History

California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 1685 authorized DMV to enter into contracts with qualified private industry partners for the purpose of processing vehicle registration and titling transactions. Pursuant to CVC 1685, DMV established the Business Partner Automation (BPA) Program. CVC 1685 required the Department to establish regulations necessary to support the BPA Program. The regulations were formerly adopted on August 11, 2003, and can be viewed in their entirety at: www.dmv.ca.gov/other services/review and comment on proposed changes to DMV regulations

The Power of Partnerships

DMV has established an electronic BPA Program that allows qualified industry businesses to process vehicle related transactions from their remote locations. Business partners are authorized to process and issue validated registration cards, full year registration stickers and automobile and commercial vehicle license plates.

The BPA Program currently allows business partners to process:

• New Vehicle Reports of Sale
• Full Year Registration Renewals
• Registered Owner Transfers
• Salvage Applications
• Junk Applications
• Non-Repairable Applications
• Vehicle License Fee (VLF)Refunds*
• Legal owner transfers*
• Non-resident vehicles*
• Miscellaneous originals*
• Duplicate titles
• Vessels

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The BPA Program offers a variety of benefits such as:

• Saves time, may increase revenue and allows you to have full control over the transactions processed from your location.
• Allows you to submit the exact fees calculated by DMV, eliminates bundle credits, ASF and issuing checks to DMV.
• Reduce trips to DMV to submit your work.
• May eliminate your inquiries to DMV.
• Enhanced customer service – another way to offer the best possible service to your customers.
• Customers will benefit from the one-stop registration service by getting their plates, registration cards, and stickers directly from you.
• Customers will no longer have to wait for their plates, which will eliminate telephone calls to you regarding the status of their license plates.
• Provide your customers alternative payment options, such as paying their registration fees with a credit card.

If you are interested in becoming a business partner or would like more information on the Business Partner Automation Program, you may contact the Program Administrator at bpa@dmv.ca.gov or (916) 657-6258.

The BPA Program is comprised of the following type of business partners:

• First-Line Business Partner A partner who receives information from the Department and uses it to complete registration and titling activities for that partner’s own business purposes.
• First Line Service Provider A partner who receives information from the Department and transmits it to another authorized business partner.
• Second-Line Business Partner A partner that receives information from a First-Line Service Provider.

Who Can Become:
A First-Line Business Partner?
A First-Line Service Provider?
A Second-Line Business Partner?

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Who Can Become A First-Line Business Partner?

Any company that has a business need to process vehicle registration and titling applications for their own business need and comply with the following requirements can become a First-Line Business Partner:

• Establish a communication link through the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
• Develop the programming necessary to process vehicle registration transactions.
• Develop a database to track inventory.
• Develop a training and security awareness program for their employees or Second-Line Business Partners.
• Submit a Security Pre-implementation checklist.
• Submit a $650,000 surety bond.
• Submit a BPA Application and fee.
• Submit a Statement of Personal History Questionnaire and Department of Justice fingerprints for each employee directly involved in the BPA Program. (Approved live scan facilities can be located at: http://caag.state.ca.us/fingerprints/index.htm)

The Department holds the First-Line Business Partner responsible for all fees due to the Department and requires them to be paid via an Electronic Fund Transfer.

Who Can Become A First-Line Service Provider?

Any company who can comply with the following requirements can become a First-Line Service Provider:

• Establish a communication link through the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
• Develop the programming necessary to process vehicle registration transactions.
• Develop a database to track inventory.
• Develop a training and security awareness program for their employees or Second-line Business Partners.
• Submit a Security Pre-implementation checklist.
• Submit a $1,000,000 surety bond
• Submit a BPA Application and fee.
• Submit a Statement of Personal History Questionnaire and Department of Justice fingerprints for each employee directly involved in the BPA Program. (Approved live scan facilities can be located at: http://caag.state.ca.us/fingerprints/index.htm)
• Assume the responsibility for all fees due the Department.

The Department holds the First-Line Service Provider responsible for all fees due to the Department and requires them to be paid via an Electronic Fund Transfer.

Who Can Become A Second-Line Business Partner?

The following types of companies can become a Second-Line Business Partner:

• Registration Services
• New/Used Vehicle Dealers
• Vehicle Rental Companies
• Vehicle Leasing Companies
• Dismantlers
• Salvage Pools

A Second-Line Business Partner must contract with a First-Line Service Provider and comply with the following requirements:

• Obtain and maintain a valid occupational license if they're a dealer, dismantler or registration service.
• Have or purchase personal computers and printers.
• Find a location suitable for processing registration transactions.
• Submit a $50,000 surety bond if processing New Vehicle Report of Sales, Full Year Registration Renewal, Registered Owner Transfer, Salvage, Junk, Non-Repairable or Vehicle License Fee (VLF) Refund transactions or any combination of transactions. OR
• Submit a $10,000 surety bond if processing Full Year Registration Renewals only.
• Submit a Security Pre-implementation checklist.
• Submit a BPA Application and fee.
• Submit a Statement of Personal History Questionnaire and Department of Justice fingerprints for each employee directly involved in the BPA Program. (Approved live scan facilities can be located at: http://caag.state.ca.us/fingerprints/index.htm)

Second-Line Business Partners are responsible for collecting the registration fees due to the Department and remitting them to their respective First-Line Service Provider.

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For additional information, see the following frequently asked questions:

• How Much Are The Application and Fingerprint Fees?
• Can I Charge a Fee For My Services?
• Does DMV Charge a Service Fee?
• Can BPA Business Partners Perform Inquiries to DMV's Records?
• BPA Program Forms

How Much Are The Application and Fingerprint Fees?

The application fee is $324 for the principal place of business and $130 for each branch added with the application. The application fee is valid for the term of the contract, which is 36 months.

The fingerprint fee for the Department of Justice is $42.00 for each employee and business owner*. Applicants must also pay a service fee to the agency that processes the fingerprints.

* A business owner who is also a current occupational licensee does not have to obtain fingerprints.

Can I Charge a Fee For My Services?

Yes, you may charge for your services. Companies participating in the BPA Program are allowed to charge their customers a service fee for each type of transaction processed through to completion. However, you are restricted to the following maximum amounts:

Licensed vehicle dealers and dismantlers may charge up to $25.00 for each type of transaction, in addition to any other fees authorized by statute.

Licensed registration services may charge up to $25.00 for each New Vehicle Report Of Sale and Full Year Registration Renewal.

They may also charge up to $75.00 for each type of transaction listed below:

• Registered Owner Transfer
• Salvage Application
• Junk Application
• Non-Repairable Application

Salvage Pools may also charge up to $75.00 for each type of transaction, with the exception of VLF Refund transactions.

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Does DMV Charge a Service Fee?

Yes, DMV charges a $4.00 transaction fee for each transaction processed through to completion. The transaction fee may be charged to the customer in addition to the service fee.

Exception: Payment of a transaction fee for vehicle license fee refund transactions shall not be required.

Can BPA Business Partners Perform Inquiries to DMV's Records?

The inquiry process is not available within the BPA Program. Customers interested in obtaining inquiry capability should contact DMV Communication Program Division's Account Processing Unit at (916) 657-5564.

Forms: (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the forms)

The forms necessary to enroll in the BPA Program are listed below:

• Business Partner Automation Surety Bond REG. 866
• Statement of Personal History Questionnaire REG. 4019
• First-Line Service Provider Application REG.4023
• First-Line Business Partner Application REG. 4024
• Second-Line Business Partner Application REG. 4025
• Representative Non-Disclosure Statement REG. 4028
• First-Line Business/Service Provider Information Security Pre-implementation Checklist EXEC 5555A
• Second-Line Business Partner Information Security Pre-implementation Checklist EXEC 5555B
• Information Security and Disclosure Statement Public/Private Partnerships Employee EXEC 200X
• Information Security and Disclosure Statement Public/Private Partnerships Firm EXEC 201X

Additional BPA Program Forms:

• Audit Self Certification REG. 4016
• Service Provider Change REG. 4022
• Application for Changes REG. 4026
• Business Partner Automation Renewal Application REG. 5056
• Automation Disclaimer REG. 4020 (3-part form with NCR paper, cannot be placed on the web site)