✅ Updated April 2022

Here's the ultimate guide to registering your vehicle at the California DMV. We've simplified the entire process for you so you tin can save time.

What You'll Need To Annals your Vehicle at the California DMV

📌 A completed Application for Championship or Registration ( Form REG 343 ) including:

  • Signatures of all owners
  • Lienholder data (if applicative)

📌 Proof of vehicle ownership and mileage

  • Vehicle title, which must include odometer mileage if vehicle is less than x years old

📌Proof of vehicle insurance

📌Valid smog inspection certificate (if applicative)

  • Provided by seller
  • Valid if issued inside past 90 days
  • Required if vehicle is more than 4 years old
  • Not required if:
    • Previous owner renewed the registration (for two years) within 90 days of the vehicle sale
    • Vehicle is hybrid or electrical
    • Vehicle is gas-powered and made earlier 1975 or diesel-powered and made before 1997
    • Vehicle is a motorcycle

📌Out-of-country title and registration (if applicable)

📌$58 registration fee + $25 California Highway Patrol fee + Transportation Improvement Fee, which is assessed equally follows, based on the value of your vehicle:

  • $25 for vehicles valued @ $0-$4,999
  • $l for vehicles valued @ $v,000-$24,999
  • $100 for vehicles valued @ $25,000-$34,999
  • $150 for vehicles valued @ $35,000-$59,999
  • $175 for vehicles valued @ >$60,000

You tin as well annals your vehicle online here. You volition need to provide your drivers' license number, a payment method and the last 5 digits of your car's VIN.

What You lot'll Do

If you purchased your vehicle from a car dealership...

  • Footstep i: Sit down back and relax!  The dealership volition handle all the registration paperwork and fees for you lot
    • Receive your temporary registration certificate from the dealership
    • Determine whether dealership also provides license plates; if non, visit the DMV to obtain them
  • Pace 2:  Receive your official registration document and registration stickers from the CA DMV via U.S. post

If you purchased your vehicle from a individual private...

  • Step 1: Within 10 days of purchase, visit your nearest CA DMV role ( optional: make an appointment!)
    • Bring your vehicle - a DMV employee will perform a physical inspection and VIN verification
    • Provide required documents and ID
    • Pay the required fees
    • Receive your registration certificate, license plates, and registration stickers
  • Footstep 2: Make sure your registration stickers are properly affixed to your license plates
  • Step 3: Striking the road and drive!

Caveats and Exceptions

Request this full checklist, including caveats and exceptions, for free by email:

More Questions?

📌 Visit our California DMV information page.

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