Registration must be maintained while estate matters are managed, including paying registration fees or placing the vehicle on Planned Nonoperation (PNO) status on or before the registration expiration date.

File PNO status by submitting Planned Nonoperation Certification and paying a PNO fee up to 60 days before, but no more than 90 days after the registration expiration date. If registration or PNO fees are paid after the registration expiration date, penalties will be due.

If the vehicle is currently registered but will not be operated, maintain the vehicle insurance or notify DMV that liability coverage on the vehicle has been cancelled by submitting an Affidavit of Non-Use.

You may decide to transfer the vehicle’s title to establish yourself as the new legal owner. In this case, the documents you submit to DMV vary by the type of transfer. Refer to information on changing ownership due to death.

Environmental License Plates

• Must be surrendered to DMV unless the applicant is the heir named on the court documents or Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate California Titled Vehicle or Vessels Only (PDF).
• If ownership is released by an administrator or executor, the relationship of the transferee to the decedent must be declared on a Statement of Facts (REG 256) (PDF).

Disabled Person License Plates

• Must be surrendered to DMV upon expiration of the registration, or within 60 days of the owner’s death, whichever occurs first.

Disabled Veteran License Plates

• Must be surrendered to DMV by December 31 of the current year, or within 60 days of the owner’s death, whichever occurs first.

Former Prisoner of War, Legion of Valor, Pearl Harbor Survivor, and Purple Heart License Plates

• The surviving spouse may retain these license plates and their privileges, which may include exemption from vehicle registration, license plate reassignment, addition, deletion, and replacement fees. The surviving spouse must complete a Statement of Facts (REG 256) (PDF) stating they are the owner’s spouse and wish to retain the license plates.

Former Prisoner of War and Purple Heart License Plates Only

• Upon the death of the owner and surviving spouse (if any), another family member (parent, step-parent, children, step-children, grandparent, step-grandparent, sibling, or step-sibling) may retain one license plate as a family heirloom. The remaining license plate must be returned to DMV upon expiration of the vehicle registration, or within 60 days of the owner or surviving spouse’s death, whichever occurs first.

You might find these additional resources helpful:

• Change vehicle address (PDF)
• Registration vs Planned Nonoperation
• How to change vehicle ownership
• Fee calculator (vehicle registration)