Find penalties for late registration fee payments.
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) does not offer a grace period for paying your annual vehicle registration fees. Be sure to pay your renewal fees on or before the expiration date shown on your current registration card, or DMV will charge penalties. Even though your license plates display only the month and year, your registration expires on a specific day. Be sure to check the registration card for the actual expiration date.
If you do not receive a billing notice approximately 60 days before your vehicle’s registration expires, please call us at 1-800-777-0133 to find out what your fees are.
The longer you delay payment, the greater the penalty amount will be. Penalty fees are assessed in addition to any other fees due.
Penalties for Vehicles Registered in California
Penalties are determined by adding a percentage of the vehicle license fee, plus a registration late fee, plus a California Highway Patrol (CHP) late fee.
| If payment is late: | Percentage of vehicle license fee and weight fee | Registration late fee | CHP late fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| If payment is late:1 – 10 days* | Percentage of vehicle license fee and weight fee– 10% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 10% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | Registration late fee$10.00 | CHP late fee$10.00 |
| If payment is late:11 – 30 days* | Percentage of vehicle license fee and weight fee– 20% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 20% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | Registration late fee$15.00 | CHP late fee$15.00 |
| If payment is late:31 days – one year* | Percentage of vehicle license fee and weight fee– 60% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 60% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | Registration late fee$30.00 | CHP late fee$30.00 |
| If payment is late:More than one year – two years | Percentage of vehicle license fee and weight fee– 80% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 80% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | Registration late fee$50.00 | CHP late fee$50.00 |
| If payment is late:More than two years | Percentage of vehicle license fee and weight fee– 160% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 160% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | Registration late fee$100.00 | CHP late fee$100.00 |
* A Planned Non-Operation (PNO) may be filed up to 90 days after the registration expiration date if the vehicle was not operated in any manner, but applicable late penalties are due.
Penalties for New Vehicles or Vehicles Never Registered in California
Here are the penalties for new vehicles or vehicles that have never been registered in California.
| If payment is late: | Penalty |
|---|---|
| If payment is late:One year or less | Penalty– 40% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 40% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). |
| If payment is late:More than one year – two years | Penalty– 80% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 80% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). |
| If payment is late:More than two years | Penalty– 160% of the vehicle license fee due for that year. – 160% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). |
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