Who gets the leased title to California?

The lessor supplies the ownership document and signs the California application as registered owner. The lessee completes the California address, VIN verification, insurance, and emissions steps.

What should I ask the lessor for first?

Send the lessor Form REG 343 and California's leased-vehicle naming instructions, then confirm how it will supply the out-of-state title or other ownership evidence.

What does NewState Drive do for free?

Keep the route, lessor instructions, follow-up dates, handoff milestones, official links, and final proof together. Complete account and identity steps in the lessor or agency channel, then return to the saved route.

Leased car moving to California

California needs the lessor on the application before it will register the lease

California registers a leased vehicle in both the lessor's and lessee's names. The lessor is the registered owner and must sign the application, while the lessee's signature is optional.

Save the lessor handoff Build my lessor request

California timingWithin 20 days of becoming a resident or taking a California job

California says the vehicle must be in the state and the lessee must have a California address when the lessor is out of state.

The handoff

Who does what

Start with the ownership document before the registration visit.

01Ask the lessor
Send the lessor Form REG 343 and California's leased-vehicle naming instructions, then confirm how it will supply the out-of-state title or other ownership evidence.
02Follow the state path
The lessor supplies the ownership document and signs the California application as registered owner. The lessee completes the California address, VIN verification, insurance, and emissions steps.
03Keep the old record open
Wait for the new registration and the reviewed old-state closeout step before ending the prior insurance or plate record.

State packet

What to line up

These are the lease-specific items in the reviewed state source.

Application for Title or Registration REG 343 signed by the lessor

Out-of-state title or other ownership evidence accepted for a nonresident vehicle

Lessor and lessee named in California's required LSR and LSE format

California address, VIN verification, insurance, and any required smog certification

Request builder

Match the lessor to California

Add the state you are leaving and choose a supported lessor if it is listed. No VIN or lease account number is collected.

Moving fromLessor (optional)

California lessor handoff

Prepare the packet and track the handoff

The saved checklist connects the route, lessor request, title, authorization, destination receipt, and final proof.

Keep your place and return later

Track your progress, dates, title requests, and receipts to keep. We will email a private return link.

Starting stateDestination or filing state

Who has the title?What do you need most?

Transaction details

Use these fields when the vehicle was bought, sold, gifted, inherited, rejected, or delayed.

Why are you handling the vehicle?Current status

Other partyWhat is stopping you?

Email for your private link

I'm open to occasional research questions.Tell me when useful new move tools launch.

We use your email for the saved route. The two checkboxes are optional.

Official sources

Checked 2026-08-01

The state pages below control if a requirement changes.

California DMV: leased vehicle registration requirementsChecked 2026-08-01 ↗
Title / lienRegistration
California DMV: nonresident vehicle requirementsChecked 2026-08-01 ↗
LicenseTitle / lienRegistrationInspection / VIN
California DMV: out-of-state registration timingChecked 2026-08-01 ↗
Title / lienRegistrationInspection / VIN

Moving a leased car to California

Can I register a leased car after moving to California?: California registers a leased vehicle in both the lessor's and lessee's names. The lessor is the registered owner and must sign the application, while the lessee's signature is optional.
Who gets the leased title to California?: The lessor supplies the ownership document and signs the California application as registered owner. The lessee completes the California address, VIN verification, insurance, and emissions steps.
What should I ask the lessor for first?: Send the lessor Form REG 343 and California's leased-vehicle naming instructions, then confirm how it will supply the out-of-state title or other ownership evidence.
What does NewState Drive do for free?: Keep the route, lessor instructions, follow-up dates, handoff milestones, official links, and final proof together. Complete account and identity steps in the lessor or agency channel, then return to the saved route.

Choose your lessor

Match a supported lessor to California

Each path joins the provider channel to this state packet.