(a) The department shall not issue a duplicate or substitute certificate of title or license plate if, after a search of the records of the department, the registered ownerâs address, as submitted on the application, is different from that which appears in the records of the department, unless the registered owner applies in person and presents all of the following: (1) Proof of ownership of the vehicle that is acceptable to the department. Proof of ownership may be the certificate of title, registration certificate, or registration renewal notice, or a facsimile or photocopy of any of those documents, if the facsimile or photocopy matches the vehicle record of the department. (2) A driverâs license or identification card containing a picture of the licensee or cardholder issued to the registered owner by the department pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 12500) of Division 6. The department shall conduct a search of its records to verify the authenticity of any document submitted under this paragraph. (A) If the registered owner is a resident of another state or country, the registered owner shall present a driverâs license or identification card issued by that state or country. In addition, the registered owner shall provide photo documentation in the form of a valid passport, military identification card, identification card issued by a state or United States government agency, student identification card issued by a college or university, or identification card issued by a California-based employer. If a resident of another state is unable to present the required photo identification, the department shall verify the authenticity of the driverâs license or identification card by contacting the state that issued the driverâs license or identification card. (B) If the registered owner is not an individual, the person submitting the application shall submit the photo identification required pursuant to this paragraph, as well as documentation acceptable to the department that demonstrates that the person is employed by an officer of the registered owner. (3) If the application is for the purpose of replacing a license plate that was stolen, a copy of a police report identifying the plate as stolen. (4) If the application is for the purpose of replacing a certificate of title or license plate that was mutilated or destroyed, the remnants of the mutilated or destroyed document or plate. (5) If the department has a record of a prior issuance of a duplicate or substitute certificate of title or license plate for the vehicle within the past 90 days, a copy of a report from the Department of the California Highway Patrol verifying the vehicle identification number of the vehicle. (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply if any of the following applies: (1) The registered ownerâs name, address, and driverâs license or identification card number submitted on the application match the name, address, and driverâs license or identification card number contained in the departmentâs records. (2) An application for a duplicate or substitute certificate of title or license plate is submitted by or through one of the following: (A) A legal owner, if the legal owner is not the same person as the registered owner or as the lessee under Section 4453.5. (B) A dealer or an agent of the dealer. (C) A dismantler. (D) An insurer or an agent of the insurer. (E) A salvage pool. (c) At the discretion of the department, subdivision (a) does not apply in any of the following circumstances: (1) An application for a duplicate or substitute certificate of title or license plate is submitted by a licensed registration service representing any of the following: (A) A person or entity listed in subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b). (B) A business entity recognized under the laws of this state or the laws of any foreign or domestic jurisdiction whose laws are in parity with the laws of this state. (C) A
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