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Section 11

Vehicle Licensing and Registration

11.5 Required Registration Fees

1. No person shall drive, move, or leave standing upon a highway, or in an off street public parking facility, any motor vehicle unless it is registered and the appropriate fees have been paid under the code. [V.C. §4000]
   
   
2. Registration Fee Collection:
   1. Registration fees are due at time of retail sale if:
      1. The registration has already expired.
      2. The registration will expire within 30 days of the date of sale. [V.C. §5902.5]
      3. The vehicle is from out-of-state.


3. A registration certificate and fees are not required when the registration expires on a vehicle while in a dealer's inventory, or pending a lien sale. However, registration fees become due and must be paid within 30 days of the date of sale. [V.C. §4604] If a vehicle has expired registration when the dealer acquires it, the dealer should immediately post fees with the DMV to pay those penalties and prevent the penalties from increasing.


4. A dealer may not include, as an added cost to the selling price of a vehicle, an amount for licensing or transfer of title of the vehicle, which is not due to the state unless, prior to the sale, that amount has been paid by a dealer to the state in order to avoid penalties that would have accrued because of late payment of the fees. However, a dealer may collect from the second purchaser of a vehicle a prorated fee based upon the number of months remaining in the registration year for that vehicle. This is allowed in circumstances where the vehicle had been previously sold by the dealer, the sale was subsequently rescinded, and all the fees that were paid under the Revenue and Taxation Code were returned by the dealer to the first purchaser of the vehicle.


5. 2004 Registration Fee updates:
   1. The prior $28.00 registration fee for all non-exempt vehicles and trailer coaches is now increased to $31.00. [V.C. 9250].
   2. The $1.00 or $3.00 commercial fees collected on all vehicles subject to registration pursuant to V.C. 9250.8 are now increased to $3.00 and $9.00, respectively.
   3. The $1.00 or $3.00 commercial fees collected on all vehicles subject to registration pursuant to V.C. 9250.13 are now increased to $6.00 and $12.00, respectively. [V.C. 9250.8]
   4. The $10.00 service fee assessed for registering vehicles purchased new or previously registered out of state, and the $6.00 fee for re-registering a currently registered California vehicle during the same registration year, are now increased to $15.00 each.


6. Trailers: Permanent Trailer Identification ("PTI"):
   1. The Commercial Vehicle Registration Act of 2001, changes the way standard trailers (no park trailers, park trailer boats, coach built trailers, or trailer coaches), are registered.
   2. Annual registration eliminated for most trailers.
   3. Fees:
      1. $10.00 for PTI service fee (due every 5 years)
      2. $20.00 for new trailers, conversions, and non-resident trailers
      3. $10.00 for paper title
      4. $7.00 for transfer
      5. $8.00 for substitute plate
      6. $10.00 for electronic lien and title
   4. Duration: 5 years.
   5. Weight certificates are no longer required. Dealers can certify weight on PTL application.
   6. You receive either a PTI plate or PTI sticker if you want to keep your original plates.
   7. Special plates or personal plates may be used on a trailer.
   8. Dealer completes new Permanent Trailer Identification Certification (REG 4017) to transfer trailers. These forms may be obtained online at www.dmv.ca.gov, or by fax at (916) 928-7900.
   9. Further Questions? Call the DMV Customer Communications Section at (916) 657-6560.

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