Renewing California Vehicle Registration

California registration renews annually on the date printed on your registration card and the small sticker on your rear license plate. The DMV mails a renewal notice 60 days before the expiration; the easiest renewal path is online, through one of the state's many self-service kiosks, or at a participating AAA branch.

Renewal channels

Online (MyDMV)

Log into MyDMV at the California DMV website and select "Renew Vehicle Registration." You'll need the renewal notice, the last 5 digits of your VIN, a current insurance policy on file, and a debit/credit card or eCheck. Confirmation is immediate; the new sticker arrives in 5-10 business days.

DMV NOW kiosks

Self-service kiosks accept renewals on the spot, printing the new sticker immediately. Kiosks are located in many DMV field offices and at participating grocery and convenience stores across California. Find one with the DMV NOW kiosk locator.

AAA branches

AAA members can complete most California registration renewals at participating AAA Auto Travel branches. The fee is the same as the DMV charge plus a small AAA processing fee for non-members. AAA branches typically have shorter waits than DMV field offices.

By mail

Mail the renewal notice and a check or money order to the address printed on the form. Allow 4-6 weeks. Mail renewals are useful for owners temporarily out of state who need a paper trail.

In person

Required only when an issue blocks the other channels: missed smog inspection, insurance lapse, parking-ticket hold, change of ownership pending, or an in-person ID check has been flagged.

Smog inspection cycles

Most California gasoline vehicles model year 1976 and newer require a smog inspection every two years (in odd-numbered renewal cycles based on the model year). Most counties enforce the program, with rural exemptions in a few far-northern counties. The inspection has to be completed at a state-licensed Smog Check station; a passing certificate is electronically transmitted to the DMV, which clears the renewal automatically.

Late-fee schedule

California's late-fee schedule starts climbing the day after expiration:

• 1-10 days late: $30 penalty plus a percentage-of-fee surcharge.
• 11-30 days late: Higher percentage of total fees.
• 30+ days late: Full late-fee schedule plus possible registration revocation.

Driving on expired tags can also produce a "fix-it" ticket from any officer who notices, with an additional fine on top of the DMV's late penalty.

Parking and toll ticket holds

California cities can place a registration hold for unpaid parking tickets. The DMV won't process the renewal until the issuing city or county releases the hold. Toll-evasion citations from FasTrak and other tolling agencies follow a similar process. Pay or contest these citations early — finding out about them on renewal day is the most expensive way to handle them.

Insurance verification

California's CIVS (California Insurance Verification System) syncs with the DMV in near-real time. If your insurer hasn't reported active coverage, the renewal portal will reject the transaction. Ask your insurer to file an electronic confirmation if your policy is recent.