What is the California REG 31 form?

REG 31 is California DMV's Verification of Vehicle form. A licensed verifier physically inspects a vehicle and documents the actual VIN, body type, fuel type, odometer reading, axle count, license plate, federal safety / emissions labels, and vehicle classification on the form. The completed REG 31 is required for: out-of-state vehicle registration in California, title corrections (VIN mismatch, year mismatch, BTM changes), vehicles re-introduced to the DMV system after lapsing, and several other registration scenarios.

Where do I download the official REG 31 PDF?

The official REG 31 form is published at dmv.ca.gov in the Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures (VIRP) section. The PDF is fillable but most fields require a licensed verifier's signature, so you can't just fill it out yourself. You'll typically receive the REG 31 directly from the verifier at the appointment — they print it, complete it on-site, sign it, and hand it to you.

Who is authorized to fill out a REG 31?

Five authorized parties: (1) California DMV employees, (2) California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers, (3) AAA member-service employees (member-only), (4) state-licensed private vehicle verifiers (like NorCal VIN Check), and (5) law enforcement officers from any U.S. state. Each completes the same form; only their authority and process differs. See our full breakdown at the who-can-verify-a-VIN page.

How is REG 31 different from REG 343?

REG 31 is the VIN verification form filled out BY a licensed verifier — it documents the actual physical state of the vehicle. REG 343 is the Application for Title or Registration filled out BY the vehicle owner — it requests California title issuance and includes ownership and lienholder info. You need BOTH for a complete out-of-state registration packet: REG 31 (verification) + REG 343 (application) + the prior state's title + insurance + smog certificate + photo ID.

What information does the REG 31 document?

The verifier records (in order): (1) Vehicle year, make, and model. (2) Primary VIN (dashboard) and secondary VIN (door frame or engine block depending on year). (3) License plate. (4) Body type model (BTM). (5) Number of wheels and axles. (6) Fuel type. (7) Federal Certification Label status. (8) Federal Safety / Emissions label status. (9) Odometer reading. (10) Vehicle type classification (automobile, commercial, motorcycle, trailer, etc.). The verifier signs at the bottom; certain scenarios (VIN mismatch, owner-affirmation cases) require an additional owner signature.

Can I fill out a REG 31 myself?

No. The REG 31 must be completed and signed by an authorized verifier (DMV, CHP, AAA-with-membership, licensed private verifier, or law enforcement). A self-completed REG 31 will be rejected by the DMV. The point of the form is that an authorized third party has physically inspected the vehicle.

What are common REG 31 errors that trigger DMV rejection?

From our experience: (1) Missing signature lines — the bottom owner-affirmation line is specifically for VIN-mismatch / title-correction scenarios; missing it triggers rejection. (2) Mismatched odometer reading vs the prior state's last recorded mileage with no explanation. (3) Wrong body-type model code (different codes for different commercial categories). (4) Smudged or illegible VIN entries. (5) Outdated form revision — DMV occasionally updates the REG 31 layout; using an old version can trigger rejection. We always use the current official version.

How long is a completed REG 31 valid?

There's no published expiration on the REG 31 itself, but California DMV expects the verification to be reasonably recent — typically within 90 days of the final registration appointment. If you have a REG 31 that's older than 6 months, expect the DMV to ask for a fresh verification.

California DMV · Verification of Vehicle · The full reference

California REG 31 Form Explained

What it documents, who’s authorized to fill it out, where to find it, and the gotchas.

What the REG 31 is

REG 31 is California DMV’s Verification of Vehicle form. It’s the official document that records a physical inspection of a vehicle by an authorized verifier — confirming that the vehicle actually exists, matches the title’s description, and has the VIN it claims.

REG 31 is required (or used) in any registration scenario where California needs to know the vehicle’s real-world condition: out-of-state arrivals, VIN-title mismatches, body-type-model (BTM) changes, vehicles re-introduced to the DMV system, IRP fleet mileage verification, and several other registration paths.

Quick reference: if you’ve been told you need a “VIN verification,” what the DMV is actually asking for is a completed REG 31. The two terms are interchangeable in practice.

What the REG 31 documents

The verifier follows the REG 31 from top to bottom, recording each of these data points from physical observation:

1. Vehicle year, make, and model
2. Primary VIN (dashboard plate)
3. Secondary VIN (door frame, engine block, or other location depending on year)
4. License plate currently on the vehicle
5. Body type model (BTM) — a coded classification
6. Number of wheels and axles
7. Fuel type (gas, diesel, electric, hybrid, flex-fuel, CNG, etc.)
8. Federal Certification Label status (present / missing / damaged)
9. Federal Safety / Emissions label status
10. Odometer reading
11. Vehicle classification (automobile, commercial, motorcycle, trailer, etc.)
12. Verifier’s signature, license number, and date
13. (Conditional) Owner’s signature at the bottom — only required for VIN-mismatch / title-correction scenarios

REG 31 vs REG 343 — they’re different forms

New California residents often confuse these two. Both are needed for out-of-state registration but they have different purposes and different signers:

REG 31 — Verification of Vehicle

• Completed BY a licensed verifier
• Vehicle must be physically present
• Documents what the vehicle actually is (VIN, body type, fuel, odometer)
• Free at DMV/CHP/AAA-member, $$85/$$180 with us
• Required for most out-of-state and title-correction scenarios

REG 343 — Application for Title or Registration

• Completed BY the vehicle owner
• Free download from dmv.ca.gov
• Requests California title + registration issuance
• Includes ownership, lienholder, address, intended use
• Submitted ALONGSIDE the REG 31, not instead of it

Common REG 31 errors that trigger DMV rejection

Most rejections come from one of these issues. We catch and avoid all of them at our appointments:

✗Missing owner signature on the bottom mismatch line — specifically required for VIN-mismatch / title-correction scenarios. Easy to miss.
✗Outdated form revision — California DMV occasionally updates the REG 31 layout. Using an older version can trigger rejection.
✗Odometer reading inconsistent with prior records — if the recorded mileage is lower than the prior state's last reading without explanation, the DMV flags it for review.
✗Wrong BTM code — body-type-model codes are specific (different codes for sedans, coupes, vans, pickups, motorhomes, trailers). Wrong code = re-do.
✗Illegible VIN entries — smudged or hard-to-read characters. The DMV can’t process a verification if they can’t read it.
✗Verifier signature/license-number missing or wrong format — the verifier must include their state-issued license number and date alongside the signature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Need a REG 31?

$85 in-shop · $180 mobile · same-week appointments

Book Now Call 628-212-2001