California · Checked Sep 2026

California DMV fees

California DMV sets license, title and registration fees. Registration adds several parts together, and some depend on your car's value and your county.

Driver license and ID

Class C license, new or renewal: $46
Replacement or information change: $37
Driving retest: $9
ID card: $40
Senior ID card, 62 and older: Free
Reduced-fee ID card: $11
CDL Class A or B, new$59 to renew: $100

Registration

Registration fee: $76
California Highway Patrol fee: $34
Vehicle license fee: 0.65% of value
Transportation improvement feeBy the car's value: $33 to $231
County and district fees: Varies
Smog abatement feeGas cars in their 8 newest model years, instead of a smog check: $20
Zero-emission road improvement fee2020 and newer. Not charged on a new car's first registration from a dealer: $121
Replacement card or sticker: $28 each
Planned non-operation: $28
Smog temporary operating permitGood for 60 days: $50

Late registration

1 to 10 days lateOf the vehicle license fee, plus $10 DMV and $10 CHP late fees: 10% + $20
11 to 30 days late: 20% + $30
31 days to 1 year late: 60% + $60
Over 1 year to 2 years late: 80% + $100
Over 2 years late: 160% + $200

Buying or selling

Title transfer: $15
Replacement title (REG 227): $28
Use taxYour local sales tax rate, if you didn't pay a California dealer: 7.25% to 10.25%
Smog transfer feeGas cars in their 4 newest model years, instead of a smog check: $8
Release of liability notice: No fee listed

Smog Check

Smog certificateStations set their own price for the test itself: $8.25

Other

Driving record online$5 by mail: $2
Disabled parking placard, permanent: Free
Disabled parking placard, temporaryUp to 180 days, or your doctor's date if sooner: $6
Card payments1.95% online, by phone or at a kiosk; 2.1% at an office: 1.95% or 2.1%

The smallest possible registration is $143 ($76 + $34 + $33), plus 0.65% of the car's value and county fees. Our arithmetic from DMV's list.
DMV's fee calculator gives your exact total.

Source:California DMV: licensing fees(opens official site)

Source:California DMV: registration fees(opens official site)

Source:BAR: Smog Check(opens official site)