Oregon Duplicate Title

If your Oregon vehicle title was lost in a move, damaged in a flood, or never received from a lienholder after payoff, ODOT can issue a duplicate. The process is straightforward — a sworn application, a small fee, and 2-3 weeks of mail processing — but the duplicate is required before any sale or title transfer can move forward.

Who can apply

Only the registered owner of record (or all owners listed on the title for a joint registration) can request an Oregon duplicate title. If the registered owner has died, the executor, personal representative, or surviving spouse can apply with appropriate probate or small-estate documentation. Lienholders can also request a duplicate while a security interest is active.

Application steps

To apply for a duplicate Oregon title:

• Complete form 735-515, Application for Replacement Title.
• If a lienholder is listed on the original title, the lienholder must complete the appropriate section or send a separate written authorization.
• If the owner of record has died, attach a certified death certificate plus probate or small-estate paperwork.
• Provide a valid Oregon driver's license or ID card.
• Pay the duplicate-title fee — currently $77 for most passenger vehicles.
• Mail the application to ODOT in Salem, or submit it in person at any Oregon DMV office.

Processing time

Mailed applications typically take 2-3 weeks for the new title to arrive at the registered owner's address on file with ODOT. In-person submissions take the same processing time — Oregon does not offer a same-day rush option. If the title hasn't arrived after 4 weeks, you can call ODOT to verify the application is in process and confirm the mailing address. The duplicate is mailed only to the address on file; you cannot redirect it without first updating the address using the address-change procedure.

Active liens

If the original Oregon title was held by a lienholder (most common when the vehicle is financed), the duplicate request goes to the lienholder, not the owner. After the loan is paid off, the lienholder typically:

• Receives the title from ODOT or already holds it.
• Signs a lien release on the back of the title.
• Mails the title to the owner within 10-30 days of payoff.

If the lienholder cannot locate the title and the loan has been satisfied, the lender files a duplicate request with a notarized lien release. The title is then issued in the owner's name without the lien. Owners who suspect a paid-off lien hasn't been cleared from their record can pull a current driving record and registration look-up to verify status.

Damaged title

If the existing title is torn, water-damaged, or otherwise unusable but you still have the document, surrender it with the duplicate application. ODOT will issue a replacement marked "REPLACEMENT" and mail it to the owner of record. There is no extra fee for a damaged-title surrender; the standard duplicate fee applies.

Buyer protection

Oregon will not transfer ownership of a vehicle to a new buyer without the original title or a duplicate issued by ODOT. A bill of sale alone is not enough. If you're buying a used vehicle and the seller cannot produce the title, ask the seller to apply for a duplicate before completing the sale. Wiring funds against a "title coming in the mail" promise is a common source of fraud — Oregon's mailed duplicate goes only to the owner of record, so there's no shortcut for a buyer.

Out-of-state owners

Oregonians who have moved out of state with an Oregon-titled vehicle can still request a duplicate through ODOT, but the new state of residence will normally require its own title before registration there. Most drivers in this situation apply for the Oregon duplicate, then surrender the new Oregon title at their new state's DMV in exchange for a fresh title. Both states' fees apply.

For broader context on what an Oregon title actually contains and how it differs from a registration card, see the national title transfer guide.