Registering Your Car in California

Even if you have a commercial vehicle, you must personally visit a local DMV office location and present the title of your car and your emissions inspection certification, as well as evidence of ID, a filled-out vehicle registration form, and money for fees, to register your vehicle in California. If you have purchased an automobile or plan to relocate to California, you will have 10 days to register it. Don't be concerned! You'll quickly learn to register your vehicle and complete a title application.

New to California?

Those who have just moved to California, either themselves or through a third party, must register their automobiles within 20 days of moving. To arrange an appointment for registering your vehicle, locate your local Department of Motor Vehicles office. If you meet the following criteria, you are considered a California resident:

• You have a job with the state.
• In California, you can claim tax exemptions on your home.
• In California, you rent or lease a house or apartment.
• You've applied for a driver's license or voter registration in your state.
• Your dependents are enrolled in a state-run educational system.

Please go to your local DMV office and give in the following documents once you have become a California resident:

• Signed by all owners or a third party, together with lienholder information, if applicable, on Form REG 343 for titling and registration of your car.
• Form REG 4008 must be completed and ready to go for commercial vehicles.
• To be lawful on the roadways, trailers must be registered using Form REG 4017.
• Proof of a properly insured car is required.
• If you're transferring your vehicle from another state to California, you'll need an out-of-state title or registration.
• This will not be required for those not filing for a CA title at the same time, albeit the car registration will be non-transferable.

For people who do not live in California, vehicle registration is as follows:

• You can also use a car registration renewal that shows registration with the DMV in another state where it was previously registered.
• If applicable, a weight certificate.
• If applicable, a smog/emissions certificate.
• All taxes and fees must be paid.

Employees from the DMV field office will inspect the car and its VIN. Then, along with your license plate and car registration sticker, you will receive your California title or registration certificate.

California Vehicle Registration

Depending on whether you acquired your automobile from a dealership, a third party, or a private person, there are a few different ways to register your vehicle. A completely alternative method exists for converting a non-transferable car registration into a transferable registration.

Car Dealership

If you purchased your vehicle from a car dealership or a third party, the registration paperwork would be completed for you. You will also receive a temporary registration certificate from the dealership field office, which you can keep until your official registration arrives in the mail. They may or may not provide you with license plates; you should inquire ahead of time.

Private Party Purchases

If you purchased your vehicle from a private party, you have a 10-day window to register it. To do so, go to your nearest Department of Motor Vehicles office or field office and book an appointment either online at the DMV website or by calling (800) 777-0133. At the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV):

• Bring the vehicle title that shows good mileage on a less than a ten-year-old vehicle.
• If you can't find the state title, you can apply for a new or paperless title by filling out Form REG 227.
• Please bring your smog certificate with you. When a car is over 4 years old, the seller must provide you with a valid smog certificate.
• After being inspected, these certifications are good for 90 days. Before registering the vehicle, double-check that the certificate isn't expired.
• A smog check certificate is not required if the vehicle's registration card was renewed within 90 days of the sale and for two years.
• Return a completed Form REG 343.
• Pay all applicable taxes and fees. You may do this on the DMV's website as well.

Non-Transferable Registration to Transferable Conversion

Out-of-state automobiles registered in the CA field office receive a non-transferable registration without evidence of ownership. These vehicles cannot be sold, transferred, or granted a California title. If you want to buy a car with a non-transferable registration, you'll need to convert it to a transferable registration card first. This can be done by going to your local Department of Motor Vehicles and turning in the following documents:

• The existing registration card is non-transferable.
• The vehicle's final title.
• If you don't have the title, you can submit Form REG 227 to apply for a new or paperless title if the car was originally titled in California, or you can contact the Department of Motor Vehicles DMV.
• For individuals registering a vehicle with a previous owner, a completed Form REG 343 application and a Bill of Sale are required.
• If the car is under 10 years old, a declaration shows the mileage on the odometer.
• If applicable, a valid smog certificate.
• Payment of the renewal fee if the vehicle registration is due to be renewed in the next 30 days.
• If applicable, payment of transfer fees and outstanding citations.

Military Vehicle Registration in CA

Military personnel and their families are subject to specific restrictions for registering their automobiles, based on whether they are California residents, as determined by the website or a local field office.

California Registration for Military Residents

Residents of California who are stationed in another state may register their vehicle in the current state's motor vehicle DMV before registering it in CA when they return. Non-resident military personnel who have registered their cars with the California Department of Motor Vehicles DMV and California military members stationed in the state are eligible for a vehicle licensing fee exemption. To take advantage of the exemption, you must submit the following paperwork to the California DMV.

• Military members - Form REG 5045.
• NATO members - Form REG 5046.

Service members stationed in another state who are California residents are not eligible for the exemption. When a vehicle's registration card is up for renewal, California residents stationed in another state may be eligible for a payment deferral.

Non-Resident Military Members

Those in the Armed Forces/NATO stationed in California and their families are not required to register a vehicle. Members of the military must meet the following requirements to drive legally in California:

• Make sure you have evidence of insurance.
• They must have valid license plates from their home state or nation, as well as the state or country where they served last.
• Have a valid registration card in their own or their spouse's name.

Out-of-state vehicle registrations must be properly renewed in the state or nation where they were issued. You will not be charged a licensing fee if you purchase an automobile in California or choose to register an out-of-state vehicle with the California DMV. However, you must show proof of insurance. Please have a look at the following information for military residents in California.

Car Registration Fees in California

Depending on the conditions, various costs are required when registering for new vehicle identification. Those purchasing a car from a dealership will discover that registration expenses are already included in the price of the vehicle. If you buy an automobile from a private party, you must pay fees to the California DMV. Make sure you pay these fees as soon as possible. All vehicles must meet the following requirements:

• The cost of registration is $60.
• The cost for the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is $28.
• Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF)—calculated based on the value of your vehicle:
  • $27 for a range of $0 to $4,999.
  • $55 for $5,000 to $24,999.
  • $110 for $25,000 to $34,999.
  • $165 for $35,000 to $59,999.
  • $192 for $60,000 and higher.

Once you become a state resident, you have 20 days to register your vehicle. If you don't, you'll be charged late fees based on how late you are. You only have 10 days from the transaction date to pay the costs after purchasing a vehicle from a private party. Fees for late registration:

• $30 if you're less than a year late.
• $50 if you're a year or two late.
• $100 if you're more than two years late.

Penalties for the California Highway Patrol Fee at the Time of Registration

• $30 if you're less than a year late.
• $50 if you're a year or two late.
• $100 if you're more than two years late.

Other fees will vary depending on the car. Please visit the California DMV website to use their California VLF calculator if you want a more precise estimate of the fees that must be paid. Make sure you've got your email address handy. Before you may register a car and acquire new vehicle identification, you must pay off all fines, debts, and violations with the California DMV.

California Smog Checks and Inspections

Before a vehicle may be registered in California, it must pass a smog inspection. A vehicle must pass a smog test every two years in some parts of California. Instead of needing to pass smog inspections, new cars less than six years old will be assessed a $25 smog fee for the first six years. Smog checks are not required for the following vehicles:

• Vehicles that are less than four years old are considered new.
• Hybrid and electric vehicles are on the rise.
• Gasoline automobiles from 1975 or earlier.
• 1997 and older diesel automobiles
• Vehicles weighing more than 14,000 pounds must be diesel.
• Vehicles weighing more than 14,000 pounds that run on natural gas.
• Motorcycles.
• Trailers.

Weight Certifications in CA

To register some pickups and trucks in California, weight certificates are required. A public scale or a moving firm with a vehicle scale can provide this certificate. There will be a cost to have it weighed, which will vary by location and is based on the truck's unladen weight. Commercial vehicles with a gross weight of lesser than 10,000 pounds require a weight certificate. You must fill out a Statement of Facts (Form REG 256) to estimate the truck's weight. The following trucks do not require a weight certification:

• A truck or pickup has already been registered in California and has the weight specified on the state registration. (With the weight indicated, the truck cannot have been modified since the last registration date.)
• When empty, a vehicle or pickup that weighs less than 6,000 pounds.
• A truck with two or three axles that weigh at least 10,001 pounds.

License Plates in CA

Vehicles in California must have proper license plates that include an up-to-date registration sticker. On the DMV website, you can check their status. When a car is acquired or sold, the license plates remain on the vehicle unless the seller requested it to be kept. In California, there are a variety of license plates available, including military, collegiate, and other plates. Go to the DMV website and fill out the Special Interest License Plate Application to get the license plate you want.

Forms

REG 227

• Application For Duplicate or Paperless Title
  • To get a duplicate CA title OR a paperless title to utilize when transferring ownership of a car, fill out this form.

REG 343

• Application for Title or Registration
  • When you buy a car or move to the state, use this form to apply for a title and register your vehicle.

REG 4008

• Declaration of Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (CGW)
  • In California, vehicle weight disclosure is required for commercial vehicles weighing at least 10,001 pounds. GVW/CGW stands for gross or combined gross vehicle weight.

REG 5045

• Non-resident Military (NRM) Exemption Statement
  • If you're a military service member stationed in California but not a resident, fill out this form to request a registration exemption.

REG 5046

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Status of Forces Agreement
  • If you're a non-U.S. citizen, fill out this form to request a registration exemption—a Californian member of the foreign military and is stationed there.

REG 4017

• Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) Certification
  • To apply for Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) in California, fill out this form. This form can also be used to transfer or add ownership to trailers that do not have titles.