How To Get A Car Registered In Ca

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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 auto in another state. In either example, you lot'll need to follow California's process for registering an out-of-state car. In that location are a few boosted steps to registering an out-of-country car that don't apply to cars bought in the state of California.^[1]

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Bank check the machine'due south emissions label. You motorcar will take an emissions characterization under the hood. If it'due south certified in California, information technology will include a statement that it conforms to California state regulations. If it doesn't include that statement, y'all may not be able to register the car in California.^[2]
- If y'all're a California resident and you're looking at buying a car out of land, you might want to check this earlier y'all buy the car. If you're unable to annals your car in California, you may not be able to get your money dorsum.
- Y'all don't need to worry about California'due south emissions laws if your auto was built before 1976.^[3]
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Evaluate exemptions if your automobile isn't California certified. If your automobile doesn't conform to California state regulations, it'south considered a "49-state car." California law provides a few exemptions that will allow you to annals a 49-state car. You volition need to show the DMV proof that your car falls into one of these exemptions.^[4]
- If you got the motorcar equally part of a divorce, inheritance, or legal settlement, you'll be able to annals the auto.
- If your California-registered vehicle was stolen or wrecked out of state, and y'all bought a 49-state motorcar to replace information technology, you can annals it.
- California also grants exemptions for emergency vehicles, or a machine you purchased while you were stationed on agile military duty.
- Cars built before 1976 also are subject to an exemption.^[v]
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3
Get the last issued out-of-country title or registration. To prove that you own the vehicle, you must present the title or registration from the state the motorcar came from. You'll need to get the title unless the car is financed.^[6]
- Visit the California DMV website at www.dmv.ca.gov to find a list of out-of-state DMV offices where yous tin request a copy of the championship or registration.
- If the out-of-state title has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, you typically will need to request a duplicate from the country that issued the championship before you can register your motorcar and get a California championship.
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Consummate the odometer disclosure. Your title will take an odometer disclosure section that must be completed by the seller and best-selling by you every bit the buyer of the car. This disclosure isn't mandatory if the car is more 10 years old, or is a make new machine.^[7]
- If y'all're planning on registering and using the car as a commercial vehicle, you likewise typically won't demand to consummate the odometer disclosure.
- If y'all don't accept the title (such as if your car is financed and the lien holder has the title), you must fill out a REG 262 form. You tin can't download this grade online because it is printed on security paper. Telephone call the California DMV at 1-800-777-0133 to have a grade mailed to y'all.^[eight]
five
Make a re-create of your pecker of auction. If you recently purchased the machine from out of state and are registering information technology in California as a new owner, you volition need to present a copy of the bill of sale to plant the chain of ownership.^[nine]
- If you didn't get a certificate specifically titled "Nib of Auction," a finance agreement or other buy agreement will suffice.
6
Calculate your registration fees. The California DMV has a fee calculator available online that you can use to make up one's mind how much y'all'll have to pay to register your out-of-land car.^[10]
- Get to https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/item/portal/feecalculatorweb/index and click on the "nonresident vehicles" link.
- You will take to provide data near the type of vehicle and model twelvemonth. You'll also enter the date y'all purchased the vehicle and the date you commencement drove it in California.
- If you paid whatever utilise or sales taxation in the other state, enter this information as well. You'll become a credit for it towards your California taxes.
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Certify your motorcar at a California smog station. Most cars must take a smog certification before they can be registered in California. The only cars that don't require smog certification are diesel-powered cars of model year 1998 or newer.^[eleven]
- To find the smog station nearest you, visit https://www.smogcheck.ca.gov and click the "Notice a Station" button.
- Smog cheque prices aren't regulated, so you may want to shop around at several stations to discover the best price.^[12]
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Verify the car's weight if you're registering the automobile equally a commercial vehicle. If your out-of-state car is for personal use, you won't demand a weighmaster's certificate. However, you lot will need ane if you plan to annals the motorcar every bit a commercial vehicle and use it for business purposes.^[13]
- Y'all can find public scales by visiting the website of the California Department of Food and Agriculture at https://apps1.cdfa.ca.gov/publicscales/.
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1
Visit your local California DMV office. When y'all're set up to annals your out-of-state motorcar in California for the first time, you'll have to drive the car to the nearest DMV field office and submit an application along with all the required documents.^[14]
- To observe a field part near y'all, visit the DMV'due south website at https://world wide web.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/dmv/offices.
- To shorten your look time, you 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 championship or registration. The application for championship or registration asks for data nearly y'all and the car you want to register in California. You also must provide data nearly the buy of the machine.^[15]
- You can download the application from the California DMV'due south website and fill up information technology out ahead of time. You can too get a copy of the application at the DMV and make full it out while you wait.
iii
Have your car verified at the DMV. You must take your out-of-land car to your local DMV to verify the car'due south vehicle identification number (VIN). This must be done by an authorized DMV employee, who will too acquit a visual inspection of the automobile.^[16]
- The California DMV recommends that you make an appointment and then y'all don't accept to expect equally long. If you have all of your required paperwork, yous can annals your motorcar at the same fourth dimension you get the verification.
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Submit your application along with certifications and proof of ownership. When you've finished filling out your application, yous'll need to requite it to the DMV clerk along with the championship or registration from the other state, your beak of sale, smog certification, and any other required documents.^[17]
- The clerk will verify your documents and give your originals back to you.
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Show your commuter'south license and proof of insurance. Before the DMV will process your registration, you must prove that you have automobile insurance that meets the country minimum requirements.^[eighteen]
- For private passenger vehicles, you must have at least $xv,000 coverage for the injury or death of one person, $thirty,000 coverage for the injury or death of more than i person, and $5,000 coverage for damage to property.^[xix]
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Pay the required fees. Once the clerk has processed your application, they'll summate the amount of fees y'all owe to register the car. If you lot've already calculated your fees online, you lot'll have an idea of how much this is going to be. Still, if your adding differs from the clerk'southward calculation, the clerk'southward adding is the ane that you'll have to pay.^[20]
- DMV field offices have cash, personal checks, and credit or debit cards.
- A portion of these fees may exist tax deductible. Contact a California revenue enhancement advisor or consultant for more than information.
7
Turn over your out-of-country license plates if required. In near cases, you'll have to give 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 state requires y'all to send the plates back to them, it's your responsibleness to turn the plates dorsum in – the California DMV won't do this for you.
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Put your new plates on your auto. Once your registration is complete, the clerk will issue your registration document and requite you new plates to put on your auto. If yous ordered specialty or custom plates, you'll get a temporary plate to use until you get your plates in the postal service.^[22]

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Article Summary Ten

To register your out-of-land car in California, start past locating your current title or registration and bill of sale to evidence that you own your machine. Side by side, drive the auto to your nearest smog station to make sure information technology passes California's emission regulations. If you don't know where your nearest smog station is, you can locate it at smogcheck.ca.gov. Once you lot've done that, drive to your local DMV office in California. Think to bring all of your paperwork with you, including your driver'due south license and proof of insurance. After that, get an awarding form for championship or registration at the DMV and fill up in the details. When you've finished the paperwork, pay the required fees. And so, turn over your out-of-land license plates if required, and switch them for your new California plates. For more tips, including how to check if your 49-state car is exempt from California regulations, read on!

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