The Statement of Facts is a legal form used to provide sworn testimony to the DMV without going into a physical office. It allows you to explain the "who, what, when, where, and why" of a vehicle transaction.

Caught in a Paperwork Nightmare? How to Use a CA DMV Statement of Facts (REG 256) to “Unwind” Errors

Take your time, write clearly, and mail it certified so you have proof they received it.

Mail the REG 256 to the DMV’s Vehicle Registration Operations address found on the form, or hand-deliver it to a field office. Unfortunately, "unwinding" usually triggers back fees or correction penalties, so expect to write a check.

Go to the DMV website and search for REG 256 . Do not use an old version—DMV updates these regularly.

If you’ve been scrolling through DMV forums or talking to a vehicle registration service, you might have heard the phrase

Here is the step-by-step process to get your DMV record straight:

The form has checkboxes. To unwind a fact, you usually check Section G: "Statement of Erroneous or False Information" (if you made a mistake) or Section F: "Smog" or H: "Transfer" depending on your specific mess.