LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 3Ch. 1Art. 4§ 4451 Certificate Of Ownership Contents

§ 4451 Certificate Of Ownership Contents

Vehicle Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 4451 Certificate Of Ownership Contents

Key Takeaways

  • •The ownership paper must have at least the same info that’s on the registration card
  • •It must let the owner tell the department when they sell or give away the item
  • •It must include a way for the new owner to apply to change the registration
  • •It must have a spot to write down the vehicle’s mileage

Example

You buy a used car from a neighbor

You fill out a form to let the department know the car changed hands, you fill out a transfer application to register the car in your name, and you write down the car’s mileage on the paper

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 4451 Certificate Of Ownership Contents

The certificate of ownership shall contain all of the following: (a) Not less than the information required upon the face of the registration card. (b) Provision for notice to the department of a transfer of the title or interest of the owner or legal owner. (c) Provision for application for transfer of registration by the transferee. (d) Provision for an odometer disclosure statement pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 32705 of Title 49 of the United States Code. (Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1035, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2001.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

certificate of ownershipregistration cardtransfer of the titleodometer disclosure statement

Related Statutes

  • § 4450 Vehicle Ownership Registration
  • § 4461 Disabled Parking Placard Use
  • § 4159 Vehicle Address Change Notification
  • § 4161 Engine Installation Notification Requirement
  • § 4452 Certificate Of Ownership Issuance

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 4451.
View Official Source