(a) Additional cards upon request.--The department shall, if so requested, issue to the registrant of any vehicle whose registration is not under suspension a duplicate registration card, or as many duplicate registration cards as requested, upon payment of the fee provided in this title for each card.

(b) Replacement of lost or illegible card.--In the event of a lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible registration card, the registrant shall apply to the department for a duplicate within 48 hours of discovery of the loss or defacement of such registration card, upon a form furnished by the department, and accompanied by the fee provided in this title.

(c) Affidavit to avoid penalty.--No owner or operator of a vehicle shall be subject to a fine for failure to have the registration card if the owner or operator makes affidavit that the card was lost or stolen within the period of 20 days preceding and that application for new registration card was made within 48 hours as required in this section.