They handle these all day long at every field office of the DMV.

The form likely (as I recall) includes a "Statement of Facts" you have to fill out, and some DMV fee you need to pay, (Probably about $20-$50 - nothing like this comes free any more, I think).--

And, I'd be happy to go to the local DMV for the blank form you need, if you want. leaving town in the morni though, so PM me your mailing address and I will go get one and mail it to you.

If you never paid sales tax on the transaction, you might need to do that, and fill out a bill of sale, (may be more complex if their was a "phantom 2nd owner, as you tale seems to suggest, that vanished and can't sign the bill of sale or it was lost) and if you want up to date tags, you might have to catch up with fees and penalties on delinquent stickers, and possibly a California smog check in California if necessary.

Though, I don't know exactly how it works if both you and the car are outside of California at this point, your post (the OP) is not clear on that.

Should not be that hard if you are honest and the facts are straightforward, it is really about understanding the routes and structures here. The DMV employees are pleasant, knowledgeable and straightforward where I live in this rural CA. town; Very unlike the big DMV office on Fell Street in San Francisco, which is a zoo, and some of the DMV employees barely speak English and know virtually nothing. Entering it is like going into the forest of a living Kafka novel.

PM me if you'd like the forms sent to you.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)