Registration Fee Calc

All states

Car registration fees in California

76Base registration fee

Original registration or renewal, $76 (VC 9250.1). Includes the Alternative Fuel/Technology Fee ($3).1

The details

How the fee is figured
Registration fee plus CHP fee ($34), vehicle license fee of 0.65% of purchase price or value, a value based transportation improvement fee, and county or district fees.1
Title fee
Transfer $15 (VC 9255). Title only $28 (VC 9254).1
Plate fee
Replacement license plate $28 (VC 9265).1
Electric vehicle fee
Road improvement fee of $121 on model year 2020 and later zero emission vehicles, not charged at first registration of a new ZEV from a dealer.1
Local or county fees
County or district fee varies by county.1
Renewal period
Annual. DMV sends a billing notice about 60 days before expiration and offers no grace period.1
The transportation improvement fee runs from $33 for a vehicle under $5,000 to $231 for $60,000 and up.

Sources

  1. Registration Fees, California Department of Motor Vehicles, checked 1 November 2026

Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source used only because the official page could not be read.