Renew Vehicle Registration, Tags, and Plates in San Diego County

Are San Diegans current with registration renewals in their county?

No longer will San Diego County residents have to be reading boring articles about registration renewals ever!

If you are planning on renewing your registration, here’s everything you need to know about this procedure.

Since nobody likes to be stuck in endless lines and/or cope with other related hassles while at the DMV, why wouldn’t you try something different?

Whether you are new in San Diego or concerned about registration renewals in California, let’s us give you some quick guidance before you start going insane about this procedure.

Note that some people find registration renewals as difficult as finding an empty parking spot in Gaslamp.

But don’t give up!

Here you’ll learn how to renew your registration in San Diego County one question at a time.

What Is A Vehicle Registration?

A vehicle registration is a procedure required by the state of California in which all residents must register their cars prior to hitting the road.

If San Diego is your home town, you are responsible for completing this procedure beforehand.

Now, going to the CA DMV could be as chaotic as any other Comic-Con event that takes places at the SD Convention Center and that’s tough already.

Not only will you have to complete your car registration by law, but you also need to consider the costs that such procedure means for your budget.

First time registrations include the following:

• Registration fee: $58
• California Highway Patrol (CHP) fee: $25
• Transportation Improvement Fee: This fee varies depending on the value of your car

You need to complete this procedure on time.

Other people prefer to watch the San Diego Padres game instead of completing their car-related obligations and that shouldn’t be an option.

As CA requires residents to complete their registration renewals on time, there’s no better ally than eTags today.

What Do I Need To Renew My Registration In California?

Before giving you an answer to that, you need to decide how you are planning to renew your registration in SD county.

Provided that your first choice is to renew it in person, here’s what you need to submit:

• Your renewal notice or registration card
• A smog check certificate (if required based on your zip code)
• Your CA Driver’s License
• Payment for renewal fees. Cash, check or debit only. No Credit Cards.

Check below our list of CA DMV branches you could visit in San Diego County. Of course, you should pick the office that makes more sense for you to drive to.

Depending on your zip code, your car may also be required to pass a smog inspection. Visit the CA smog check portal to find out if your zip code qualifies for this additional requirement.

In-person renewals don’t seem to be complicated but here’s a tip for you to consider.

Tip#1: Always try to book an appointment with your local DMV office before heading there. Be aware that it could take up to 2 weeks or longer to receive your DMV appointment. And once you are there, there is no guarantee you will be attended too quickly, but you could at least jump the line.

The good news is that San Diego County drivers don’t need to get a smog check to renew their tags.

While registration renewals are tedious and time-consuming, you are also advised to find a place where you could park your vehicle since those offices receive a large amount of visitors.

Parking spots are limited and many people have a hard time finding one, especially when they walk in during busy hours.

Tip#2: Check for parking lots near your local CA DMV agency in advance. Not that it will help you accelerate the renewal procedure but you could at least get there on time.

Can I Renew My Tags And Registration Online In San Diego County?

Naturally. This is because nobody enjoys being stuck in long lines or driving to a DMV office when they have such a limited schedule to deal with traffic or other related irritations.

In fact, eTags has made it easy for drivers in San Diego County to complete their registration renewals in a wink.

Check what you need to do to renew your registration with eTags:

• Enter your license plate number
• Pay your renewal fees and our convenience fee one of the many payment options available to you
• AMEX VISA MC DISCOVERY PAY PAL and PAY PAL CREDIT WOW!

It’s so easy that you could even do it with your eyes closed.

Why would you even bother trying to get through traffic and wait for more than hour to be seen by an agent at the local DMV?

Just because registration renewals are tedious and boring doesn’t mean you cannot make things easier.

Online renewals allow people to spend their limited time on things that are more meaningful, while eTags does the rest.

Feel free to go to Seaport Village for lunch and enjoy the waterfront view, while renewing your registration from your phone or laptop.

What a fabulous way of managing your time indeed!

You could always access the CA DMV tag renewal site online, but they don’t offer much flexibility for online payments and changes of address. Here’s another tip:

Tip#3: Be sure to update your address with the DMV at least 30 days prior to renewing your registration. If the DMV doesn’t have your current address on file they will mail it to your old address and they don’t forward DMV mail. OOOPS! You then have to spend valuable time in line at the DMV replacing the lost registration and sticker.

eTags conveniently allows users to pay their fees using via PayPal and mail the renewed registration to the address you wish to use. Like you, we value trust and care for everyone who needs our service.

How To Renew CA Vehicle Registration In San Diego County

Registration renewals could be tedious and time-consuming but you don’t have to let that take a toll on you.

As in any other thing in life, you could renew your registration the “awesome” way and that’s eTags.

Catch up with technology and follow our last tip.

Tip#4: Renew your car registration online!

Since there are four ways of renewing your registration in CA, let us outline your choices for you so you could know what to expect from each.

San Diego County Registration Renewal Online

Here’s what you need to do to complete your registration renewal with eTags:

• Enter your license plate number
• Pay your renewal fees along with our convenience fee.

San Diego County Registration Renewal In Person

Submit the following items:

• Renewal notice or registration card
• A valid CA Driver’s License
• Smog Check (if applicable based on your zipcode)
• Payment for renewal fees

Scroll down to access our list of CA DMV branches in SD County.

San Diego County Registration Renewal By Mail

To renew your registration, submit the following:

• Your registration renewal form
• Proof of car insurance
• Proof of emissions and smog inspection (if required)
• Proof of full payment of any outstanding fees (if required)
• Check or money order to pay your renewal fees

Mail your renewal request to the address below:

Vehicle Registration Operations
Department of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 942869
Sacramento, CA 94269

If you have changed your address, you’ll need to detail it on the renewal form before submission.

San Diego County Registration Renewal By Phone

To renew your registration over the phone, provide the following:

• Your vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Proof of auto insurance which must be in file with the DMV
• Proof of smog check (if required)
• Your plate number
• A credit/debit card to pay the renewal fees

Know that you can only renew your registration by phone provided that your renewal notice shows the right address and you have no outstanding delinquency or ticket fees.

Ready to Renew Your Car Tag?

Renew your vehicle registration online today with eTags by clicking here. Licensed and trusted by the CA DMV.

San Diego County DMV Hours, Phone Numbers, and Addresses