Out of State Registration in California

Out of state registration in California comes with a deadline. New residents have 20 days to register a vehicle after moving here or taking a job here. A car last registered in another state or country is a nonresident vehicle in DMV terms, with its own checklist: the REG 343 application, the out-of-state title, a REG 31 verification, a California smog certificate, and the fees. Our North Hollywood office walks through that list with you by appointment, then prepares the application.

Request an Appointment Call (818) 649-3232

What this service covers

Registering a nonresident vehicle counts as an original California registration, not a renewal. The DMV checks the out-of-state title, confirms the VIN through a REG 31 verification done in person, applies California smog rules, then collects registration fees and any use tax owed. The vehicle then gets California plates, a card, and stickers.

Who needs it

New California residents who brought a vehicle from another state.
People who took a job in California and still drive on out-of-state plates.
California residents who bought a vehicle in another state and drove it home.

What to bring to your appointment

Sourced from the DMV's requirements. Bring originals where the DMV asks for them. We confirm the exact list when we set your time.

What to bring: Out-of-State Vehicle Registration

Application for Title or Registration (REG 343)
Signed by every registered owner shown on the out-of-state title or registration. For a leased vehicle, the lessor signs.
The last issued out-of-state title
If it is not surrendered, the California card is marked nontransferable and no California title is issued.
Proof of last registration
The most recent out-of-state registration card, the current renewal notice, or a letter from that state confirming the owner names and the expiration date.
Verification of Vehicle (REG 31)
Completed by an authorized DMV employee, a law enforcement officer, or a California-licensed vehicle verifier. The owner does not fill it out.
Smog certification from a California station
Required for gasoline vehicles from model year 1976 on (motorcycles exempt), diesel vehicles from 1998 on under 14,001 pounds GVWR, and natural gas or propane vehicles under 14,001 pounds. The newer-vehicle smog exemption does not apply to nonresident vehicles.
Weight certificate or REG 4008 for commercial vehicles
A California public weighmaster's certificate at 10,000 pounds or less unladen, with a few exceptions. A REG 4008 declaration of gross vehicle weight over 6,001 pounds unladen.
The out-of-state license plates
Usually turned in, unless they are expired or the other state wants them back.

Based on DMV requirements as published on dmv.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-12. The DMV may ask for more depending on your vehicle. We confirm your exact list when we set your appointment.

When you might need this service

You just moved to California

The DMV counts you as a resident once you intend to live here six months or more in a year. Signs of that include a California job, voter registration, resident tuition at a public college, renting a place as your main home, or a California driver license. From the date residency begins, or the day after your old registration expires if that comes first, you have 20 days before penalties start.

You bought a vehicle in another state

For a vehicle purchased outside California, fees come due on the day it enters the state. Use tax is usually owed too when the vehicle comes in within 365 days of purchase, though the DMV gives credit for sales tax already paid to another state. One more catch: California treats a vehicle with fewer than 7,500 miles as new, so a new vehicle built only to federal emission standards cannot be registered here unless an exemption applies.

The out-of-state title is missing

A duplicate has to come from the state that issued the title. When no out-of-state title is surrendered, the DMV marks the California registration card as nontransferable and does not issue a California title, which becomes a problem the day you try to sell.

How it works with us

Call or send a request
Call (818) 649-3232 or use the appointment form. Tell us which state the vehicle came from, when you moved or bought it, and whether it is a personal or commercial vehicle.
We confirm what to bring
We check your dates against the 20 day rule, then send you a list of the documents that apply, including where the smog check or VIN verification fits in, and an appointment time.
We prepare the application with you
At your appointment we complete the REG 343 with you, review the title and registration, then check the smog certificate against the vehicle.
We handle the paperwork for the transaction
The DMV calculates the fees, processes the application, then issues California plates, a card, and stickers. If something is still pending, the DMV may issue a temporary operating permit for a nonresident vehicle with an incomplete application.

Fees

DMV fees are set by the State of California, not by us. Only the DMV decides the final total, which depends on your vehicle, the transaction, and any penalties already on the record.

The DMV charges a $28 nonresident service fee on an original registration for a vehicle from out of state, on top of the $76 registration fee and the $34 CHP fee. The vehicle license fee is 0.65 percent of the vehicle's value. (DMV source, checked 2026-10-12)
Use tax may be due on a vehicle bought outside California and brought in within 365 days. The DMV credits sales tax paid to another state, up to the California amount, but not tax paid to a foreign country. (DMV source, checked 2026-10-12)
Penalties apply when the fees are not paid within 20 days of the date they became due. The DMV advises submitting the application and fees on time even when the title or smog certificate is still missing. (DMV source, checked 2026-10-12)

Our service charge

Every transaction is different, so our service charge depends on the paperwork your case needs. Tell us about it when you call or send a request and we will explain our charge before you decide to proceed. DMV fees, taxes, and penalties are separate.

DMV fee calculator

How California registration fees add up

Common issues and special cases

The vehicle failed its California smog check

A vehicle from out of state has to pass a California smog inspection even if it was tested at home last month. If it fails on an original registration, the DMV may issue a one-time 30 day permit when you show a BAR referee appointment or proof that parts are on order, or a 60 day permit once all fees are paid. Our temporary operating permit page explains both.

A nearly new vehicle built for the other 49 states

A vehicle with fewer than 7,500 miles at purchase is new in the DMV's eyes, whether or not another state registered it. If the emission label does not show California standards, the DMV refuses the registration unless an exemption applies, such as inheritance or a vehicle you first registered yourself in another state before moving.

Questions about out-of-state vehicle registration

How long do I have to register my car after moving to California?

Twenty days from the date you become a California resident or take a job in the state. Fees come due on that date or the day after your old registration expires, whichever is first.

Do I need a VIN verification for an out of state vehicle registration?

Yes. The DMV requires a Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) completed by an authorized DMV employee, a law enforcement officer, or a California-licensed vehicle verifier who inspects the vehicle in person. See our VIN verification page for how that works.

What if I cannot gather everything within 20 days?

File the application with the fees anyway. The DMV says that stops the penalties even when the title or smog certificate is still pending. For a nonresident vehicle with an incomplete application the DMV may issue a one-time 30 day temporary operating permit.

What does out of state registration cost in California?

The DMV sets the fees based on the vehicle's value, your county, the vehicle type, and a nonresident service fee. Use the DMV's fee calculator for an estimate, or read our registration fees page. A brand new vehicle with no prior record follows the new vehicle registration rules instead.

Ready to set an appointment?

Call or send a request. We will confirm what to bring and a time that works.