Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) In addition to the requirements specified
in Sections
11515 and
11515.1(a)
of the Vehicle Code to obtain a salvage certificate for a total loss vehicle,
an Application for Salvage Certificate or Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificate,
form REG 488C (REV. 8/2008) shall be submitted to the department and shall
contain the following information entered in Section 1 on the form:
(1) The vehicle description, including the
vehicle license plate number, make, year, vehicle identification number, the
state of last known vehicle registration, and the date registration
expires.
(2) The insurance claim
number, if available.
(3) The
cost/value of the vehicle as determined either by the insurance company's
payoff or the purchase price from the previous owner.
(A) The cost/value shall not be required when
the application is for a duplicate salvage certificate.
(4) The date the vehicle was wrecked or
destroyed, when applicable.
(5) The
date the vehicle was stolen, when applicable.
(6) The date the vehicle was recovered, if
stolen.
(7) The applicant or
authorized agent shall sign and date the form in Section 1 to certify that the
described vehicle is a total loss salvage, that a properly endorsed certificate
of ownership document or documents is attached, and to request the department
issue a salvage certificate.
(A) If the
properly endorsed certificate of ownership or other appropriate evidence of
ownership document(s) cannot be secured, the following applies:
(i) Vehicles valued under five thousand
dollars ($5,000) shall require a Statement of Facts, form REG 256 (REV. 1/2007)
with Section G completed to explain why the title cannot be obtained and
Section H signed and dated to certify or declare under penalty of perjury that
the described vehicle identified in Section G is a total loss salvage and to
request that the department issue a salvage certificate.
(ii) Vehicles valued at five thousand dollars
($5,000) and above shall require a surety bond pursuant to Section
4157 of the
Vehicle Code. A surety bond is also required when settlement is made to the
legal owner of a vehicle without the release of the registered owner unless
repossession documentation is attached.
(iii) EXCEPTION: Following a total loss
settlement, an insurance company, an occupational licensee of the department
authorized by an insurance company or a salvage pool authorized by an insurance
company, that has completed the requirements of Section
11515 of the
Vehicle Code and completed the Unobtainable Title Certification for Issuance of
a Salvage or Nonrepairable Certificate, form REG 492 (REV 2/2009), which is
hereby incorporated by reference, shall submit the REG 492 form, along with the
REG 488C form to request that the department issue a salvage certificate
without a certificate of ownership or other appropriate evidence of ownership
document(s).
(8) The name of the insurance company or
applicant.
(9) The California
Driver License or Identification Card number, if the applicant is an individual
and not a business or an agent.
(10) The street address which shall include,
but not be limited to, the following: the street number and name, city, state
and zip code.
(A) The street address of the
insurance company or applicant depending on who is completing the REG 488C
form.
(11) If applicable,
the authorized agent's printed name and occupational license number when the
agent is licensed by the department.
(b) The License Plate Disposition
Certification, Section 3 on the REG 488C form, shall be completed with Section
1 that requests a salvage certificate and shall contain the following:
(1) An indication by the applicant or an
authorized agent that the license plates assigned to the vehicle are being
surrendered, have been lost, have been destroyed by an occupational licensee,
or are special plates retained by the owner.
(A) When the license plates are surrendered,
the applicant shall indicate the number of plates surrendered.
(B) When the license plates were destroyed by
an occupational licensee, the occupational license number shall be
indicated.
(c)
A statement signed and dated by the applicant or authorized agent that
certifies or declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of
California that the information provided on the application is true and
correct.
1. New
section filed 9-2-2004; operative 10-2-2004 (Register 2004, No.
36).
2. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed
12-15-2009; operative 1-14-2010 (Register 2009, No.
51).
Note: Authority cited: Section 10902, Revenue and
Taxation Code; and Section 1651, Vehicle Code. Reference: Sections 2015.5, Code
of Civil Procedure; Sections 9868, 11515 and 11515.1, Vehicle Code; and Section
10902, Revenue and Taxation Code.
