CA · Registration fee guide

California car registration fees

Last verified 2026-10-29 · View sources

Base registration fee$76.00Fee source ↗

EV / hybrid fee$121.00 / Not publishedSee applicable rules

Typical example total$304.5012-month renewal example

Your itemized estimate

Estimate your registration

Use your vehicle details to calculate the listed fees. Amounts reflect the schedule verified in 2026.

Start with the published example below, then adjust the details for your vehicle.

Published example · listed fees

$304.50

12-month renewal example

Where the fees go

State fees$293.50
County / local$11.00
One-time$0.00

View breakdown data

Where the fees go — amounts in USD
Category	Amount
State fees	$293.50
County / local	$11.00
One-time	$0.00

Itemized estimate, with official fee sources
Fee	Amount
Registration fee	$76.00
California Highway Patrol (CHP) fee	$34.00
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 5	$97.50
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 5	$66.00
Smog abatement fee	$20.00
County/district fees	$11.00

Estimate only. Includes only the fees listed here; other taxes, penalties or local charges may apply. Confirm with the official agency.

What’s not included

County/district fees are modeled only for Orange ($11), San Diego ($7) and Santa Clara ($21), read from DMV Appendix 1A. Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino are not modeled: Appendix 1A gives each two air-quality fee rates (e.g. LA $7/$6) and the rate depends on the ZIP code within the county (Appendix 1B lists the split ZIPs), so no single county figure exists. For those and all other counties, confirm with DMV's fee calculator or your renewal notice; the estimate here excludes those local fees.
Smog abatement ($20) is applied to gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in their first eight model years (age 0-7), per H&SC §44011(a)(4)(B)(ii) and DMV's Smog Inspections page. The smog transfer fee ($8, VC §4000.1) applies only on ownership changes of newer vehicles and is not modeled.
Title-only ($28) and transfer ($15) fees apply to ownership changes, not renewals, and are not modeled. Use tax on purchases is not included.
Enter the price paid when the current owner bought the vehicle. DMV depreciates VLF from the year the vehicle was first sold or last transferred, not the model year; the calculator approximates that year with the model year, so a used car bought recently will be under-estimated. Use your renewal notice or DMV's calculator for the exact figure.
The depreciation percentages are read off DMV's REG 360 table (REV 3/2011); the statute (RTC 10753.2) could not be loaded to confirm them. Prices above about $97,600 are beyond the table.
New registrations also owe sales/use tax and title fees not modeled here.

Use the official calculator

Registration fee schedule

Only applicable fees contribute to your estimate. Optional fees are excluded unless selected. One-time fees apply only to new registrations.

California fee rules · verified 2026-10-29
Fee	Amount or rule	Applies to
Registration fee	$76.00 VC §9250.1; includes the $3 Alternative Fuel/Technology fee. Appendix 1F still shows $73; the main fee page ($76) is newer.	All listed vehicles All listed vehicles
California Highway Patrol (CHP) fee	$34.00	All listed vehicles All listed vehicles
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 1	0.65% of vehicle value 0.65% of 100% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 0; max age years: 0
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 2	0.585% of vehicle value 0.65% of 90% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 1; max age years: 1
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 3	0.52% of vehicle value 0.65% of 80% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 2; max age years: 2
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 4	0.455% of vehicle value 0.65% of 70% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 3; max age years: 3
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 5	0.39% of vehicle value 0.65% of 60% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 4; max age years: 4
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 6	0.325% of vehicle value 0.65% of 50% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 5; max age years: 5
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 7	0.26% of vehicle value 0.65% of 40% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 6; max age years: 6
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 8	0.195% of vehicle value 0.65% of 30% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 7; max age years: 7
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 9	0.1625% of vehicle value 0.65% of 25% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 8; max age years: 8
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 10	0.13% of vehicle value 0.65% of 20% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 9; max age years: 9
Vehicle License Fee (VLF), year 11 and later	0.0975% of vehicle value 0.65% of 15% of the purchase price. DMV's REG 360 rate table charges VLF by purchase-price class and registration year; its 11 year columns match 100/90/80/70/60/50/40/30/25/20/15% of price to within $1 on all 488 classes.	See conditions min age years: 10
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 1	Up to $4,999.99: $33.00; Up to $24,999.99: $66.00; Up to $34,999.99: $132.00; Up to $59,999.99: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 0; max age years: 0
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 2	Up to $5,555.55: $33.00; Up to $27,777.77: $66.00; Up to $38,888.88: $132.00; Up to $66,666.66: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 1; max age years: 1
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 3	Up to $6,249.99: $33.00; Up to $31,249.99: $66.00; Up to $43,749.99: $132.00; Up to $74,999.99: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 2; max age years: 2
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 4	Up to $7,142.85: $33.00; Up to $35,714.28: $66.00; Up to $49,999.99: $132.00; Up to $85,714.28: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 3; max age years: 3
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 5	Up to $8,333.32: $33.00; Up to $41,666.66: $66.00; Up to $58,333.32: $132.00; Up to $99,999.99: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 4; max age years: 4
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 6	Up to $9,999.99: $33.00; Up to $49,999.99: $66.00; Up to $69,999.99: $132.00; Up to $119,999.99: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 5; max age years: 5
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 7	Up to $12,499.99: $33.00; Up to $62,499.99: $66.00; Up to $87,499.99: $132.00; Up to $149,999.99: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 6; max age years: 6
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 8	Up to $16,666.66: $33.00; Up to $83,333.32: $66.00; Up to $116,666.66: $132.00; Up to $199,999.99: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 7; max age years: 7
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 9	Up to $19,999.99: $33.00; Up to $99,999.99: $66.00; Up to $139,999.99: $132.00; Up to $239,999.99: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 8; max age years: 8
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 10	Up to $24,999.99: $33.00; Up to $124,999.99: $66.00; Up to $174,999.99: $132.00; Up to $299,999.99: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 9; max age years: 9
Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF), year 11 and later	Up to $33,333.32: $33.00; Up to $166,666.66: $66.00; Up to $233,333.32: $132.00; Up to $399,999.99: $198.00; Remaining values: $231.00 TIF is $33-$231 by the vehicle's DMV market value (VC 9801). Market value here is the purchase price depreciated on the same schedule as the VLF, so the bands are stated in purchase-price terms.	See conditions min age years: 10
Smog abatement fee	$20.00 H&SC §44011(a)(4)(B)(ii) exempts motor vehicles eight or fewer model-years old from smog check; DMV's Smog Inspections page says those vehicles pay this $20 smog abatement fee instead for the first 8 years. Modeled as vehicle age 0-7 (eight model years counting the current one). Electric vehicles are smog-exempt and do not pay it.	See conditions fuel type: gas, hybrid, phev; max age years: 7
County/district fees	Orange: $11.00; San Diego: $7.00; Santa Clara: $21.00 Passenger-car (non-CVRA) amounts from DMV Appendix 1A. Orange: Auto Theft/DUI $2 + SAFE $1 + Fingerprint ID $1 + Air Quality $7 (AVA ended 7/11). San Diego: Auto Theft/DUI $1 + SAFE $1 + Fingerprint ID $1 + Air Quality $4 (AVA ended 12/12). Santa Clara: Auto Theft/DUI $2 + AVA $1 + SAFE $1 + Fingerprint ID $1 + County Transportation Projects $10 + Air Quality $6. Other counties not yet listed.	All listed vehicles All listed vehicles
Road Improvement Fee (zero-emission vehicles)	$121.00 Charged on model-year 2020 and later zero-emission vehicles; DMV says it is not charged on the initial registration of a new ZEV bought from a dealer.	See conditions fuel type: electric; model year min: 2020; registration type: renewal
Reflectorized license plate fee	$1.00 VC §4850, charged when plates are issued.	New registration All listed vehicles; one-time

How California fees work

California charges a $76 registration fee and a $34 CHP fee, plus two value-based charges: the Vehicle License Fee (0.65% of the purchase price, falling each year for 11 years) and a $33 to $231 Transportation Improvement Fee. Gas cars under eight model years old pay a $20 smog abatement fee, county/district fees add about $7 to $21 in the counties listed, and model-year 2020+ zero-emission vehicles add a $121 Road Improvement Fee at renewal. Sales/use tax is not included.

The listed registration period is 12 months. Agency information

Cost factors: flat, value, age, fuel, county.

Electric & hybrid surcharges

Electric: $121.00 in the listed schedule. Fee source

Choose the matching fuel type in the calculator to include the applicable surcharge.

Late registration

California late penalties stack a percentage of the VLF (and weight fee) with flat registration and CHP late fees: 1-10 days late 10% + $10 + $10; 11-30 days 20% + $15 + $15; 31 days-1 year 60% + $30 + $30; 1-2 years 80% + $50 + $50; over 2 years 160% + $100 + $100.

Confirm deadlines and penalties with the agency

Worked example

$25,000 gas car, model year 2022, renewal in Orange County (VLF year 5, market value about $15,000): $76 registration + $34 CHP + $97.50 VLF + $66 TIF + $20 smog abatement + $11 county/district fees = $304.50. Assumes the purchase price is the DMV value basis and the car was first sold in 2022; excludes card/service fees and use tax. Not yet checked against DMV's online calculator, which is interactive.

Listed total: $304.50

See the fee rules and sources above

Common questions

How are California registration fees calculated?

Where can I confirm my final registration cost?

Confirm the final amount with California Department of Motor Vehicles. Its official website is linked below the calculator and in this guide’s sources.

What other limitations should I consider?

County/district fees are modeled only for Orange ($11), San Diego ($7) and Santa Clara ($21), read from DMV Appendix 1A. Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino are not modeled: Appendix 1A gives each two air-quality fee rates (e.g. LA $7/$6) and the rate depends on the ZIP code within the county (Appendix 1B lists the split ZIPs), so no single county figure exists. For those and all other counties, confirm with DMV's fee calculator or your renewal notice; the estimate here excludes those local fees. Smog abatement ($20) is applied to gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in their first eight model years (age 0-7), per H&SC §44011(a)(4)(B)(ii) and DMV's Smog Inspections page. The smog transfer fee ($8, VC §4000.1) applies only on ownership changes of newer vehicles and is not modeled. Title-only ($28) and transfer ($15) fees apply to ownership changes, not renewals, and are not modeled. Use tax on purchases is not included. Enter the price paid when the current owner bought the vehicle. DMV depreciates VLF from the year the vehicle was first sold or last transferred, not the model year; the calculator approximates that year with the model year, so a used car bought recently will be under-estimated. Use your renewal notice or DMV's calculator for the exact figure. The depreciation percentages are read off DMV's REG 360 table (REV 3/2011); the statute (RTC 10753.2) could not be loaded to confirm them. Prices above about $97,600 are beyond the table. New registrations also owe sales/use tax and title fees not modeled here.

Sources and last checked

Sources

Registration Fees California DMV
Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual, Appendix 1F: Fees California DMV
Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual, Appendix 1A: County and City Fees California DMV
Smog Inspections California DMV
Vehicle Registration & Licensing Fee Calculators California DMV
VLF Rate Table (REG 360) California DMV
Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual: Vehicle License Fee California DMV
Health and Safety Code §44011 California Legislative Information

Last verified 2026-10-29

Fees can change. Confirm your final amount with the official registration agency before paying.

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