Registration Fees

There are a variety of fees that may be required when applying for or renewing vehicle registration.

Determining Fees

Registration fees are based on:

• Your vehicle type (auto, motorcycle, etc.).
• Your vehicle’s purchase price or declared value.
• Dates (for example, the date you purchased your vehicle, or the date your vehicle entered California).
• The city and/or county you live in.
• The city and/or county your business is based in.
• The unladen or declared gross vehicle weight (GVW) and the number of axles your vehicle may have.
• Any special license plates your vehicle may have.
• Whether you have any unpaid parking violations or toll evasion bail.

You will likely have to pay the following fees if your vehicle is registered for on-highway use:

• The registration fee
• California Highway Patrol (CHP) fee
• Vehicle license fee
• Transportation improvement fee
• County/district fee

DMV Fee Calculators

To help people plan for registration-related fees, DMV provides vehicle registration fee calculators.

These fee calculators can help you:

• Determine registration fees for a new vehicle that will be purchased in California from a licensed California dealer.
• Determine registration fees for a nonresident vehicle (vehicles last registered outside the state of California).
• Determine registration fees for a used vehicle that will be purchased in California.
• Determine vehicle license fee (VLF) paid for tax purposes.
• Determine registration renewal fees due.

Your estimate will vary depending on the information you enter.

All fees may change depending on the law.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) Fees (VC §§9250.8, 9250.13, 9552–9554)