replacement title fees

State	Form	Fee
Texas	VTR-34	$2 by mail, $5.45 in person
California	Replacement title	$28
Kentucky	Duplicate title	$6 plus notary
Florida	HSMV 82101	See the FLHSMV fee chart
Virginia	VSA 67	See the DMV fee page

If there is a loan on the car

The lender may have to apply. Florida lets only the lienholder apply when a lien is on record, and Texas has the lienholder apply when a lien is recorded.

Before you sell

Get the duplicate first. Kentucky says that if you have lost your title, you must apply for a duplicate before any change of ownership.

Sources

Sources: TxDMV, Get a copy of your title; California DMV, Replacement title; Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Vehicle titling; Letcher County (KY) Clerk, Title information; FLHSMV, Duplicate title procedure TL-05. Retrieved Oct 30, 2026.

Rules and fees come from the official state pages and surety pages cited on each guide; anything we calculated is labeled as an estimate. Confirm with your DMV before you buy a bond. Run the calculator for your own range.