What Is REG 156 Used For?
REG 156 is the DMV form you use to request a replacement when something gets lost, stolen, or never arrives. It doesn’t transfer a title. It doesn’t change your registration. It only gets one item reissued.
You can use it to replace:
- License plates, including disabled person, disabled veteran, exempt, foreign organization, off-highway vehicle, and two-dolly plate types
- Registration cards
- Year and month stickers
- Vessel year stickers and certificates of number
- Disabled Person Placards and ID cards
- Planned Non-Operation (PNO) cards
- CVRA weight decals and year stickers
- Trailer or OHV ID cards
When Do You Need This Form
Check DMV’s online replacement tool first. If you have a standard license plate and want the same numbers back, the online tool is faster. It also covers stickers and registration cards.
Use this form instead if:
- You have a special plate type, like disabled person, disabled veteran, exempt, foreign organization, off-highway vehicle, or two-dolly
- You’d rather apply by mail or in person
Lost or Stolen Plates
Lost and stolen plates are the two most common reasons people use REG 156 Form. If your plate is lost, check that box in Section 3. You don’t need anything extra.
If your plate is stolen, report it to the police first. DMV may ask for the report number, so keep it on hand. If both plates were stolen, you also need to notify law enforcement right away.
A few other reasons appear on the form too. Use “Destroyed or Mutilated” if the plate is damaged, and send in what’s left of it. Use “Not Received from DMV” if it never arrived, but wait 30 days from the issue date first. Use “Surrendered” if you already returned the plates and need new ones.
How to Fill Out DMV REG 156 Form
Before you start, have this ready:
- Your license plate or CF number, and the vehicle’s make and VIN or hull ID number
- Your driver license or ID number
- A police report number, if the item was stolen
Section 1: Registered Owner
Print your name exactly as it appears on your registration. Add your driver license or ID number. If there’s a co-owner, add their name too. Only one owner needs to sign the form.
Section 2: What You’re Requesting
Check a box for each item you need replaced. You can request more than one item at a time, like a plate and a registration card. Each item has its own fee.
Section 3: Why It’s Missing
Check the box that matches your situation. See the lost and stolen section above for the two most common ones.
Section 4: License Plate
Only fill this in if your address doesn’t match DMV’s records and the plate is stolen or missing. In that case, you can’t apply by mail. Go to a DMV office in person with your ID and proof of ownership, such as your title or registration card.
If DMV already issued you a duplicate plate in the last 90 days, bring a CHP vehicle verification too.
Section 5: Certification
Confirm your mailing address is correct. Sign under penalty of perjury that everything on the Pdf form is true. Print your name, add a phone number, and date it.
Replacement vs. Substitute Plates
These two words mean different things on this form.
- A substitute plate is a new plate with new numbers. This is what you get for a standard plate that’s lost or stolen.
- A replacement plate keeps your original numbers. This applies to special plate types, like disabled person or exempt plates, where the number itself matters.
Can Someone Sign This for You?
Yes, in most cases. If you have a REG 260 Power of Attorney for the vehicle, your agent can sign it for you. Attach a copy of the REG 260 to the application.
There’s one exception. If your address doesn’t match DMV’s records and the plate is stolen or missing, you have to go in person yourself. Your agent can’t do that step for you.
Fees and How Long It Takes
Each item you request has its own fee. If you’re replacing a plate and a registration card, that’s two fees, not one.
Fees have generally been in the $20s per item, but DMV updates its fee schedule. Check the current amount on DMV’s fee page, or call 1-800-777-0133 before you send payment.
Mailed applications usually take a few weeks. If you need something faster, ask a field office about a temporary operating permit while you wait.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Mailing the form when your address doesn’t match DMV’s records and the plate is stolen or missing
- Reapplying before the 30-day wait is up for something DMV says it already mailed
- Forgetting to send in what’s left of a destroyed plate
- Skipping the police report for a stolen plate
- Assuming one fee covers every item you request
- Using this form to update your address, it doesn’t do that
Where to Send It
Mail the form to DMV, P.O. Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269-0001. Or drop it off at any DMV field office.
If your situation requires an in-person visit, mailing it in won’t work. Bring the form and your documents to a field office instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fee for form REG 156?
Each item has its own fee. Plates, a registration card, and stickers are billed separately, not as one combined charge. Fees have generally been in the $20s per item, so check DMV’s current fee page for the exact amount.
Can power of attorney sign REG 156?
Yes, in most cases, if you attach a valid REG 260 Power of Attorney. The one exception is when the plate is stolen or missing and your address doesn’t match DMV’s records. That requires the registered owner to appear in person.
I mailed REG 156 with payment but never received my plates. What do I do?
Wait a few weeks first, mail takes time. If it’s been longer, call DMV at 1-800-777-0133 to check your application status before you apply again. A second request can slow things down further.
Can I replace just one lost license plate instead of both?
Yes. If only one plate is missing, check that box and surrender the other plate to DMV. If both are missing, you also need to notify the police.
Do I need a police report to replace a stolen license plate?
Report it to the police first. DMV may ask for the report number when you check the “Stolen” box in Section 3.