California DMV Registration Renewal: Methods, Fees, and Deadlines

To complete a California DMV registration renewal, have your license plate number and the last five digits of your Vehicle Identification Number ready, make sure your smog certification and auto insurance are on file with the state, and pay the amount due online, by mail, at a self-service kiosk, by phone, or at a field office before your expiration date.

What to Have Ready Before You Renew

Every renewal channel asks for the same two identifiers: your plate number and the last five digits of your VIN. The VIN is printed on the driver’s-side dashboard and on your current registration card.¹

You also need active auto insurance that your insurer has reported to the state’s electronic database. California law requires proof of financial responsibility, and the DMV verifies your policy electronically before approving a renewal.² If the database doesn’t show your current policy, the renewal will stall. Call your insurance company and confirm they’ve submitted your information before you try to pay.

Most gasoline vehicles also need a current smog certificate on file. Smog inspections are required every two years under California Health and Safety Code § 44011.³ The testing station transmits the certificate to the DMV electronically, so you don’t carry paperwork, but the certificate must be current for this renewal cycle. Several categories skip the smog check:

Gasoline vehicles less than eight model years old pay a smog abatement fee instead.⁴
Vehicles from model year 1975 or earlier are permanently exempt.³
Electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions to test.
Motorcycles are exempt under current law.
Diesel passenger vehicles are exempt from the standard biennial smog program.

Finally, check the address the DMV has on file. State law gives you 10 days to notify the DMV after you move.⁵ An outdated address means your registration card and year sticker could land at the wrong house. Update it through the DMV’s online Change of Address portal or by mailing a completed DMV 14 form.⁶ The renewal itself is not the place to change your address.

How to Submit the Renewal

California offers four ways to pay. The right one depends on how quickly you need the sticker in hand.

Online

The fastest option for most drivers. Enter your plate number and the last five digits of your VIN on the DMV’s online renewal portal, confirm your vehicle information, and pay by credit card, debit card, or checking account.⁷ Credit and debit payments carry a 1.95% service fee.⁸ Online renewal only works if your smog certificate and insurance are already recorded electronically.

At a DMV Now Kiosk

Self-service kiosks sit inside select retail stores, government buildings, and AAA offices around the state. Scan the barcode from your renewal notice, pay by card, and the kiosk prints your registration card and year sticker on the spot. The DMV’s kiosk locator lists locations.⁹ You need the barcode from the mailed notice to use this option.

By Mail

Tear off the payment stub from your renewal notice, write a check or money order for the amount due, and send both to:

DMV Renewal
PO Box 942897
Sacramento, CA 94269-0001¹

The DMV credits your payment on the date received, not the postmark. Mail early, or use one of the instant channels if your expiration date is close.

By Phone or in Person

Call 1-800-777-0133 to renew by phone, or walk into any DMV field office. A field office visit is slower but useful if you have complications: unpaid penalties, a smog issue that hasn’t cleared, or a hold on your record. You can also renew without a physical notice using just your plate number and the last five digits of your VIN.¹

What You’ll Pay

California registration renewal is not a single flat charge. Your total is built from several pieces, and the amount depends on your vehicle’s value, type, and county.⁸

Base registration fee: $76, which includes a $3 Alternative Fuel/Technology Fee.
Vehicle License Fee (VLF): 0.65% of the vehicle’s purchase price or current value. The VLF decreases over the first 11 renewal years or until the vehicle is transferred.
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF): ranges from $33 for vehicles valued under $5,000 to $231 for vehicles worth $60,000 or more.
Road Improvement Fee (RIF): $121, charged only on zero-emission vehicles from model year 2020 and later.
County and district fees, which vary by county.
CHP fee, included in your total.

Your renewal notice itemizes the exact amount for your vehicle. If you renew online or at a kiosk, the system calculates it automatically once you enter your plate and VIN.

If You Miss Your Expiration Date

Late renewals get expensive quickly. Penalties combine a percentage of your VLF and weight fees with flat registration and CHP late fees:¹⁰

1–10 days late: 10% of VLF/weight fees, plus $10 registration late fee, plus $10 CHP late fee.
11–30 days late: 20% of VLF/weight fees, plus $15 registration late fee, plus $15 CHP late fee.
31 days to one year late: 60% of VLF/weight fees, plus $30 registration late fee, plus $30 CHP late fee.
One to two years late: 80% of VLF/weight fees, plus $50 registration late fee, plus $50 CHP late fee.
More than two years late: 160% of VLF/weight fees, plus $100 registration late fee, plus $100 CHP late fee.

Driving with expired registration also invites a citation under Vehicle Code § 4000(a), which carries its own fine.¹¹ If you’re already late, renew as soon as possible; the sooner you pay, the smaller the tier.

If the Car Won’t Be on the Road

For a vehicle that won’t be driven or parked on any public road, file for Planned Non-Operation (PNO) instead of paying full renewal. PNO costs $15 and keeps the vehicle on record without full registration fees, insurance, or a smog certificate.¹²

A PNO vehicle cannot be driven, moved, or parked on a public road. When you want to use it again, you’ll pay full registration for the current year and meet all smog and insurance requirements first. File PNO by checking the designated box on your renewal notice, online, at a kiosk, or by contacting the DMV.¹³ File before your registration expires. The DMV allows a 90-day window after expiration if the vehicle was not operated, but late penalties still apply.

After You Pay

Once payment clears, the DMV mails your updated registration card and a new color-coded year sticker. Expect delivery in about two weeks.¹⁴ Kiosk renewals produce both items immediately.

When the sticker arrives, place it over the existing year sticker on the rear license plate. Keep the registration card in the vehicle; law enforcement may ask to see it during a traffic stop. Check the printed name, address, VIN, and expiration date against your records right away, and contact the DMV if anything is wrong.

If nothing arrives after a few weeks, you can request replacements online or by mailing a completed REG 156 form. Replacements sent because the originals were never received are free.¹⁵

Moving a Car With Expired Registration

If your registration has lapsed and you need to move the vehicle for repairs, an inspection, dismantling, or a smog check, request a one-day moving permit from the DMV, CHP, AAA, or an authorized business partner. The permit is free and covers a single day. The moving date must fall within 60 days of when the permit is issued.¹⁶

Refunds After Moving Out of State

If you leave California after paying for a registration period you won’t use, you can apply for a partial refund. The vehicle must have left the state before the first day of the new registration period. Complete an Application for Refund (ADM 399) with your VIN, plate number, date and location where fees were paid, and payment method, and mail it to the address printed on the form.¹⁷

1
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Renew Your Vehicle’s Registration
2
California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 16028 – Financial Responsibility
3
California Legislative Information. California Code Health and Safety Code HSC 44011
4
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Smog Inspections
5
California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code VEH 4159
6
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Submit a Change of Address Online
7
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Online Registration Renewal
8
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration Fees
9
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Kiosks
10
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Penalties
11
California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 4000 – Vehicles Subject to Registration
12
California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code VEH 4604
13
California DMV. Planned Nonoperation Filing
14
CA.gov. Get Your Vehicle Registration Status
15
California DMV. Replacement License Plates and Stickers
16
California DMV. Temporary Operating Permits
17
California DMV. Payments and Refunds