California › Registration fees
California car registration and title fees
What the dealer collects in California
- Registration fee — $76.00. VC §9250.1 — includes the $3 Alternative Fuel/Technology fee. On a used purchase this is due only when the registration is expired or expires within 120 days (or the car has no CA plates). (VC 9250.1)
- CHP fee — $34.00. California Highway Patrol fee, VC §9250.8/§9250.13. Registration-cycle fee. (VC 9250.8)
- Title fee — $28.00. Certificate of title on a new vehicle, VC §9254. (VC 9254)
- DMV transfer fee — $15.00. Transfer of registration — charged on every used purchase, VC §9255. (VC 9255)
- Vehicle License Fee (VLF) — varies. 0.65% of purchase price (R&T §10752). Depreciates ~10%/yr for 11 renewal years. The only federally tax-deductible piece of your registration. Registration-cycle fee. (R&T 10752)
- Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF) — varies. SB 1 value-tiered fee. 2026 tiers: $33 / $66 / $132 / $198 / $231. Registration-cycle fee. (SB 1 (2017))
- County/district fees — varies. Varies by county (VC §§9250.2–9250.17), typically $10–$50. Registration-cycle fee.
- Smog abatement fee — varies. In lieu of a smog check for newer gasoline vehicles (HSC §44060): $20 through abatement age 6, $25 at 7–8. Abatement age = vehicle age + 1. (HSC 44060(d)(1))
- Smog abatement fee — varies. In lieu of a smog check (HSC §44060): $20 through abatement age 6, $25 at 7–8 (abatement age = vehicle age + 1). Charged only when registration renewal is due with the sale; out-of-state cars get an actual smog test instead. (HSC 44060(d)(1))
- Weight fee (pickup/light commercial) — varies. Unladen (curb) weight bracket, two-axle schedule — VC §9400(b). Pickups always register under this section regardless of GVWR; they're excluded from CVRA. Without a weight we assume a typical half-ton (4,001–5,000 lbs → $80). (VC 9400(b))
- Weight fee (3+ axle, ≤10,000 lbs) — varies. Unladen-weight bracket, three-or-more-axle schedule — VC §9400(c). (VC 9400(c))
- Weight fee (electric commercial) — varies. Electric commercial vehicles have their own unladen-weight schedule — VC §9400(a): $87 under 6,000 lbs, $266 to 10,000, $358 above. (VC 9400(a))
- CVRA weight fee (declared GVW) — varies. Commercial Vehicle Registration Act fee for declared gross weight of 10,001+ lbs (as declared on the REG 4008) — $332 at 10,001–15,000 up to $2,064 at 75,001–80,000. CVRA vehicles are exempt from the TIF. (VC 9400.1(c)(1))
- Cargo Theft Interdiction Program fee — $3.00. $3 CTIP fee charged with CVRA registration. (VC 9400.1(d))
Electric and hybrid vehicles
- $121/yr Road Improvement Fee (RIF) applies at renewals. It is NOT charged on the initial dealer registration of a newly purchased ZEV — it should not appear on your OTD.
What's specific to California
- Buying used? Enter the plate expiration month: if the registration is expired or expires within 120 days of purchase, renewal fees ride along with the deal — otherwise they're not due at sale.
- Used car without current California plates (out-of-state car)? Full first registration is due and a smog test is required regardless of the car's age.
Run your own numbers
Common questions
How much does it cost to register a car in California?
The charges at purchase are listed above. Several of them recur annually, which the page notes where it applies.