REG 156: California Replacement Plates, Stickers & Documents

If your California license plates, registration stickers, registration card, disabled person placard, or a handful of other DMV-issued items were lost, stolen, or destroyed, REG 156 — the Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents — is the form that gets you a replacement.

What is REG 156?

REG 156 is DMV's general-purpose replacement form, authorized under California Vehicle Code §§ 4457, 4458, and 4466. It covers:

• License plates and registration stickers
• Registration cards
• Disabled person placards and identification cards
• CVRA weight decals and year stickers
• Vessel certificates of number and stickers

It's not for everything, though: a lost or damaged title goes through REG 227 instead, and replacement Clean Air Vehicle stickers go through REG 1000.

Download the form

You can download REG 156 (PDF) and fill it out before mailing it in or bringing it to a DMV office.

Who has to sign it

The registered owner (RO) has to complete and sign the REG 156 before DMV issues any replacement. A dealer, registration service, or other agent can submit it on the RO's behalf, but if the name or address on the application doesn't match DMV's records, a separate Registered Owner Notarized Certification (REG 5065) has to be included too.

One thing DMV is strict about: it doesn't process telephone requests for replacement or substitute license plates. The form has to be submitted by mail or in person.

What you'll need

• Your name, address, and driver's license or ID number
• The vehicle's license plate number and VIN (or vessel's CF number and hull ID)
• Which item(s) you're replacing, checked off in Section 2 of the form
• If your plate was stolen and your address doesn't match DMV's records: proof of ownership, your driver's license or ID, and a copy of the police report

If you're missing one plate on a vehicle that normally carries two (most cars, two-plate commercial vehicles, and pickups), you'll need to surrender the remaining plate — DMV issues a new matched pair rather than a single replacement.

How to file

Mail your completed REG 156, along with the applicable fee, to DMV, PO Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269-0001. You can also submit it in person at a DMV office — making an appointment first, either online or by calling 1-800-777-0133, will save you time. There's a fee to replace most items; check dmv.ca.gov for the current amount rather than a number you saw elsewhere, since it can change.

Skip the DMV trip — USACarTags can help you get your replacement plate, sticker, or registration document sorted out online.