Need help getting duplicate title from NJDMV while living in California - any advice?
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle. I moved from New Jersey to California and I need to get a duplicate title for my car. The original is lost and I have no way to get it. I'm trying to contact the NJDMV Special Titles Section but I'm not sure about the application process or how to expedite the delivery. Has anyone gone through this before? Any tips or advice would be really appreciated!
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Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve out-of-state duplicate car title, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z0K1JuPdko
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Carmen Ruiz
Ugh, dealing with the DMV across state lines is THE WORST. I feel for you, OP. Have you tried calling their office directly? Sometimes talking to a real person can help sort things out faster.
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Yuki Sato
•Yeah, I've been trying to get through on the phone but no luck so far. It's like they never pick up! 😫
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Andre Lefebvre
•Pro tip: call right when they open. You might have a better chance of getting through before the lines get jammed.
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Yuki Sato
•Thanks for the tip! I'll give that a shot tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed 🤞
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Zoe Alexopoulos
I went thru this last year when I moved to Florida. Here's what you need to do: 1. Download the duplicate title application from the NJDMV website 2. Fill it out completely - don't leave anything blank! 3. Get it notarized (important!) 4. Include a copy of your driver's license 5. Send a check or money order for the fee (I think it was like $60?) 6. Mail everything to the address on the form 7. Wait... and wait some more It took about 6 weeks for me to get the new title. Good luck!
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Yuki Sato
•Wow, thank you so much for the detailed breakdown! This is super helpful. Did you have any luck expediting the process?
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Honestly, I didn't even try to expedite. From what I heard, it doesn't make much difference. The DMV moves at its own pace 🐌
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Jamal Anderson
•Can confirm, expediting is basically useless. Save your money, OP.
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Mei Wong
lol good luck dealing with NJ from cali. took me 3 months to get my title sorted when i moved. the dmv is living in the stone age i swear
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QuantumQuasar
Have you considered using a third-party service? There are companies that specialize in dealing with DMV paperwork across state lines. Might cost a bit more, but could save you a ton of headache.
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Yuki Sato
•I hadn't thought of that! Do you have any recommendations for reputable services?
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QuantumQuasar
•I don't have personal experience, but I've heard good things about DMV.org and TitleTec. Maybe worth checking out?
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Liam McGuire
•Be careful with those services tho. Some of them are scammy af. Make sure to read reviews and check their BBB rating before handing over any $$
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Amara Eze
Guys, I found a method to actually get someone on the phone at the DMV. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's the link: https://www.claimyr.com
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Giovanni Greco
•Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•20 bucks to skip the hold time? Idk man, seems kinda steep...
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Amara Eze
•I get the skepticism, but for me it was worth every penny. Saved me hours of frustration and got my issue resolved in one call.
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Dylan Wright
•Just tried it. Can confirm it works! 🙌 Totally worth it if you're in a time crunch.
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Sofia Torres
Have you checked if NJ has an online portal for requesting duplicate titles? Some states are finally dragging themselves into the 21st century 🙄
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Yuki Sato
•I looked into it, but unfortunately they require NJ residency for the online service. Being in Cali now means I'm stuck with the old-school method 😩
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GalacticGuardian
OP, whatever you do, DONT LOSE THE PAPERWORK they send you. Make copies of EVERYTHING. The DMV loves to 'misplace' stuff and make you start over. Ask me how I know... 🙃
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QuantumQuasar
Just went through this exact situation last month when I moved to Texas! Here's what worked for me: I sent everything via certified mail with return receipt requested - cost a bit extra but gave me peace of mind knowing they received it. Also, make sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope for faster return shipping. One thing that helped speed things up was including a brief cover letter explaining my situation (moved out of state, need duplicate for registration transfer). The whole process took about 5 weeks total. Hang in there, it's frustrating but you'll get through it!
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Caden Turner
•This is such great advice! The certified mail tip is brilliant - I never would have thought of that. Did you end up having to deal with any issues when transferring your registration in Texas, or was it pretty smooth once you had the duplicate title?
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StarSurfer
Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this nightmare about 8 months ago when I relocated to Arizona. The biggest thing that helped me was being super organized with my paperwork - I created a tracking spreadsheet with dates, reference numbers, and copies of everything. Also, if you have any old registration documents or insurance papers that show the VIN, include copies of those too. It seems to help verify ownership when the title is missing. One more tip: if you have a loan on the car, make sure to contact your lender first because they might actually hold the title and can help facilitate the duplicate process. The whole thing took me about 7 weeks, but having everything documented made it much less stressful when I had to follow up. Good luck, OP - you've got this! 💪
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Kelsey Hawkins
•This is incredibly thorough advice! The spreadsheet tracking idea is genius - I'm definitely going to set that up. Quick question though - when you mentioned contacting the lender first, how did that process work? Did they send the duplicate directly to you or did you still have to go through the NJ DMV? I have a loan through Wells Fargo so I'm wondering if that might be a faster route than dealing with the DMV bureaucracy.
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QuantumQuasar
I actually just went through this exact same situation 6 months ago when I moved from NJ to Oregon! One thing that really helped me was calling the NJMVC (they changed their name from DMV) Special Title Section early in the morning around 8:15 AM - right after they open. The key is persistence though, I had to call multiple days before getting through. Also, when you mail your application, I highly recommend using USPS Priority Mail Express with tracking - it's more expensive but gives you a tracking number and faster processing. Make sure your notarization is fresh (within 30 days) because they're picky about that. The whole process took me about 4-5 weeks total, but having all the right paperwork upfront saved me from any back-and-forth delays. You can also check the status by calling their automated line at 609-292-6500. Hang in there - it's frustrating but totally doable! 🚗
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KhalilStar
•Thanks for sharing your experience! The timing tip about calling at 8:15 AM is super helpful - I've been trying random times throughout the day with no luck. Quick question: when you used Priority Mail Express, did you also include a prepaid return envelope for them to send the title back, or did they use their own shipping method? I want to make sure I'm not missing any steps that could slow down the return process.
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