Payments
There are several options for payment: online, over the phone, at a kiosk, by mail, or in person at a DMV office, depending on your application type and eligibility.
Refunds
You can request refunds for vehicle registration, driver licenses, ID cards, insurance, and other fees and penalties collected by DMV. DMV issues refunds in cases where you accidentally paid the wrong fee, or when a fee wasn’t required but you paid one.
The following circumstances may qualify you for a refund of fees paid:
- The renewal fees were paid after the vehicle was sold.
- The vehicle was wrecked, junked, salvaged, or stolen before the first day of the new registration period.
- You are nonresident military personnel or a nonresident spouse and paid the vehicle license fee in error.
- The vehicle left California before the first day of the new registration period.
- You decide before the first day of the new registration period that the vehicle will not be operated and file for Planned Nonoperation (PNO). The PNO fee will be deducted from your refund.
Simply complete and mail an Application for Refund (ADM 399) along with any required documentation to the address provided on the form.
You will need…
- The vehicle identification number (VIN) or hull identification number (HIN) of the vehicle or vessel for which you are requesting a refund.
- If you are requesting a refund for driver’s license fees, have your driver’s license number handy. If you are requesting a refund for registration fees or penalties, have your vehicle license plate number (or boat/vessel registration number) handy.
- Know the date fees were paid, the name of the location where they were paid, and the payment method used.
Refund of Vehicle License Fee (VLF) on Total Loss Vehicles
California law provides for a prorated refund of the VLF (in lieu of property tax) portion of the registration fees paid when your vehicle becomes:
- An Unrecovered Total Loss- A vehicle subject to registration which was stolen and not recovered within 60 days after the police report date. The vehicle must be transferred to the individual or company (insurance company, etc.) who paid you for the loss of your vehicle (California Revenue and Taxation Code (CRTC) §10902).
- A Constructive Total Loss- A vehicle which was wrecked, destroyed, or damaged to such extent that the owner, or the insurance company, considers it uneconomical to repair the vehicle and because of this, the vehicle is not repaired by or for the person who owned the vehicle per California Vehicle Code (CVC) §544. A Salvage Certificate must be issued for this vehicle before a refund request will be processed (per CVC §11515 and CRTC §10902).
- A Nonrepairable- A vehicle with no value except as a source of parts or scrap metal, or was found completely stripped after theft, or was completely burned (per CVC §431). A Nonrepairable Certificate must be issued for this vehicle before a refund will be processed.
The owner of the salvage vehicle may request a refund of the prorated VLF. The owner of the salvage vehicle can usually be determined as follows:
- The insurance company is the owner if you received a settlement for your loss and possession of the salvaged vehicle is retained by an insurance provider or their agent.
- You are the owner if you retained the salvaged vehicle following a determination by your insurance provider that your vehicle is uneconomical to repair y:
- No repairs are initiated by you or in your behalf, and
- You applied for a Salvage Certificate or Non-repairable Certificate.
If you are not sure that the VLF refund was included as part of your settlement you should contact your insurance provider for verification. DMV does not have this information. Persons who were cited for violations of CVC §§23152, 23153, or 23103 as specified in §23103.5 (sections related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs), incidental to the loss, are not eligible for this refund.
The amount of the VLF refund is based on one-twelfth of the annual VLF for each full month that remains until the vehicle registration expires. The registration fee, weight fee and miscellaneous fees are not subject to refund. A total loss vehicle partial VLF refund service fee will be deducted from the refund. If the service fee is more than the amount of VLF subject to refund, no refund will be issued.
Complete an Application for Vehicle License Refund (REG 65) form as follows.
- Part A- For an unrecovered total loss vehicle (stolen).
- Part B- For a constructive total loss or non-repairable vehicle (wrecked, destroyed, or damaged by a single event).
You must have a Salvage Certificate or Non-repairable Certificate prior to submitting a REG 65 form. Mail the completed REG 65 to the address shown on the form.
For Salvage Certificate or Non-repairable Certificate information see the brochure, How to Obtain a Salvage Certificate or Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificate (HTVR) 16.
All refund checks will be issued from DMV Headquarters in Sacramento.
Dishonored Payments
If you received a “Demand for Payment” letter for a dishonored check, you have three payment options:
Pay Online
Make a payment for a dishonored check (DC).
Pay By Mail
- Send a cashier’s check or money order payable to DMV.
- Do not mail cash. Do not send a personal check or credit card payment information. Dishonored checks cannot be paid by personal check or credit card.
- Write your account number on the front of your payment.
- Your account number is the ten-digit number located in the upper right hand corner of the Demand for Payment letter.
Mail your payment and a copy of the Demand for Payment letter to:
DMV
Revenue Services Support Unit
Mail Station C140
PO Box 825341
Sacramento, CA 94232-5341
Pay in Person at a DMV Office
Bring with you:
- Cash, an ATM/debit card, credit card, digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay), a cashier’s check, or money order made payable to DMV.
- Dishonored checks cannot be paid by personal check.
- Digital wallet transactions will be charged a 2.1% service fee.
- A copy of the Demand for Payment letter. If the Demand for Payment letter is lost and the dishonored check was for your:
- Vehicle: Bring your vehicle license plate number.
- Driver’s license: Bring your driver’s license.
- Identification card: Bring your identification card.
Reissue Fees
A reissue fee is a fee paid to reinstate a driving privilege which has been suspended or revoked.
The following is a list of reissue fees:
- $15 to add a court restriction
- $20 to remove a driver’s license restriction
- $24 drug suspension
- $55 reissue fee (the most common type of reissue fee)
- Anyone who had their license suspended or revoked has to pay an administrative fee of $55 to have their license reissued.
- $100 preliminary alcohol screening (PAS)
- $100 Admin Per Se (APS)
- $85 APS (partial payment of the $100 APS fee)
- $45 APS (partial payment of the $100 APS fee)
FAQs
DMV has removed failure to pay notations from all driver records and notified customers who had qualifying suspensions removed.
Since Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed Assembly Bill 103 (AB 103) into law on June 27, 2017, DMV no longer accepts FTP notices from courts and cannot suspend or withhold a driver’s license for that reason.
No. If you fail to appear in court for a ticket, the court can still send an FTA notification to DMV, and DMV can suspend your driving privilege for that reason.
Yes.
If you fail to pay a ticket fine or court fees, the DMV will not suspend or withhold your driver’s license or make a notation on your driver’s record. However, you are still obligated to pay your fines or fees to the court.
No. The DMV has not been noting FTP on driver’s records since June 27, 2017, and has removed all past FTP notations from driver’s records. This applies to all drivers in the DMV database.
The DMV removed FTP suspensions that occurred before June 27, 2017, from all driver’s records.
The DMV sent notifications to customers who had an FTP suspension removed during spring 2018. If you do not receive a notification, you may want to get a copy of your driver’s record (see Question 8) to confirm the suspension removal.
Some customers still might have a suspended license for other reasons.
There are three ways to request a copy of your driver’s record:
- Online ($2 fee).
- By mail ($5 fee):
- In person at your local DMV office ($5 fee).
The DMV will not restore your driving privilege until you resolve the other suspensions or holds. Some customers receiving the FTP removal notification might still have a suspended license for other reasons, and this action will not resolve those suspensions. For example, a DUI-related suspension will not be affected by this change.
To find out if you have other suspensions or holds on your driver’s record, you can request a copy en línea, by mail, or at a DMV field office. DMV will charge a reissue fee for restoring driving privilege for customers with suspensions other than an FTP.
No action should be necessary for customers. DMV removed FTP suspensions and restored driving privileges to eligible Californians. However, if you believe you are eligible and your license is still suspended for an FTP, you can contact DMV by calling 1-800-777-0133.
Also make sure DMV has your correct address. If you have moved, you can update your address online.
If you have a valid driver’s license, you can legally drive without any further steps.
If your license has expired or you are no longer in possession of it, you must visit a DMV field office to apply for a renewal or a duplicate, and pay the corresponding fee. Vision and/or knowledge tests might be required.
If you are unsure if you have other suspensions on your record, contact DMV by calling 1-800-777-0133 or request a copy of your driver’s record to verify that DMV restored your driving privilege.
No. All credit/debit card transactions are charged a non-refundable service fee from the company processing the credit/debit card transaction for DMV.
You can submit an ADM 399 form within three years after the payment was made. DMV is not able to process an ADM 399 form beyond this due to the statute of limitations.
Exception: Nonresident military (NRM) and members of a force/civilian component of the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) who are not citizens of the United States (U.S.) may request a refund of the vehicle license fee (VLF) and/or transportation improvement fee (TIF) more than three years after payment of fees.
You will receive your refund, or a request for more information, from DMV in approximately 30 days from the date of your refund application.
No.
No.
No. A refund is not due because the vehicle/vessel was currently registered at the time of sale. The vehicle registration fees are tied to the vehicle, not the vehicle owner.
Yes. Registration fees paid after the sale of a vehicle/vessel are refundable.
- For example, if you sold your vehicle July 1st, but accidentally paid the registration fees on July 25th, for the registration fees due on July 31st, you are entitled a refund.
To get your refund, you will need to submit the following to DMV: - A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399)
- A completed and signed Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) OR a copy of the confirmation page from DMV’s online Notice of Release of Liability
- The registration card/certificate of number AND the unused sticker.
- If you don’t have your registration card/certificate of number and/or the unused sticker, complete a Statement of Facts (REG 256) to explain why the item(s) can’t be returned.
Yes. Planned Nonoperation (PNO) refunds can be requested up to 90 days after registration period starts if the vehicle was not operated. The PNO fee will be subtracted from the refund amount by DMV.
This does not apply to vessels or coach trailers as they can’t be placed on a PNO status.
To get your refund, you will need to submit the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399)
- A completed and signed PNO (REG 102) form.
- The registration card AND the unused sticker.
- If you don’t have your registration card and/or the unused sticker, complete a Statement of Facts (REG 256) to explain why the item(s) can’t be returned.
To get your refund, you will need to submit the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399)
- A copy of your DMV receipts showing that you paid twice OR
- Proof of double-payment:
- If you paid by check(s), include a copy of the front and back of the cancelled check(s).
- If you paid by credit/debit card, a copy of the statement(s) with the DMV transaction(s) highlighted.
To get your refund, you will need to submit the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399).
- A completed and signed Statement of Facts (REG 256) stating fees were paid and mailed prior to the expiration date.
Yes. To get your refund, you will need to send the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399).
- A completed and signed Statement of Facts (REG 256) stating you did not receive your renewal notice.
Yes, if the registration fees were paid after the vehicle was returned.
For example, if you returned your vehicle July 1st, but paid the registration fees on July 25th, for the registration fees due on July 31st, you are entitled a refund.
To get your refund, you will need to submit the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399).
- A completed and signed Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) OR a copy of the confirmation page from DMV’s online Notice of Release of Liability.
- The registration card/certificate of number AND the unused sticker.
- If you don’t have your registration card/certificate of number and/or the unused sticker, complete a Statement of Facts (REG 256) to explain why the item(s) can’t be returned.
Yes. To get your refund, you will need to submit the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399)
- Proof that your vehicle was registered in another state before your vehicle’s California registration expired, such as a copy of your vehicle’s current registration in the other state.
- Your California registration card, sticker, and license plates, if applicable.
- If you don’t have your registration card, license plates and/or the unused sticker, complete a Statement of Facts (REG 256) to explain why the item(s) can’t be returned.
Yes, for certain fees. The Vehicle License Fee (VLF) and the Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF) are refundable for nonresident military personnel (NRM) and members of a force/civilian component of the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) who are not U.S. citizens. You may request a refund more than three years after payment of fees.
To get your refund, you will need to submit the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399)
- Nonresident Military Vehicle License Fee Exemption (REG 5045)OR a NATO Status of Forces Agreement (REG 5046) form
- Must be completed and signed by the Commanding Officer.
This does not apply to vessels and coach trailers. This refund is for the VLF and TIF only.
Military personnel who are residents of California but deployed to a location outside the state may qualify for a renewal penalty waiver. Only penalties incurred during deployment may be waived.
To get your refund, you will need to submit the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399)
- Statement of Facts (REG 256) stating that you are a member of the armed forces, armed forces reserve, or the National Guard and the termination date of deployment.
When the disabled veteran exemption has been established, the registration renewal fees paid for the current year are refundable. The exemption is for one vehicle.
To get your refund, you will need to submit the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399)
- In the ‘Other’ field, list the reason for the refund request as the “disabled veteran fee exemption”.
No. A refund is not due when items are voluntarily requested.
No, not from DMV. For questions about use tax refunds, contact the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) at 1-800-400-7115.
You will need to contact the court(s) or parking/toll agency(ies) that issued the citation(s).
Yes, if the renewal fees were paid and the vehicle was wrecked, junked or stolen before the renewed registration period.
To get your refund, you will need to send the following to DMV:
- A completed and signed Application for Refund (ADM 399)
- A completed and signed Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) OR a copy of the confirmation page from DMV’s online Notice of Release of Liability (except for stolen vehicles).
- The registration card AND the unused sticker.
- If you don’t have your registration card and/or the unused sticker, complete a Statement of Facts (REG 256) to explain why the item(s) can’t be returned.
No.
No. The driver’s license application fees can’t be refunded.
You will need to contact DMV at 1-800-777-0133; Monday – Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
You will need to contact DMV at 1-916-229-3126 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Pacific Time.
You will need to contact DMV at 1-916-229-3128 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A Failure to Appear occurs when you do not appear in court for a traffic ticket hearing.
A recent appellate court decision, Hernandez v Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), held that DMV’s practice of suspending a person’s driving privilege based on certain FTA notifications reported is contrary to VC §13365(a).
DMV will impose an FTA suspension based only upon a finding of the court that the driver willfully failed to appear in court.
DMV removed suspensions on approximately 555,000 records.
Yes. DMV identified and removed these FTA suspensions as a result of the court decision.
DMV will send notices to most drivers whose FTA suspensions were removed. However, drivers with another unrelated open suspension or revocation will not receive a notice from DMV.
No. You will not be required to pay a reissue fee. However, some individuals may owe driver’s license fees for other unrelated actions taken against their driving privilege.
Yes. If you do not appear in court, the court may order a hold or suspension of your driving privilege.
Although DMV removed the FTA suspension, DMV retains the underlying reportable non-misdemeanor FTA violations. You must clear all FTA violations before a driver’s license (DL) can be issued.
You can call DMV at 1-800-777-0133, or you can request a copy of your driver’s record.
There are three ways to request a copy of your driver’s record:
- Online ($2 fee).
- By mail by completing a Request For Your Own Driver’s License Identification Card Or Vehicle/Vessel Registration Information Record (INF 1125) form, available online at dmv.ca.gov ($5 fee).
- In person at your local DMV office ($5 fee).
FTA violations will be listed near the bottom of your driver’s record under the “CONVICTIONS” section. If the conviction is in FTA status, the message “*FAILURE TO APPEAR” will be displayed.
Your driver’s record printout will indicate a status of “VALID” or “SUSPENDED or REVOKED” under the “LICENSE STATUS” section.
Yes. You may legally drive provided you have a valid DL and there are no other open actions against your driving privilege.
If your DL has expired, you must clear any outstanding FTAs before visiting your local DMV field office and applying for a DL renewal.
If your DL has expired, or is no longer in your possession, DMV will charge an application fee for either a duplicate or renewal of your DL.