How Long Do I Have To Register Car In California After Purchase

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You may have recently moved to California from another state. Or, you lot may already live in California, but you bought a car in some other state. In either case, you'll need to follow California'due south procedure for registering an out-of-state car. There are a few additional steps to registering an out-of-land car that don't apply to cars bought in the state of California.^[1]

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Check the car'south emissions label. You auto volition accept an emissions label under the hood. If it's certified in California, it volition include a argument that it conforms to California state regulations. If it doesn't include that statement, you may not exist able to register the car in California.^[ii]
- If you're a California resident and you're looking at ownership a car out of state, you might want to bank check this earlier yous purchase the machine. If you're unable to register your car in California, you may non be able to go your money back.
- You don't need to worry about California's emissions laws if your car was built before 1976.^[3]
two
Evaluate exemptions if your car isn't California certified. If your motorcar doesn't conform to California state regulations, it'due south considered a "49-state car." California law provides a few exemptions that volition allow you to register a 49-state car. You will need to show the DMV proof that your motorcar falls into 1 of these exemptions.^[4]
- If you got the machine as office of a divorce, inheritance, or legal settlement, you'll be able to annals the car.
- If your California-registered vehicle was stolen or wrecked out of state, and you bought a 49-state car to supplant it, you tin can register it.
- California likewise grants exemptions for emergency vehicles, or a car you purchased while you lot were stationed on active military duty.
- Cars congenital before 1976 also are discipline to an exemption.^[5]
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3
Get the last issued out-of-country title or registration. To bear witness that you own the vehicle, y'all must present the title or registration from the country the car came from. Yous'll demand to get the title unless the car is financed.^[half-dozen]
- Visit the California DMV website at www.dmv.ca.gov to detect a list of out-of-country DMV offices where you can request a copy of the title or registration.
- If the out-of-country championship has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, y'all typically will need to request a duplicate from the state that issued the title earlier you can register your car and get a California title.
4
Complete the odometer disclosure. Your title will have an odometer disclosure section that must be completed by the seller and acknowledged past you as the buyer of the car. This disclosure isn't mandatory if the automobile is more than than ten years old, or is a brand new auto.^[7]
- If you lot're planning on registering and using the car as a commercial vehicle, y'all also typically won't need to consummate the odometer disclosure.
- If you don't have the title (such equally if your car is financed and the lien holder has the championship), you must make full out a REG 262 grade. You lot can't download this form online considering information technology is printed on security paper. Call the California DMV at 1-800-777-0133 to accept a form mailed to you.^[8]
5
Make a copy of your bill of sale. If you recently purchased the machine from out of state and are registering information technology in California as a new owner, you will need to present a copy of the neb of auction to establish the chain of ownership.^[9]
- If you didn't become a document specifically titled "Bill of Sale," a finance understanding or other purchase understanding will suffice.
6
Calculate your registration fees. The California DMV has a fee calculator available online that you lot tin can use to determine how much you'll have to pay to register your out-of-state car.^[10]
- Become to https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/portal/feecalculatorweb/alphabetize and click on the "nonresident vehicles" link.
- You will take to provide information nigh the type of vehicle and model yr. You'll besides enter the date you purchased the vehicle and the date you lot first drove it in California.
- If you paid any use or sales tax in the other state, enter this information also. You'll get a credit for information technology towards your California taxes.
7
Certify your car at a California smog station. Nigh cars must have a smog certification before they can be registered in California. The simply cars that don't require smog certification are diesel-powered cars of model twelvemonth 1998 or newer.^[11]
- To discover the smog station nearest yous, visit https://www.smogcheck.ca.gov and click the "Discover a Station" push button.
- Smog check prices aren't regulated, so you may want to shop effectually at several stations to observe the best price.^[12]
8
Verify the car'south weight if yous're registering the car as a commercial vehicle. If your out-of-land car is for personal use, y'all won't need a weighmaster'southward certificate. However, yous will need 1 if you plan to register the car as a commercial vehicle and employ it for business purposes.^[13]
- You tin detect public scales by visiting the website of the California Department of Food and Agronomics at https://apps1.cdfa.ca.gov/publicscales/.
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one
Visit your local California DMV part. When you lot're fix to register your out-of-state car in California for the offset time, you'll accept to bulldoze the automobile to the nearest DMV field role and submit an application along with all the required documents.^[fourteen]
- To find a field role near you, visit the DMV's website at https://world wide web.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/dmv/offices.
- To shorten your wait time, yous can make an appointment online or by calling 1-800-777-0133. Field offices are not open on weekends or holidays.
2
Complete the awarding for title or registration. The application for championship or registration asks for information nearly y'all and the car you want to annals in California. Yous also must provide data about the purchase of the car.^[fifteen]
- You can download the application from the California DMV's website and make full information technology out ahead of time. You can also become a re-create of the application at the DMV and fill information technology out while you wait.
3
Have your car verified at the DMV. Y'all must take your out-of-state automobile to your local DMV to verify the auto'south vehicle identification number (VIN). This must be done by an authorized DMV employee, who will also conduct a visual inspection of the car.^[16]
- The California DMV recommends that you make an appointment and so you lot don't have to wait equally long. If you take all of your required paperwork, you can register your car at the same time you get the verification.
4
Submit your application forth with certifications and proof of ownership. When you've finished filling out your application, you'll need to requite it to the DMV clerk along with the title or registration from the other state, your bill of sale, smog certification, and any other required documents.^[17]
- The clerk will verify your documents and give your originals back to you.
5
Show your driver'due south license and proof of insurance. Before the DMV will process your registration, yous must evidence that y'all have machine insurance that meets the state minimum requirements.^[xviii]
- For individual passenger vehicles, you must have at least $xv,000 coverage for the injury or death of ane person, $30,000 coverage for the injury or death of more than one person, and $five,000 coverage for damage to belongings.^[xix]
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Pay the required fees. In one case the clerk has processed your application, they'll calculate the corporeality of fees you owe to register the car. If you've already calculated your fees online, you'll have an thought of how much this is going to be. However, if your calculation differs from the clerk'southward calculation, the clerk'south calculation is the i that y'all'll have to pay.^[20]
- DMV field offices accept cash, personal checks, and credit or debit cards.
- A portion of these fees may be taxation deductible. Contact a California tax advisor or consultant for more information.
seven
Plow over your out-of-state license plates if required. In most cases, you'll have to requite the out-of-state license plates to the DMV to get your new California plates. At that place are exemptions, such as if the plates are expired.^[21]
- If the other land requires you to send the plates back to them, it'southward your responsibility to plow the plates back in – the California DMV won't do this for y'all.
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Put your new plates on your auto. Once your registration is complete, the clerk volition issue your registration certificate and give you new plates to put on your car. If you ordered specialty or custom plates, you'll get a temporary plate to use until you lot get your plates in the postal service.^[22]

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To register your out-of-state motorcar in California, start by locating your current title or registration and pecker of sale to show that you lot own your auto. Side by side, drive the auto to your nearest smog station to make certain it passes California'due south emission regulations. If you don't know where your nearest smog station is, you lot can locate it at smogcheck.ca.gov. Once y'all've done that, drive to your local DMV function in California. Retrieve to bring all of your paperwork with you, including your driver's license and proof of insurance. Later that, become an application class for championship or registration at the DMV and fill in the details. When you've finished the paperwork, pay the required fees. Then, plow over your out-of-state license plates if required, and switch them for your new California plates. For more than tips, including how to check if your 49-state car is exempt from California regulations, read on!

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