California vehicle registration fees are calculated based on several factors, including:
- Vehicle type (car, motorcycle, etc.)
- Purchase price or declared value of the vehicle.
- Time (e.g., date of purchase or date the vehicle entered California).
- City and/or county where you reside.
- City and/or county where your business is located (if applicable).
- Unladen weight or declared gross vehicle weight (GVW) and number of axles.
- Special license plates (if applicable).
- Unpaid parking violations or toll evasion (if applicable).
When registering a vehicle for highway use, you will be required to pay the following fees:
- Registration fee
- California Highway Patrol (CHP) fee
- Vehicle license fee
- Transportation improvement fee
- County/district fees
To help residents estimate vehicle registration costs, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides an online vehicle registration fee calculator. Estimated results will vary depending on the information you enter. All fees are subject to change by law.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) fees are specifically mandated by law and have varying fee schedules for different vehicle types and violation durations.
Information request fees encompass electronic or manual information lookup fees, as well as vehicle history record search fees.
For motorcycles, registration, plate replacement, and transfer fees are all fixed. Other fees, such as the alternative fuel fee, smog abatement fee, and duplicate title fee, are also clearly defined.
Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) have a different registration cycle and fee structure than regular vehicles. This fee is collected biennially to support the OHV Trust Fund and DMV administrative costs.
The DMV does not offer a grace period for annual vehicle registration fee payments. Late payments will incur penalties based on the degree of lateness. Penalties are calculated as a percentage of the vehicle license fee plus late registration and late CHP fees.
For new vehicles or vehicles never before registered in California, penalties are also calculated as a percentage of the vehicle license fee. There are also fees such as Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) fees, permit fees, registration fees, Road Improvement Fees (RIF), and Vehicle License Fees (VLF). Vessels also have registration and Quagga Mussel sticker fees if applicable. Finally, special license plate fees and disabled person/veteran placard fees are specifically listed.
