It is not called the same thing in every state
The word on the form matters, because the two common models do different things to the title that went missing.
| Georgia — a replacement | The new certificate carries a legend on its face: “This is a replacement certificate and may be subject to the rights of a person under the original certificate.” After six months of unchallenged record ownership it may instead read simply “Replacement Title”. |
| Texas — a certified copy | A certified copy lawfully obtained “supersedes and invalidates any previously issued title or certified copy”. The old paper is dead the moment the new one issues. |
That difference is worth knowing before a buyer asks. A Georgia replacement announces on its face that an earlier certificate existed; a Texas certified copy cancels the earlier one outright.
O.C.G.A. § 40-3-31 (Georgia) · Tex. Transp. Code § 501.134 (Texas).
Who is allowed to apply
In both models the applicant has to be the person the record already names. A duplicate is not a route to a title you were never issued — that is a title bond.
- The owner named in the recordGeorgia: “the owner or the legal representative of the owner named in the certificate, as shown by the records of the commissioner” (O.C.G.A. § 40-3-31).
- Or the lienholder — and in Texas, only the lienholderTexas: “If a lien is disclosed on a title, the department may issue a certified copy of the title only to the first lienholder or the lienholder’s verified agent unless the owner has original proof from the lienholder of lien satisfaction” (Tex. Transp. Code § 501.134).
What the federal rules add
Nothing federal governs how a state replaces a lost title. Two federal rules do govern what happens when you then sell the truck:
- Odometer disclosureRequired on transfer — unless the truck is rated above 16,000 lb GVWR, in which case it is exempt. 49 CFR 580.17 →
- The record follows the VINTitle history, brands and odometer readings are reported into a national system whose reach is set by vehicle weight. 28 CFR Part 25 →
By state
Fees, forms and whether the title is printed at the counter or mailed are all state-level and all move. Each state page here links its motor vehicle agency’s own page for the current figure.
Current as of 14 September 2026. This page describes rules, not your situation, and it is information rather than legal advice. Rules change; the linked official source is always the current one.