California DMV Form REG 256A, Miscellaneous Certifications, is a single form that covers five unrelated fee exemptions or vehicle categories: disabled veteran, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) diplomatic vehicles, Native American tribal vehicles, stolen or embezzled vehicles, and vehicles built for human habitation. You fill in the identifying fields at the top, complete only the one lettered section that matches your situation, sign Section F under penalty of perjury, and submit the form with any supporting documents to a DMV field office or by mail to the Special Processing Unit in Sacramento.
The form is a free fillable PDF on the California DMV website, and paper copies are available at any field office. Typing your entries on-screen before printing avoids the readability problems that slow down handwritten submissions. The back of the form carries a medical certification block used only with the disabled veteran section.
Information Required at the Top of the Form
Every REG 256A needs the same identifying information regardless of which section you’re claiming: the 17-character vehicle identification number from the dashboard or driver-side door jamb, the license plate number, the vehicle’s year and make, and your full legal name as it appears on the current registration.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. REG 256A Miscellaneous Certifications
Section A: Disabled Veteran
Section A is the exemption most filers use. Under Vehicle Code §9105, a qualifying disabled veteran is exempt from nearly all registration fees on one vehicle (a passenger car, motorcycle, or commercial vehicle under 8,001 pounds unladen weight) as long as it is not used for hire or profit.2California Legislative Information. California Code VEH – Section 9105 Fees for duplicate plates, duplicate certificates, and duplicate registration cards are not covered.
Check the one box that describes your qualifying disability:
- A diagnosed disease or disorder that substantially impairs mobility (100% disability rating).
- Inability to move without an assistive device.
- Loss, or loss of use, of one or more limbs.
- Permanent blindness as defined under Welfare and Institutions Code §19153.
Along with the completed front of the form, submit a letter from a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office stating your service-connected disabilities, your current registration card in your name, and either the medical certification on the reverse side of the REG 256A signed by a licensed medical provider or a USDVA certification letter confirming you meet the qualifications under Vehicle Code §295.7.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. Disabled Veteran License Plates and Fees Exemption The USDVA letter can be requested through a County Veterans Service Office or a CalVet District Office if you don’t have one on hand.
Section B: TECO Certification
Section B is for officers and designated employees of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. Vehicles issued Foreign Organization License Plates through this program are exempt from all fees, including use tax, except for transfers, duplicate certificates, plates, and stickers.4California Department of Motor Vehicles. Foreign Organization License Plates Complete this section with your Board of Equalization Tax Exemption Card details and your Department of State ID card information.
Section C: Native American Tribal Certification
Section C covers two related exemptions under Vehicle Code §9104.5 and Revenue and Taxation Code §10781.1. A vehicle owned or leased by a California Native American tribal member living on a federal reservation or rancheria in California is exempt from the vehicle license fee whether driven on or off public highways. A vehicle registered to a federally recognized tribe and used exclusively within tribal boundaries is exempt from all fees except the base registration fee.5California Department of Motor Vehicles. California Native American Tribes/Tribal Members
Check the appropriate box indicating whether the vehicle is tribally owned and whether it will be used exclusively within tribal boundaries. Both exemptions must be re-established every year at renewal, so a fresh REG 256A is required annually.
Section D: Stolen or Embezzled Vehicle
When a vehicle is stolen or embezzled, registration fees and penalties stop accruing during the period you were deprived of possession. Section D certifies the theft to qualify for that waiver. Enter the reporting law enforcement agency, the date of theft, and, if applicable, the date of recovery.6California Department of Motor Vehicles. Stolen or Embezzled Vehicles
The waiver covers only the theft-to-recovery window. Fees and penalties that had already accrued before the theft (for example, from driving with expired registration) are still owed, and fees start running again the first time you operate the vehicle after recovery.
Section E: Certification of Vehicle for Human Habitation
Section E is required when registering a housecar, meaning a motor vehicle originally designed or permanently altered to provide living quarters. The DMV uses this certification to determine what type of housecar is being registered, which affects how fees are calculated.7California Department of Motor Vehicles. Housecars “Human habitation” on the form refers to living space that includes features such as closets, cabinets, kitchen fixtures, or a bathroom.
Check one box:
- New vehicle manufactured for human habitation, such as a factory-built motorhome.
- New vehicle modified by a licensed van converter into living quarters.
- Permanently modified vehicle, meaning one with a camper permanently attached or converted into a motorhome after original manufacture.
Section F: Signing Under Penalty of Perjury
After completing the section that applies to you, sign and date Section F at the bottom. The signature line carries a declaration under penalty of perjury under California law. A false statement can be prosecuted as perjury under Penal Code §126, which carries two, three, or four years in state prison.8California Legislative Information. California Code PEN – Section 126 Even without a perjury charge, a false statement to the DMV is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine. Check every entry before you sign.
Where to Submit the Form
You can submit the completed REG 256A along with all supporting documents in one of two ways.
In person at any California DMV field office. A clerk can review the packet on the spot, which is useful for catching missing items before you leave.
By mail to: Department of Motor Vehicles, Special Processing Unit, MS D238, P.O. Box 932345, Sacramento, CA 94232-0001.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. REG 256A Miscellaneous Certifications Use certified mail or another trackable method, include any fees for the underlying transaction in the same envelope, and keep a photocopy of the whole package.
What Happens After You Submit
In-person submissions for straightforward certifications are often handled the same day. Mailed submissions to the Special Processing Unit can take several weeks. If anything is missing or incorrect, the DMV mails a notice to the address on file explaining what additional evidence or corrections are needed. Approved changes, such as an updated registration card reflecting the exemption, arrive by standard mail. Disabled veteran plates and the updated registration follow once the application clears.
For the tribal exemption in Section C, the certification does not carry over. File a new REG 256A with each annual renewal to keep the exemption active.