Car plates, or license plates, are a mandatory part of vehicle ownership, ensuring your car is legally identified and registered. But beyond simply being a marker for your vehicle, obtaining and maintaining your car plates involves various fees. Understanding these costs can be confusing, as they are influenced by several factors, and often bundled within broader vehicle registration charges. This guide breaks down the costs associated with car plates, delving into the different fees you might encounter as a vehicle owner.
Fees associated with car plates are not just a fixed price; they are calculated based on a range of elements. These can include:
- Vehicle Type: Whether you drive a car, motorcycle, truck, or other type of vehicle impacts the fees.
- Vehicle Value: The purchase price or declared value of your vehicle plays a significant role in determining certain fees, particularly the Vehicle License Fee (VLF).
- Location: Your city and county of residence, or where your business is based, can affect the fees due to local taxes and district charges.
- Vehicle Weight: For some vehicle types, the unladen weight or Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is a factor in fee calculation.
- Plate Type: Special license plates often come with additional initial and renewal fees compared to standard plates.
- Compliance: Unpaid parking tickets or toll violations can also add to your registration costs.
When you register your vehicle for legal road use, you’ll likely encounter a combination of the following fees, which contribute to the overall cost associated with your car plates and registration:
- Registration Fee: A standard fee for registering your vehicle.
- California Highway Patrol (CHP) Fee: Funds law enforcement and safety on California roads.
- Vehicle License Fee (VLF): A percentage-based fee dependent on your vehicle’s value, supporting city and county services.
- Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF): Dedicated to road and bridge repairs and maintenance.
- County/District Fees: Local fees that vary depending on your location and support local initiatives.
To get a clearer picture of your potential car plate and registration expenses, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides online fee calculators. These tools can give you an estimated cost based on your specific vehicle information. Keep in mind that these are estimates, and actual fees may be subject to change based on current legislation.
Breakdown of Specific Fees
While the overall cost of car plates is multifaceted, understanding the individual fees can provide greater transparency. Here’s a detailed look at some common fees:
California Highway Patrol (CHP) Fees
These fees support the CHP’s operations and are applied to both original registrations and renewals. Late penalties increase significantly the longer you delay payment.
| Fee type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| CHP | $32 |
| CHP CVRA | $54 |
| Late penalties for original: | |
| One year or less | $32 |
| More than one year up to (and including) two years | $54 |
| More than two years | $100 |
| Late penalties for renewal: | |
| 1 to 10 days | $10 |
| 11 to 30 days | $15 |
| 31 days up to (and including) one year | $32 |
| More than one year up to (and including) two years | $54 |
| More than two years | $100 |
Information Request Fees
If you need to request vehicle information from the DMV, fees apply based on the request method and the depth of information needed.
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| Electronic requests by license, ID, or CF number | $2 |
| Manual requests (walk-in, mail-in, telephone inquiries) | $5 |
| History fee (per year): | |
| – Automated | $5 |
| – Non-automated | $20 |
| – Photocopy | $20 |
Moped Fees
Mopeds have their own specific fee structure for registration, plates, and transfers.
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| Replacement ID card | $27 |
| Original moped | $27 |
| Replacement plate | $27 |
| Transfer | $27 |
Miscellaneous Registration and Service Fees
Beyond the core registration and CHP fees, a variety of other fees can apply depending on specific services or circumstances. These cover a wide range of actions, from replacing lost documents to specific vehicle modifications.
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| Alternative Fuel/Technology Registration | $3 |
| Alternative Fuel/Technology Smog | $8 |
| CTIP | $3 |
| Clean air vehicle sticker (original/replacement) | $27 |
| County | Varies by county |
| CVRA motor vehicle | $122 |
| CVRA weight/year stickers (original/replacement) | $3 |
| Dishonored check | $30 |
| Replacement: | |
| – Title | $27 |
| – License plates | $27 |
| – Registration card | $27 |
| – Sticker | $27 |
| Engine change | $2 |
| Historical vessel plaque | $20 |
| Investigation service | $15 |
| Lien sale authorization | $5 |
| Motorcycle cross index (original) | $1 |
| Motorcycle safety (original/renewal) | $2 |
| Non-resident service (original from out-of-state) | $27 |
| Non-resident reregistration (same registration year) | $27 |
| Nonrepairable vehicle certificate (original/replacement) | $27 |
| Ownership responsibility citation | $7 |
| Partial year registration | $27 |
| Photocopy of record | $20 |
| Planned nonoperation (PNO) (all vehicles/OHV) | $27 |
| Prejudgment attachment filing or certificate | $27 |
| Prior history (brands certificates prior junk, salvage, taxi, etc.) | $2 |
| Privately owned school bus (PSD) registration/licensing education related | $27 |
| Reflectorized license plate | $1 |
| Repossession | $15 |
| Return non-resident license plates | $1 |
| Salvage certificate (original/replacement) | $27 |
| Smog abatement | $20 |
| Smog transfer | $8 |
| Rush title | $15 |
| Title only | $27 |
| Transfer | $15 |
| —Penalty | $15 |
| Transfer on death beneficiary designation | $10 |
| Total loss salvage/dismantled vehicle inspection | $50 |
| Total loss vehicle partial VLF refund service | $27 |
| Vehicle seized/sold to satisfy DMV lien | up to $250 |
| Weight fee credit service | $2 |
| Zero emissions vehicle parking sticker | $17 |
Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) Fees
For off-highway vehicles, a separate fee structure applies, collected biennially to support off-highway vehicle recreation and administration.
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| Replacement certificate | $27 |
| Original/Renewal OHV ($54 total) | |
| Registration | $33 |
| CHP | $10 |
| Service | $7 |
| License | $4 |
| Penalties ($27 total): | |
| Registration | $17 |
| CHP | $4 |
| Service | $4 |
| License | $2 |
| Replacement plate and/or sticker | $27 |
| Repossession | $10 |
| – Penalty | $10 |
| Transfer | $27 |
| – Penalty | $27 |
Penalties for Late Registration
It’s crucial to pay your vehicle registration fees on time. The DMV does not offer a grace period, and penalties are applied immediately after the expiration date. These penalties increase the longer you delay payment and are calculated on top of other fees.
Penalties for Vehicles Registered in California
| If payment is late: | Percentage of vehicle license fee and weight fee | Registration late fee | CHP late fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 10 days* | – 10% of the vehicle license fee due for that year.– 10% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| 11 – 30 days* | – 20% of the vehicle license fee due for that year.– 20% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| 31 days – one year* | – 60% of the vehicle license fee due for that year.– 60% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | $30.00 | $30.00 |
| More than one year – two years | – 80% of the vehicle license fee due for that year.– 80% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| More than two years | – 160% of the vehicle license fee due for that year.– 160% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). | $100.00 | $100.00 |
* Planned Nonoperation (PNO) filing may be possible under certain conditions to mitigate penalties if the vehicle was not in use.
Penalties for New Vehicles or Vehicles Never Registered in California
| If payment is late: | Penalty |
|---|---|
| One year or less | – 40% of the vehicle license fee due for that year.– 40% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). |
| More than one year – two years | – 80% of the vehicle license fee due for that year.– 80% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). |
| More than two years | – 160% of the vehicle license fee due for that year.– 160% of the weight fee due for that year (if any). |
Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) Fees
Trailers have a permanent identification system with specific fees for original identification, replacements, and transfers.
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| Original/conversion | $20 |
| Replacement ID card | $7 |
| Replacement title (if paper title issued) | $27 |
| Electronic lien and title (ELT) record | $27 |
| Paper title | $27 |
| Service (every five years) | $10 |
| Replacement plate | $7 |
| Transfer | $7 |
Permit Fees
Various permits are available for specific situations, such as temporary operation, trip permits, or permits for specific vehicle types.
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| California Fuel Tax Trip Permit | $30 |
| Foreign Resident In-transit Permit | $60 |
| Unladen Weight Permit | $30 |
| Motorcycle Transportation Permit | $27 |
| Nonresident Commercial Vehicle Trip Permit | $45 |
| Nonresident Daily Commuter Permit | $27 |
| One Trip Permit | $27 |
| Temporary Operating Permit | $50 |
Registration Fees
The base registration fee is a primary component of your car plate costs and is subject to adjustments, such as the inclusion of the Alternative Fuel/Technology Fee.
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| Original registration/renewal | $74* |
* Includes the Alternative Fuel/Technology Fee ($3)
Road Improvement Fee (RIF)
Owners of model year 2020 and newer zero-emission vehicles will encounter the Road Improvement Fee (RIF) during registration renewal, contributing to road maintenance.
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| Original registration/renewal | $118 |
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF)
The Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF) is applied to vehicle registrations, transfers, and renewals, directly funding road and bridge infrastructure improvements. The TIF amount varies based on the vehicle’s value.
| Vehicle Value | VR Fee Increase |
|---|---|
| 0-$4,999 | $32 |
| $5,000-$24,999 | $65 |
| $25,000-$34,999 | $129 |
| $35,000-$59,999 | $194 |
| $60,000 and higher | $227 |
Vehicle License Fee (VLF)
The Vehicle License Fee (VLF) is a significant fee, calculated as 0.65% of your vehicle’s purchase price or value. This fee decreases over the first 11 years of the vehicle’s life or until it’s transferred. VLF revenues support city and county services and are tax-deductible. Certain groups are exempt from VLF, including disabled veterans, non-resident military personnel, and Native American tribes.
Note: The VLF for historical vehicles is significantly reduced to $2.
Vessel Fees
For boat owners, vessel registration involves its own set of fees, including registration, renewal, and transfer fees. Quagga Mussel fees may also apply to most vessels to combat invasive species.
| Vessel |
|---|
| Original |
| – Sold in even year |
| – Sold in odd year |
| Penalty |
| – Sold in even year |
| – Sold in odd year |
| Renewal |
| Biennial renewal (due in odd years) |
| Penalty |
| Transfer (except between dealers) |
| Penalty |
| Replacement (title or registration) |
| Repossession |
Special License Plate Fees
Personalizing your car plates with special interest plates comes with additional costs. These fees usually involve an initial cost and potentially annual renewal fees, with proceeds often supporting specific environmental or special programs. Consult the DMV for the specific costs associated with the special plates you are interested in.
Disabled Person/Veteran (DP/DV) Placard Fees
Placards for disabled persons and veterans have specific fee structures, with permanent DP placards being free and DV placards also offered at no cost.
DP Parking Placards
- Permanent DP Parking Placards: Free
- Temporary: $6
DV Parking Placards
- DV parking placards: Free
- Replacement: $20
Conclusion
Determining the exact cost of car plates involves understanding the various registration fees applicable to your specific vehicle and circumstances. While this guide provides a comprehensive overview of potential fees, using the DMV’s online fee calculators is the most accurate way to estimate your car plate and registration expenses. Always refer to the official DMV website for the most up-to-date fee information and regulations, as fees are subject to legislative changes. By understanding these costs, you can budget effectively for vehicle ownership and ensure your car remains legally registered.
