California law requires that motor vehicle owners must register their vehicle with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before taking it on the road. Both new and second-hand vehicles must be registered, regardless of whether they are purchased from a dealer or an individual. In addition, new California residents who have registered their vehicle in another state must register their vehicle in California. The initial vehicle registration must be done in person, and registration renewals must be done annually, either in person, online or by mail.
If you have purchased a used vehicle you must register it within ten days of the purchase date to avoid late registration fees. If your car is new to California, you must register it within 20 days of the entry date to California to avoid late fees. The following are further resources to help with your specific needs whether you are doing your California vehicle registration for the first time, renewing or replacing your existing registration:
[edit] Initial Vehicle Registrations
If you are registering a vehicle in California for the time this process is described below.
[edit] Vehicle Registration Renewal
Guide to California vehicle registration renewal. What is required for renewing your vehicle registration in CA, where and when to renew your vehicle, fees, mailing address, forms, etc
[edit] California Vehicle Registration Replacement
CA Vehicle registration replacement information for lost, stolen or damaged vehicle registrations. Step-by-step guide to getting a new copy of your vehicle registration.
[edit] California Car Registration
California car registrations fees vary depending on a number of factors including the make and model of the car, the date of late registration, traffic tickets, etc. DMV.com's car registration fee calculator can help you figure out how much it will cost to register your vehicle.
[edit] The California Vehicle Code
The California Vehicle Code is important for anyone registering their vehicle since it contains all the rules and regulations that drivers and vehicles are subject to while on the road.
[edit] California Car Registration Plates
This article is an overview of license / car registration plates. It covers the regulations for displaying and mainting your plates as well as information on vanity, disability and vintage vehicle plates.
[edit] California Custom Car Registrations
There are different procedures for registering a custom or vintage car in the state and you can find that information in this article.
[edit] INITIAL REGISTRATION
If you are registering a motor vehicle in California for the first time, you must complete the following steps:
- All vehicles in California must be insured. When you register your vehicle you must provide proof of insurance. The easiest way to do this is to obtain auto liability insurance.
- Collect the necessary paperwork. If you bought your vehicle from a dealer, then the dealer will have sent the necessary paperwork to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. In all other circumstances you will need to collect the following additional papers:
- A completed Application for Vehicle Title or Registration, signed by all registered owners.
- If you do not need to change ownership of the vehicle, collect the last registration certificate and a copy of the last issued out of state title.
- If you do need to change the ownership of the vehicle, make sure that you have completed the Change of Title for the vehicle.
- If you have newly purchased the vehicle, make sure that you have the Bill of Sale.
- For cars less than ten years old, you must also have an Odometer Disclosure Statement signed by both yourself (the buyer) and the seller.
- If your vehicle is not new, you may require a smog certificate.
- Make an appointment to visit your DMV center, making sure that you explain that you require a vehicle inspection.
- Once your vehicle has been inspected, you can submit your paperwork and order your license plates. These will be sent to you in the mail and must be fixed to your vehicle as soon as received.
- You are entitled to a tax reduction for a portion of the registration fees called the Annual Vehicle License Fee.
- Remember that CA Auto Insurance is needed to legally operate all vehicles in California.
Comments
If I bought a used car (25 years old) out of state but my Bill of Sale I wrote says California laws apply do I have any recourse if it won't pass inspection?
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I mailed my registration in ten days ago how long does it take to get the sticker
I paid my car renewal registration fee thru Golden 1 credit union when I applied for a car loan on April 13, 2009. Until now I have not received my car regietration from DMV. I called Golden 1 and they told me DMV should have sent it by now. My car registration renewal is due this month. Please reply if you can.
I bought a car from a friend, put over 500.00 dollars into it. This car has been sitting for over a year. Now that i have it running he tells me that he has to get the paper work on the car from the previous owner so that he could turn it over to me. I have possession of the car for the last five months. What do i do?
I am buying a vechile from Toyota and I never recieved a vechile registration what do I do?
Can you pay with credit cards?
My daughter bought an RV. Her and here frineds paid the registration, title transfer and all fees. The vehicle hadn't been registered since 2002. They were issued a temp registration, so they could drive it home, and get it smoged. They got it home, parked it, and have been trying to get it up to par but havn't finished yet. The temp registration expired and the question is, since it is parked on the street in front of our home, can it be towed away, for invalid registration, because we have been told that since the temp registration is expired, the registration reverts back to the previous registered person who hasn't owned the vehicle or registered it in 6 years. We don't want to lose the vehicle before we get it to pass smaog. How much time do we have to get it taken care of before it will automatically be towed away for expired registration. I hope to get an answer from a DMV official and not someone just browsing the net. Thank you.
I have paid for my registration and I have not receive my tags. My license plate is 5YXZ688. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your kind consideration.
Respectfully ,
IsabelC21
I sent my vehicle registration fee in before the due date by way
of electronic check. The fee was taken from my account and paid
to the DMV by my bank. Three months later, I receive a notice that
the DMV did not accept the payment and due to the 90 day rule at
the bank, they cancelled the check. Now I am getting a renewal notice
that includes penalties for not paying. What can I do?
I have my car in my garage, I am not even driving it. I would like to know what I can do, because i want to pay the fees for the Vehicle Registration Renewal, but i don't want to get the sticker, I would pa for the fees but I wouldn't want the fees to be more and more money each time. What do i do?
dmv
i bought a car in mexico from an individual i would like to know what i need to do in regards to changing over to my name and register the vehicle in california..
there are no answers for the questions.
how do i retrieve them?
I have a question. I own a condo in Baja California, I have an automobile down there that is never going to return to California. If I give you a signed affidavit stating the car will never return to California, can i get my tags without having it smogged? It is a 1999 Jeep Cherokee.
Thank you,
Larry Kutbatoff
How to register in California a new car bought in Mexico.
im in the military and i bought my car in texas. my home of record is californa and im trying to register my car in california which is my home of record. is there any way i can do that even though im not currently in california
hello i bought my truck in indiana but i moved to california and i still owed my truck 2 indianas dealers what do i need to do in order for me to change it to california plate......
i dont know
Hi,
I would like to find out how to handle a vehivle that is being stored and is not being driven at this time.
to register t-bird
sent in check and registration renewal and have not gotten tags. LicPlate #5x22696 please let me know if rec'd or what is the delay. Magic.
Having purchased Vehicalon 26th of Dec. 2008 from Dealer.
Till now have not received the documents regrding change of title from DMV.
Please let me know the status of this case.
Tks + Bst Rgds
Kia
I have not received my registration tags in the mail. Registration payment went into your Blackstone office's drop box 12/27/08. Please let me know the status of my registration. Thanks...Nancy Caroline Ramos
I just moved back to california...I shipped back the same car i owned here but it now has the florida plates..I still own the old california plates...Can use those if they still have not expired? or do i need to re-register my car?
Thanks
Danny Montiel
I have paid for my regsitration, the check has been cashed by you and I have not received my tags. Can you please tell me what steps need to be taken to do so, my registration is past due (my license plate is 5VAS777) and I fear I will get a ticket of expired tags. Please advise me, I am a member of AAA, can it be taken care of there?
I look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you,
Vicki Cuellar