20250AB__271998AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-20 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-16 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Petrie-Norris

An act to add

Section 610.5 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. vehicles Vehicles: certificates of title. Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a certificate of ownership to the legal owner of a vehicle upon registering the vehicle. Existing law requires the Director of Motor Vehicles to develop an Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) Program to require that all lienholders’ title information be held in an electronic format, if the department determines that the program is cost effective compared to the current paper title and registration system.

This bill would define “title,” “certificate of title,” and “certificate of ownership” for purposes of the Vehicle Code as an official record, whether in paper or electronic form, establishing and providing proof of legal ownership of a vehicle. Existing law authorizes or more coowners of a vehicle subject to registration to hold the title of ownership as joint interest, partnership interests, interests in common, or community interest of spouses, except as specified.

Existing law authorizes the title to be transferred to or more coowners, as specified.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.</xhtml:p>"?> MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 610.5 is added to the Vehicle Code , to read: 610.5. “Title,” “certificate of title,” or “certificate of ownership” means an official record, whether in paper or electronic form, establishing and providing proof of legal ownership of a vehicle. <caml:Num>SECTION 1.</caml:Num><caml:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" xlink:href="urn:caml:codes:VEH:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'3.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'ARTICLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'5600.5.'%5D)" xlink:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" xlink:type="locator">Section 5600.5 of the <caml:DocName>Vehicle Code</caml:DocName> is amended to read:</caml:ActionLine><caml:Fragment><caml:LawSection id="id_1B91AE0D-5CEB-43C5-ADE1-6E69E25C3D12"><caml:Num>5600.5.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_BF68C330-6D4C-4969-A561-BBB9466F7375"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>Ownership of title to a vehicle subject to registration may be transferred to two or more coowners as transferee to be held as provided in

Section of the Civil Code, except that:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A vehicle may be registered in the names of two or more persons as coowners in the alternative by the use of the word “or.” A vehicle so registered in the alternative shall be deemed to be held in joint tenancy. Each coowner shall be deemed to have granted to the other coowners the absolute right to dispose of the title and interest in the vehicle.

Upon the death of a coowner the interest of the decedent shall pass to the survivor as though title or interest in the vehicle was held in joint tenancy unless a contrary intention is set forth in writing upon the request for transfer of registration.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A vehicle may be registered in the names of two or more persons as coowners in the alternative by the use of the word “or” and if declared in writing upon the application for a transfer of registration by the applicants to be community property, or tenancy in common, shall grant to each coowner the absolute power to transfer the title or interest of the other coowners only during the lifetime of such coowners.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A vehicle may be registered in the names of two or more persons as coowners in the conjunctive by the use of the word “and” and shall thereafter require the signature of each coowner or their personal representative to transfer title to the vehicle, except where title to the vehicle is set forth in joint tenancy, the signature of each coowner or their personal representative shall be required only during the lifetime of the coowners, and upon death of a coowner title shall pass to the surviving coowner.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(d)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The department may adopt suitable abbreviations to appear upon the certificate of registration and certificate of ownership to designate the manner in which the interest in or title to the vehicle is held if set forth by the coowners upon the application for transfer of registration.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection></caml:Fragment></caml:BillSection>"?>