What REG 260 Lets Someone Do for You
A buyer shows up with cash. Your title is in a drawer in California, and you are on a work contract two states away. Nobody can sign for you unless you put it in writing first.
That is the job of the DMV REG 260. You describe the vehicle, name the person you trust, and sign. From then on, that person, your attorney in fact, can complete the ownership transfer paperwork for you. The form hands over the right to sign and nothing more.
When a Power of Attorney Makes Sense
A power of attorney, or POA, is a written permission slip. We see this one used in the same few situations again and again. An owner serves overseas or works abroad. A parent is selling a car for a son at college. Someone is recovering from surgery and cannot stand in a DMV line. Dealers sign it too, which is why the form has a spot for a dealer number.
People who go looking for the CA DMV REG 260 usually fit one of those pictures. Your helper can be a friend, a relative, or a company. DMV’s manual says a business can fill the role as long as its name appears in the countersignature.
What This Form Cannot Do
This is where people get burned. DMV’s manual draws a few hard lines, and your helper cannot cross them, however much you trust them. A POA does not cover:
- Writing down or certifying the odometer reading
- Signing a sworn statement for you, such as a statement of facts (the one exception is disposing of an original title on a duplicate title application)
- Passing the same authority along to somebody else
- Acting for an executor or administrator
The odometer limit causes the most trouble in a sale. If the car needs a mileage statement, you sign that part yourself. Settle it with the buyer before you leave town.
Filling Out the POA Form
This California Power of Attorney form is one page with two identical halves. Fill in the top half and sign in black or blue ink. The bottom half is your record copy.
- Vehicle description. Copy the VIN, year, and make from the title, then add the plate number. Boats use the CF number, and motorcycles get an engine number too.
- Owner names. Print your name on the first “I” line. A second owner on the title goes on the second line. If you own the vehicle alone, leave it empty.
- Your helper. Print the full name of the person or company you appoint, exactly as it appears on their ID.
- Signatures. Sign, then add your city, state, ZIP code, the date, and your driver license, ID, or dealer number. A second owner signs in the block below.
Copy the VIN straight from the title or the dashboard plate. One wrong digit is enough for a clerk to send the paper back.
Signatures, Notaries, and Copies
The form wants every signature in ink. DMV will not take pencil, stamps, or typed names. By signing, you also swear under penalty of perjury that what you wrote is true.
You will not find a notary box on the page. DMV asks for your signature, address, date, and an ID number. A bank, buyer, or dealer may want more, but that rule comes from them and not from the form.
Cut along the dotted line and keep the bottom half. If a dispute comes up later, that copy shows exactly what you allowed. DMV’s manual says it accepts a photocopy or fax of a general POA like this one. It does not accept copies of the REG 262 transfer form, so keep the two apart.
Slip Ups That Send It Back
- Signing in pencil or with a stamp
- Leaving the VIN blank, or getting one digit wrong
- Printing a nickname instead of the helper’s legal name
- Signing for one owner when two names appear on the title
- Expecting the helper to certify the mileage
- Handing over the only copy
Quick Check Before You Hand It Over
- The VIN matches the title and the vehicle
- Every owner on the title has signed in ink
- You printed your helper’s full name clearly
- You know who will handle the odometer statement
- You kept the bottom copy
DMV changes its forms and rules from time to time. If your case is unusual, read the signature by power of attorney section in DMV’s own manual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a REG 260 Form need a notary?
Not by the form itself. It has no notary section, only your ink signature, address, date, and ID number. A buyer, bank, or dealer can set a stricter rule, so ask before you sign.
Can someone else sign my car title for me in California?
Yes, once you name them on this form. They can complete the transfer paperwork. The odometer statement is the exception, because DMV does not let an agent make it for you.
How is REG 260 different from the POA section on REG 262?
The REG 262 has a small POA section of its own. DMV says that section does not stop you from using a separate form. This one stands alone, and unlike the REG 262, a copy of it is acceptable.
Can a company be my attorney in fact?
Yes. DMV’s manual allows a business entity in that role. Its name goes in the countersignature.