Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a new state transplant, keeping up with California car registration requirements (and their associated fees) can be an outright challenge.
Each year, California updates something about the process, paperwork, deadlines, and fee structure to keep its residents on their toes.
This guide will take you through a comprehensive overview of California Car Registration Fees for 2025, what vehicle registration is, why you need it, and how to register a car in California.
Registering a Car in California
Driving on California roadways is a privilege the state expects you to pay for. In addition to California car insurance mandates, owners of cars within the state must also pay car registration and title fees.
Registration by Vehicle Type
Registering a vehicle in California is based on the type of registration. This car registration fee in California guide will focus on car registration. However, separate unique registrations are required for motorcycles, custom-built cars, special vehicles, and off-highway vehicles.
Where or How you Purchased the Car Also Matters for Car Registration
The process for registering your vehicle and paying the registration fee varies based on how you purchased the car (or rather where or through whom). For example, handling the registration process varies depending on:
- If you bought the car from a private party (i.e., Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, or an ad in the paper)
- If you purchased the vehicle from a licensed dealership
As if that wasn’t complicated enough, there is a separate process for converting a ‘non-transferable’ registration to one that is ‘transferable’ in California.
Registration is a California Legal Requirement
No matter your situation or circumstance, if you are considered a ‘resident’ of California, you are required by state law to register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles, also known as the DMV.
How California Determines Residency
For car registration and fees, the state defines a resident as anyone who:
- Is employed by a company within the state
- Has a home in the state which they claim a tax exemption for
- Leases or rents an apartment or home within the state
- Applies to any state-issued documents, such as voter registration or a driver’s license
- Enrolls a dependent in school within the state (including universities)
California Car Registration Process and Fees Overview
As a New Resident of the State
As a New Resident in the state, you have no more than 20 days to pay California car registration fees on your vehicle with the state’s DMV. Failure to do so will result in additional late payments and the standard registration fee(s).
Process Overview:
- Fill out Form REG 343 (Application for Title or Registration)
- Have available your vehicle’s current registration and title from your former state
- Have available proof of current insurance
- Obtain a valid smog and emissions certificate (if required for your car)
- Pay the necessary fees (more on this later)
A DMV representative will complete your car’s VIN inspection as part of this process. Presuming there aren’t any hiccups, you will be issued a registration card, plates, and stickers for your car.
Note: Commercial vehicles require a “declaration of gross vehicle weight/combined gross vehicle weight as per Form REG 4008.
Registration If You Purchased Your Car from a Dealership
Those who purchase a vehicle from a California-based dealership have it the easiest. In most cases, the dealership will offer concierge service, handling the registration paperwork and process for you from start to finish.
Not only that, but they will also provide you with a ‘temporary certificate of registration’ to have on hand until your official proof of registration arrives from the DMV.
Registration If You Purchased Your Car from a Private Party
Private party sales are more popular than ever before. With the emergence of fees for car registration, Facebook marketplace, and other third-party platforms for sales, more individuals are turning to digital classified ads (or even newspaper ads) for cars being sold by a private party.
However, registration can be more challenging when buying from a private party.
From the date of the purchase, California gives you just a short ten days to get your act together and register your car with the CA DMV. Please do so within that window to avoid late fees that can add up.
However, the short window to do this isn’t the only inconvenience; your initial registration on the car must be completed in person.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Schedule an appointment here
- Complete Form REG 343 (application for title or registration)
- Have the vehicle’s title handy
- If the car is less than ten years old, note the odometer reading
- If the vehicle is over four years old, you’ll need a valid smog and emissions certificate
- Payment of associated registration fees (more on this below)
TIP: If the seller cannot locate the title for your car, you can file for a Duplicate or Paperless Title using Form REG 227. TIP: The seller is required to provide you with a valid smog certificate
Car Registration Fees in CA
The state imposes several fees associated with the registration of your car. The exact fees you’ll owe vary based on several factors.
Required Car Registration Fees
- Registration Fee: $60
- Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF): varies based on the value of your car and can be as little as $0 and way up to $188
- State Highway Patrol (CHP) Fee: $27
Late Car Registration Fees
Suppose you miss the deadlines mentioned above (20 days for new residents, ten days for private sales). In that case, you’ll be subject to late fees that increase with the duration of the delinquency.
Vehicle Registration Late Fee Penalties:
- $30 if less than one year delinquent
- $50 if between 1-2 years delinquent
- $100 if more than two years delinquent
California Highway Patrol Late Fee Penalties:
- $30 if less than one year delinquent
- $50 if between 1-2 years delinquent
- $100 if more than two years delinquent
How Does California Calculate Car Registration Fees?
What you can expect to pay for YOUR car varies, which makes it challenging to register fees by car type plan for the type of fees you’ll be subject to. Luckily, the state provides a calculator called the “California VLF Calculator” to help you get a more accurate estimate based on your situation.
How Your California Registration Fees Are Determined:
- Type of vehicle
- Vehicle’s declared value or purchase price
- The date your car entered the state
- The date your vehicle was purchased in the state
- The county you live in
- The city you live in
- The gross vehicle weight (GVW)
- Number of axles your car has
- Special license plate (if applicable)
- Any unpaid toll evasions or parking violations on record
Key Takeaways On California Car Registration Fees in 2025
Whether you’ve recently moved or are a lifelong resident of the state, keeping informed about the changing policies, fees, and procedures for car registration is something everyone in California has to contend with.
Each year (2025 included), the state updates its policies. Sometimes, these are as simple as increased fees. However, in other cases, they can be significant changes that can significantly impact your life or wallet if you’re not paying attention.
We hope you found this guide helpful. Remember, fees may change based on state laws, so always check back for updates such as How to Sell a Car in California or California Car Seat Laws.
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