8.010 Completing the Report of Sale-Used Vehicle (REG 51)/Digital Signature Acceptance Program (DSAP)

A licensed California dealer must complete the REG 51 for every retail sale.

• For most transactions, the REG 51 must be submitted with the required registration documents and fees.

• Transactions not requiring the submission with the documents and fees are covered later in this chapter.

A dealer is not required to complete a report of sale to:

• Register a used vehicle solely in the name of the dealership
• Sell midget autos or racers advertised as being built exclusively for use by children (minibikes, tote goats, and similar vehicles which are not intended for use on the highways).
• The vehicle description and purchaser information must be clearly and accurately shown on all parts of the REG 51.
  • Both the temporary identification and the notice to DMV must properly describe the vehicle.
  • The REG 51 must be used in numerical sequence.

The information on the REG 51 may be typewritten, computer-generated, or hand printed. If hand-printed, DMV prefers that only block upper case letters are used except for the following letters which should be handwritten in script or cursive to avoid confusion/error.

Follow the chart below to complete the REG 51.

Section	Information Required
Date Sold	The date the buyer paid the purchase price, signed a purchase contract or security agreement, and took possession or delivery of the vehicle. (VC §5901(d))
Make	The make of the vehicle, not the model.
Year Model	The year model shown on the titling document. If the titling document does not show a year model, leave this blank.
Body Type	The body type. If the body type shown on the title is incorrect, a correction must be made. See Chapter 30, Inquiries for body types.
Motive Power	The motive power (must be shown for all vehicles). The fuel types are: G-Gasoline D-Diesel E-Electric M-Methanol N-Natural Gas P-Propane Q-Hybrid For all trailers, use motive power code “0” (zero) Hybrid vehicles are powered by gas and electricity and are exempt from smog certification by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) until 12/31/2010.
Number of Axles	The number of axles shown on the title for a commercial motor vehicle or trailer only. Do not enter any information for trailer coach (CCH) or camp (CMP) trailers.
Unladen (empty) Weight	The unladen weight shown on the title for a commercial motor vehicle or trailer only. Do not enter any information for trailer coach (CCH) or camp (CMP) trailers.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	The complete VIN shown on the title.
M/C Engine Number	If the vehicle is a motorcycle, the complete engine number shown on the title.
Last Registered in State of	The state, province, territory, or country where the vehicle was last registered.
Year Registered	The year the vehicle was last registered.
License Plate Number	The license plate number for the last registration.
County of Residence	The buyer’s county of residence. This may differ from the county of the mailing address. For leased vehicles, show the county of the lessee’s address. For trailers coaches that will be located in a different county, show the county of the situs location.
Sold To	The true full name of each buyer (the name shown on the buyer’s driver license or ID card). Check the “AND” or “OR” box if there is more than one buyer/owner. Refer to section 1.050 for Registration to Co-Owners information. Leased Vehicles: The name of the lessor followed by the abbreviation “LSR” and the name(s) of the lessee followed by the abbreviation “LSE”. Do not join the names with “and” or “or”. Refer to Section 1.040 for Registration of Leased Vehicles information. Example: Jay Street Leasing, LSR John Doe, LSE See Chapter 1, General Registration Information for additional NAME information.
Driver License/Identification Card (DL/ID) Number	The DL/ID number for each buyer or lessee (if an individual). If a California DL/ID has not been issued, enter the person’s out-of-state DL/ID number and write the state of issuance in the upper right corner of the REG 51. A DL/ID number is not required for vehicles registered to an entity other than an individual, such as a company.
Buyer’s Address	The buyer’s residence or business address and mailing address (if different), including an apartment or space number if it is part of the address. When a post office box is the residence or business address, but is not the mailing address, then both addresses must be shown. The post office delivers mail to the second address. Mailing Address Only on Registration Documents-The buyer/registered owner may request that the registration and title documents issued DMV show only their mailing address. Refer to Chapter 1, General Registration Information for all address requirements.
Dealer Name, By, and Address	The dealer name, an authorized agent’s signature, and dealer’s full address. An authorized representative must countersign for the dealership (This may be any authorized person of the dealership, not necessarily the salesperson).
Dealer and Salesperson Numbers	The dealer’s license number and the salesperson’s number. If the vehicle was sold by an owner or officer of the dealership, enter the title, such as “Owner” or “CEO” as the Salesperson’s Number.
Signature(s) of Purchaser	The buyer’s usual signature or the buyer’s signature signed by the attorney-in-fact shown on a power of attorney must appear. Refer to Chapter 1, General Registration Information for power of attorney information. Only one co-owner signature is required on the REG 51. Leased Vehicles-The lessor is the registered owner and must endorse/sign the REG 51. The lessee’s signature is optional.
Odometer Reading	The actual odometer mileage reading.

Digital Signature Acceptance Program (DSAP)

(Government Code §16.5, Vehicle Code §§1801, 1801.1, and 23300)

DMV has established a DSAP for the acceptance of digital signatures. This allows First Line Service Providers (FLSPs) to submit approved documents electronically with digital signatures and authentication.

Although electronic and digital signatures are both used to sign documents, they are not legally the same and each has unique features.

An electronic signature:

• Refers to any signature that is applied electronically to a document as opposed to physically (also known as a “wet” signature).
• May be used to confirm information and content within a document.
• May include a digitized image of a handwritten signature or name typed into a signature block on a form or document. Examples:
  Jonathan Jones
  Jonathan Jones
  

A digital signature:

• Uses cryptography to bind a digital certification and date signed into a unique signature, with security features making it difficult to replicate or alter. This is accomplished using a trusted third party who is responsible for verifying and authenticating the signer’s identity according to standards set by the California Secretary of State and federal regulations, including Government Code §16.5.
• Has a format that may be in cursive or printed text. Examples:
  e-signed 08/28/2022 8:40 AM MI 123-4567 or
  Jonathan Jones e-signed 08/28/2022 8:40 AM MI 123-4567

A majority of DMV forms may be submitted with an electronic signature, with the following exceptions:

• Any original printed form that releases or transfers interest in a vehicle or vessel
  (for example, reports of sale must have physical “wet” signatures)
• The following original titling documents, which must be submitted to DMV to finalize the transactions (transactions may be initiated using a copy of the form):
  • California Certificate of Title (REG 17.30)
  • Certificate of Ownership Vessel (REG 17.31)
  • California Salvage Certificate (REG 489)
  • Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificate (REG 490)
  • Forms that are authorized to be reproduced electronically, including forms that transfer ownership such as the Vehicle/Vessel Transfer Reassignment Form (REG 262), may be signed electronically or digitally in the buyer’s and seller’s sections, but the power of attorney section must be digitally signed. Signature authority for odometer statements may be conveyed through power of attorney.
• Electronic forms with odometer disclosure statements must have digital signatures in accordance with federal regulation.
• Forms that require a Notary Public must be notarized in accordance with the following:
  • Notarizations may be done electronically, however, the notary’s signature must be a digitized version of their genuine signature. A signature is one that is not keyed or produced from an available computer font but is in the likeness of the signatory’s actual signature such as a digitized impression. The signatures of the signers witnessed by the notary can be electronic or digital. Examples of forms requiring notarized signatures include:
    • Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227), Section 5.
    • Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Released (REG 166).
    • Registered Owner Notarized Certification (REG 5065).

The forms listed below may be submitted electronically using a digital signature. Physical reproductions of digitally signed forms are acceptable for processing. All forms with digital signatures must also be submitted through an FLSP participating in the DSAP, which documents the required digital signature certification.

• Bill of Sale (REG 135)
• Unobtainable Title Certification for Issuance of Salvage/Nonrepairable Certificate (REG 492)
• Vehicle/Vessel Transfer Reassignment Form (REG 262)
• Additionally, the following Report of Sale forms may be submitted by FLSPs with digital signatures through the Electronic Report of Sale/Temporary License Plate (eROS/TLP) Programs:
  • Application for Registration of Multiple New Vehicles (REG 397A). The digital signature is required at the bottom of page 1, beneath the list of vehicles.
  • Application for Registration of New Vehicle (REG 397)
  • Report of Sale – Used Vehicle (REG 51)
  • Vehicle Auction Wholesale Report of Sale (REG 398)
  • Wholesale Report of Sale (REG 396)