California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) · United States

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Form REG 256: Statement of Facts (California DMV)

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JustFill prepares the REG 256 PDF; it does not file paperwork with the California DMV or determine tax or smog exemption eligibility.JustFill is not affiliated with California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This is an independent third-party tool to help you complete REG 256. Always download the current blank form from the official source and verify your completed copy before signing or submitting. Official REG 256 from California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Quick answer

Form REG 256, Statement of Facts, is the multipurpose California DMV affidavit used to claim a use tax exemption on a family gift or inheritance (Section A), claim a smog exemption on a family transfer or new vehicle (Section B), declare vehicle value, explain an odometer or name discrepancy, or make a general sworn statement in Section G. The applicant completes the vehicle description at the top, fills only the sections that apply, and signs Section H under penalty of perjury. Open the official blank REG 256 PDF in JustFill in one click and download the completed PDF free.

Form
REG 256
Issued by
California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Country
United States
Free allowance
First clean download
Official edition
REG 256 (REV. 7/2020)
Source checked

What is REG 256?

California DMV Form REG 256 (Statement of Facts) is one of the most frequently required documents at California DMV field offices, AAA branches, and auto dealerships. Whether you are gifting a car to a parent, child, spouse, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling who qualifies for a use tax or smog exemption, correcting an error on a title, or explaining why a vehicle was not operated, REG 256 puts your statement under penalty of perjury. JustFill loads the official 2-page California DMV PDF so you can fill the VIN, license plate, and relevant sections (A through H) cleanly in your browser.

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Click "Fill the blank REG 256 now" above to open the official 2-page California DMV REG 256 (REV. 7/2020) PDF directly in JustFill, complete the sections that apply to your transaction, and download the finished PDF.

Get the official REG 256 PDF from California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Who fills out REG 256?

  • California residents receiving a vehicle as a gift or inheritance from an eligible family member (Section A — Use Tax Exemption)
  • Vehicle owners claiming a smog check exemption for a qualifying family transfer or recent model year (Section B)
  • Dealers, registration services, and title clerks documenting name discrepancies, body changes, or window tint exemptions
  • Buyers or sellers making a written Statement of Facts in Section G when a mistake was made on a title assignment

Field-by-field breakdown

What each section of REG 256 asks for. JustFill’s AI will detect these fields automatically when you upload the PDF — review the breakdown below so you know what to enter.

Top header — Vehicle identification

California license plate number, 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) or vessel CF number, year, and make — required on both pages.

Section A — Statement for Use Tax Exemption

Marks a transfer as a gift, family transfer (parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, spouse, domestic partner, or qualifying minor siblings), inheritance, court order, or trust transfer exempt from California use tax.

Section B — Statement for Smog Exemption

Claims a smog check exemption for a transfer between qualifying family members, a diesel/electric/hybrid or recent model vehicle, or a vehicle currently out of state.

Sections C, D, E & F — Value, body changes, name statement, and window decals

Current market value declaration (C), tax-exempt body/weight changes (D), name discrepancy certifying two names are the same person (E), and medical window sun-screening certification (F).

Section G — Statement of Facts

Open text lines to explain any other registration or title fact required by the California DMV, such as an erasure on a title or non-operation details.

Section H — Applicant signature

Printed name, daytime telephone number, date, and signature under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • 1Forgetting to repeat the license plate, VIN, year, and make at the top of Page 2 when completing Sections E, F, G, or H.
  • 2Assuming siblings qualify for the family use tax exemption — in California, a sale between siblings is exempt only if both are minors related by blood or adoption; adult siblings still qualify for a gift exemption only when the transfer is a true gift with no money or consideration exchanged.
  • 3Checking a smog exemption box in Section B for a sibling transfer — California Vehicle Code exempts smog on family transfers between spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, or grandchild, but NOT between siblings.
  • 4Leaving Section H unsigned — every REG 256 must be signed in Section H on page 2 to be valid.

REG 256 example — what a filled-out form looks like

A fictional California parent gives a 2017 Toyota Camry as a free gift to an adult daughter in Los Angeles. The daughter completes Sections A, B, and H of Form REG 256 to claim both the gift use tax exemption and the parent-to-child smog exemption.

Header (Pages 1 & 2) — Vehicle description

Plate 8ABC••• · VIN 4T1BF1FK••••••••• · Year 2017 · Make TOYOTA

Enter the same vehicle identifiers in the header of both Page 1 and Page 2.

Section A — Statement for Use Tax Exemption

☑ Gift ( entered $0 ) · ☑ Family transfer: Parent to Child

Documents that the vehicle was transferred free of charge between parent and child and is exempt from California use tax.

Section B — Statement for Smog Exemption

☑ It is being transferred between a parent and child

Parent-to-child transfers of a California-registered vehicle are exempt from a transfer smog certification.

Section H — Applicant signature

ELENA SAMPLE · (310) 555-0144 · Signed and dated 10/15/2026

Signed under penalty of perjury by the new owner submitting the transfer.

These values are made up. They are here to show what belongs on each line, not to be copied — every name, number, and address on your own REG 256 has to be your own.

How JustFill helps you complete REG 256

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We load the official California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) blank for you — no download needed. Or upload your own copy below.

Upload your form

Choose a PDF, a Word file or an image from your files, or photograph a paper form.

PDF, Word (.docx), JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, GIF and BMP. Free account required, no credit card.

Your first download is free, with no watermark. After that: a watermark, or a $7 one-time pack (25 clean PDF downloads + 25 AI credits). AI detection covers up to 15 pages per run.

By uploading, you confirm you have the legal right to use this document.

Related forms

California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

REG 343

Form REG 343: Application for Title or Registration (California DMV)

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

130-U

Form 130-U: Application for Texas Title and/or Registration

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance / DMV

Form DTF-802

Form DTF-802: Statement of Transaction — Sale or Gift of Motor Vehicle, Trailer, All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), Vessel (Boat), or Snowmobile

Georgia Department of Revenue — Motor Vehicle Division

Form MV-16

Form MV-16: Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship (Georgia DOR)

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Frequently asked questions

Form REG 256 (Statement of Facts) is a multipurpose sworn statement used with California vehicle title and registration transactions — most commonly to claim a use tax exemption on a family transfer or gift (Section A), a smog exemption (Section B), a name discrepancy statement (Section E), or a general explanation in Section G.
No. Complete the vehicle identification header at the top of the page, only the specific section(s) (A through G) that apply to your transaction, and the signature block in Section H.
A true gift between siblings with zero payment can qualify for the gift use tax exemption in Section A, but sibling transfers are NOT exempt from a smog inspection under Section B.
Attach the signed REG 256 to your California Certificate of Title (or Form REG 343) and submit it at a California DMV office, an authorized registration service, AAA branch, or through the DMV Virtual Office.

Official source: REG 256 on California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)’s website

Edition checked: REG 256 (REV. 7/2020). Verified against the official source on .

JustFill is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or any government agency. Always verify your completed form on the official version before signing or submitting.