There are many, many benefits to living in California. You’ve got every climate, weather, and terrain possibility from north to south: from mountains to deserts, sunshine to ski-season, ocean and lakes. As far as culture goes, you can glide around with the glitz in Beverly Hills or chant your ohms with the gurus in Ojai. Want to surf…you can. Want to go bouldering, you can do that too. Farm to table, or fast food…the sky is the limit. So with all these (and a whole lot more) choices at your fingertips in Golden State, the last thing you want to worry about is something slightly less exciting, like renewing your vehicle’s registration.
Use eTags© to Quickly Complete Your DMV Service. Renewals, Title Transfers and More, All Online!
We know: reg renewals are seriously unsexy. So in order to help you hold onto more of your precious time on the Left Coast, we thought we’d serve up a piping hot dish of California Registration Renewal FAQ’s. Because we don’t know even one single person who doesn’t love a good FAQ list. (Does that person even exist?!)
Right, here goes:
Q: How often do I have to renew my vehicle registration in the state of California?
A: Registrations must be renewed each year.
Q: How will I know that it is time to renew my registration?
A: The DMV will send out a notice around three months prior to your registration’s expiration, letting you know with ample time that your renewal period is coming up. This will include a renewal expiration date – a sell-by date, if you will.
Q: Can I check my registration status even if I did not receive a renewal notice?
A: Yes, you can check your status with the DMV at any time here.
Q: If I missed the renewal window, is there a grace period?
A: The DMV does not offer any grace for late renewals and will charge penalties according to how late your renewal is.
Q: Can I renew my registration early?
A: The DMV allows renewals to be processed up to 75 days before the expiration date, but no sooner than this. (You early bird!)
Q: Do I have to go to the DMV in person to renew my registration, or can this be performed online?
A: You can renew in person, or you can skip the line and visit us here and have your renewal processed super quick.
Q: What do I need to renew my registration online?
A: You will need the following:
- Your license plate number
- The last five digits of your VIN (or hull number (HIN) for a boat or vessel)
- A credit/debit card for payment
- A passing Smog Check certificate registered online with the DMV
- Current valid auto insurance
Q: How much will my registration renewal cost?
A: The final amount will depend on what kind of vehicle you are renewing plus any sort of processing fees applicable.
Q: How long will it take to receive my new sticker once I have renewed my registration online?
A: With etags.com you will receive a digital copy of your renewal immediately. The paper and sticker will be mailed and can be expected within ten business days.
Q: Let’s say I don’t need to renew my registration just yet, but something happens to my sticker in middle of the year. What do I do?
A: You can order a replacement sticker with etags.com at any time during your registration period. Wahoo!
Q: I have an unpaid parking ticket – will I be able to renew my registration?
A: Unfortunately, no. If your ticket goes unpaid for longer than 90 days, the DMV will put a hold on your renewal until all fines have been resolved.
Q: What happens if I pay my renewal fees, but don’t have a passing Smog Check?
A: Without a passing Smog certificate, your sticker won’t be sent to you, and you won’t be allowed to drive without this proof that your vehicle is road worthy. However, you will avoid the DMV late penalty for renewing on time and can plan to get a Smog Check while your registration is still valid.
Q: I’m not currently using my vehicle…do I still have to renew its registration?
A: Nope. If you’re going to store your car/truck/boat/motorcycle for the year, you can apply for a PNO (Planned Non-operation) from the DMV here.
Q: What if my address has changed…can I still renew my registration?
A: Yes. You will have to file an address change with the DMV, here which takes around three business days to process, so it’s a good idea to get this ball rolling with enough time before the renewal deadline.
Q: I’m moving to California with a vehicle that is within its registration period in my old state. Can I renew it in California?
A: Unfortunately, you cannot. You will have to register your vehicle for the first time in California, relinquishing your old license plate and title in order to obtain local ones. Keep in mind that your vehicle will also need to pass a Smog Check (with a few exceptions, such as with a motorcycle) and show proof of California auto insurance.
So, those are the biggies, the most frequently asked questions we get here at eTags regarding getting your vehicle registration renewed. But we know that you may have other issues, question, concerns. If you’re still wondering about the process, if you need assistance, or if you’re just ready to start the spiffy (yes, spiffy) transaction ASAP, head on over to etags.com and select your state from our drop-down list. Not to toot our own horns, but we’re experts at Registration Renewals, and we’re super happy to lend a hand with anything renewal-related.
As always, we’re here to help!
