KARS4KIDS GUIDE TO TITLES  Car Donation Title Transfer in California

1. Leave the plates on the car
You can leave the plates on the vehicle.

Personalized Plates: If the license plate is a special interest or personalized license plate, you must decide if you want to keep the plate for use on another vehicle, or release your interest in the plate. Either way you need to complete a Special Interest License Plate Application or a Special License Plate Application indicating your retention or release of the special plate and give the form to the tower.

2. Fill out a Release of Liability
The donor is responsible for reporting the change of ownership to DMV within 5 days from the date of donation. After DMV updates the information from the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability, you will be cleared from future liability on the vehicle The form is attached to your title. Complete the portion attached at the top of the title called "Release of Liability". You can fill it in and mail it or deliver it to your local DMV.

Once you've filled out your release of liability there are 3 ways to submit it:

I. Online
Most donors find submitting their release of liability online easiest. Submit your Release of Liability online >

II. In Person
California DMV Office Locator >

III. Mail It:
Department of Motor vehicles
Notice of transfer and release of liability
PO Box 942859
Sacramento, CA 94259

3. Cancel your insurance
Cancel your insurance after you've submitted your release of liability.

Visit http://www.dmv.ca.gov/ for more information on your state car donation laws.

Yes, both owners will need to sign the title.

Yes. You can donate the car as long as someone has power of attorney for the titled owner.In CA, we will need an original proof of address.

You do not need a license to donate a car in CA

We can usually pick up a vehicle without a title in California. We just need the registered owner to sign some paperwork for us.

In the following counties, you’ll just need to provide proof of ownership. Just provide a proof of ownership (such as copy of registration or insurance card): Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba