Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4600. Section 4600.
Certificates of ownership shall not be renewed annually but shall remain valid until suspended, revoked, or canceled by the department for cause or upon a transfer of any interest shown therein.
ARTICLE 5. Renewal of Registration [4600. - 4610.]
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH 5.
in effectCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4601. Section 4601.
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this code, every vehicle registration and registration card expires at midnight on the expiration date designated by the director pursuant to Section 1651.5, and shall be renewed prior to the expiration of the registration year. The department may, upon payment of the proper fees, renew the registration of vehicles.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, renewal of registration for any vehicle that is either currently registered or for which a certification pursuant to Section 4604 has been filed may be obtained not more than 75 days prior to the expiration of the current registration or certification.
(c)
Notwithstanding subdivision (b) or any other law, commencing upon the effective date of the act that added this subdivision, the renewal of registration for a vehicle that expires on or before June 30, 2011, may be obtained not more than 75 days prior to the expiration of the current registration or certification and the renewal of registration for a vehicle that expires on or after July 1, 2011, or for which a certification, pursuant to Section 4604, has been filed, may not be obtained until the expiration of the current registration or certification or until the department has issued a notice of renewal, whichever occurs first. This subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2012.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4601.5. Section 4601.5.
Notwithstanding Section 4601, the registration for vehicles registered pursuant to the Partial Year Registration Program as described in Article 5 (commencing with Section 9700) of Chapter 6 of Division 3, expires at midnight of December 31 of the registration year. However, for the purposes of applying any future reductions or increases in the vehicle license fee, the vehicle registrations subject to this section shall be deemed to have a final expiration date in the succeeding calendar year.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4602. Section 4602.
Application for renewal of a vehicle registration shall be made by the owner not later than midnight of the expiration date, and shall be made by presentation of the registration card last issued for the vehicle or by presentation of a potential registration card issued by the department for use at the time of renewal and by payment of the full registration year fee for the vehicle as provided in this code. If the registration card and potential registration card are unavailable, a fee as specified in Section 9265 shall not be paid.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4603. Section 4603.
Whenever in his opinion the interests of the State will be promoted thereby, the director with the approval of the Governor may extend for a period not to exceed 10 days the closing of the period during which applications for renewal of registration may be presented without the payment of penalties.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4604. Section 4604.
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d), prior to the expiration of the registration of a vehicle, if that registration is not to be renewed prior to its expiration, the owner of the vehicle shall file, under penalty of perjury, a certification that the vehicle will not be operated, moved, or left standing upon a highway without first making an application for registration of the vehicle, including full payment of all fees. The certification is valid until the vehicle’s registration is renewed pursuant to subdivision (c).
(b)
Each certification filed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be accompanied by a filing fee of fifteen dollars ($15).
(c)
(1)
An application for renewal of registration, except when accompanied by an application for transfer of title to, or an interest in, the vehicle, shall be submitted to the department with payment of the required fees for the current registration year and without penalty for delinquent payment of fees imposed under this code or under Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code if the department receives the application prior to or on the date the vehicle is first operated, moved, or left standing upon a highway during the current registration year and the certification required pursuant to subdivision (a) was timely filed with the department.
(2)
If an application for renewal of registration is accompanied by an application for transfer of title, that application may be made without incurring a penalty for delinquent payment of fees not later than 20 days after the date the vehicle is first operated, moved, or left standing on a highway if a certification pursuant to subdivision (a) was timely filed with the department.
(d)
A certification is not required to be filed pursuant to subdivision (a) for one or more of the following:
(1)
A vehicle on which the registration expires while being held as inventory by a dealer or lessor-retailer or while being held pending a lien sale by the keeper of a garage or operator of a towing service.
(2)
A vehicle registered pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 8050) of Chapter 4 of Division 3.
(3)
A vehicle described in Section 5004, 5004.5, or 5051, as provided in Section 4604.2. However, the registered owner may file a certificate of nonoperation in lieu of the certification specified in subdivision (a).
(4)
A vehicle registered pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 9700) of Chapter 6 if the registered owner has complied with subdivision (c) of Section 9706.
(e)
Notwithstanding Section 670, for purposes of this section, a “vehicle” is a device by which a person or property may be propelled, moved, or driven upon a highway having intact and assembled its major component parts including, but not limited to, the frame or chassis, cowl, and floor pan or, in the case of a trailer, the frame and wheels or, in the case of a motorcycle, the frame, front fork, and engine. For purposes of this section, “vehicle” does not include a device moved exclusively by human power, a device used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, or a motorized wheelchair.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4604.2. Section 4604.2.
(a)
When the registration of a vehicle registered on a partial year basis has expired and the vehicle is not thereafter operated, moved, or left standing upon a highway, and the vehicle is in compliance with subdivision (b) of Section 9706 applying to vehicles registered on a partial year basis, an application for renewal made subsequent to that expiration shall be accompanied by a certificate of nonoperation.
(b)
An application for registration or renewal of registration of a vehicle described in Section 5004 or 5004.5 that has not been operated, moved, or left standing upon a highway shall be accompanied by a certificate of nonoperation for the period during which the vehicle was not registered.
(c)
A certificate of nonoperation may be accepted for a vehicle registered pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 8050) of Chapter 4 solely for the purpose of waiver of penalties.
(d)
The application for registration or renewal of registration of vehicles specified in subdivisions (a) and (b), whether or not accompanied by an application for transfer of title, shall be accepted by the department upon payment of the proper fees for the current registration year without the payment of delinquent fees imposed under this code or Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code if the department receives the application and certificate of nonoperation prior to the date the vehicle is first operated, moved, or left standing upon a highway during the current registration year.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4604.5. Section 4604.5.
(a)
(1)
If the vehicle has not been operated, moved, or left standing upon any highway subsequent to the expiration of the vehicle’s registration, the certification specified in Section 4604 or 4604.2 may be filed after the expiration of the registration of a vehicle, but not later than 90 days after the expiration date, subject to the payment of the filing fee specified in Section 4604 and the penalty specified in paragraph (2).
(2)
A penalty shall be collected on any certification specified in Section 4604 or 4604.2 filed later than midnight of the date of expiration of registration. The penalty shall be computed as provided in Sections 9406 and 9559 and after the registration and weight fees have been combined with the license fee specified in Section 10751 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, as follows:
(A)
For a delinquency period of 10 days or less, the penalty is 10 percent of the fee.
(B)
For a delinquency period of more than 10 days, to and including 30 days, the penalty is 20 percent of the fee.
(C)
For a delinquency period of more than 30 days, to and including 90 days, the penalty is 60 percent of the fee.
(3)
This subdivision applies to the renewal of registration for vehicles with expiration dates on or before December 31, 2002.
(b)
The certification specified in Sections 4604 and 4604.2 may be filed no more than 90 days after the expiration of the registration of a vehicle if the vehicle has not been operated, moved, or left standing upon any highway subsequent to the expiration of the vehicle’s registration. A penalty shall be collected on any certification specified in Section 4604 or 4604.2 filed later than midnight of the date of expiration of registration. After 90 days, the vehicle must be registered pursuant to Section 4601. A certification filed pursuant to this subdivision is subject to the payment of the filing fee specified in Section 4604 and the payment of the penalties specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subdivision.
(1)
The penalty for late payment of the registration fee provided in Section 9250 is as follows:
(A)
For a delinquency period of 10 days or less, the penalty is ten dollars ($10).
(B)
For a delinquency period of more than 10 days, to and including 30 days, the penalty is fifteen dollars ($15).
(C)
For a delinquency period of more than 30 days, to and including 90 days, the penalty is thirty dollars ($30).
(2)
The penalty on the weight fee and the vehicle license fee shall be computed after the weight fee as provided in Section 9400 or 9400.1 plus the vehicle license fee specified in Section 10751 of the Revenue and Taxation Code have been added together as follows:
(A)
For a delinquency period of 10 days or less, the penalty is 10 percent of the fee.
(B)
For a delinquency period exceeding 10 days, to and including 30 days, the penalty is 20 percent of the fee.
(C)
For a delinquency period of more than 30 days, to and including 90 days, the penalty is 60 percent of the fee.
(3)
Weight fees not reported and not paid within 20 days, as required by Section 9406, shall be assessed a penalty on the difference in the weight fee, as follows:
(A)
For a delinquency period of 10 days or less, the penalty is 10 percent of the fee.
(B)
For a delinquency period exceeding 10 days, to and including 30 days, the penalty is 20 percent of the fee.
(C)
For a delinquency period of more than 30 days, to and including 90 days, the penalty is 60 percent of the fee.
(c)
This section shall apply to registration renewals that expire on or after January 1, 2003.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4605. Section 4605.
Notwithstanding Section 4000 of this code, and notwithstanding Section 38020 of this code, no fees or penalties imposed under this code or under Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall accrue due to operation of a vehicle in conjunction with the theft or embezzlement of the vehicle if the owner or legal owner submits a certificate in writing setting forth the circumstances of the theft or embezzlement and certifies that the theft or embezzlement of the vehicle has been reported pursuant to the provisions of this code.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4606. Section 4606.
Notwithstanding any provision of subdivision (a) of Section 5204 to the contrary, when an application for the registration of a vehicle has been made as required in Sections 4152.5 and 4602, the vehicle may be operated on the highways until the new indicia of current registration have been received from the department, upon condition that there be displayed on the vehicle the license plates and validating devices, if any, issued to the vehicle for the previous registration year.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4607. Section 4607.
The department, upon renewing a registration, shall issue a new registration card to the owner as upon an original registration.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4609. Section 4609.
The department may extend the life of the current series of license plates, outstanding during 1957, and may hereafter issue a new series of license plates for an indefinite period of time, but in no event for a period less than five (5) years. During each intervening year of the period for which the plates are issued, the department shall issue a tab, sticker, or other suitable device as herein provided.
Any such series of plates may be canceled by the director with the approval of the Governor at any time after five years from the year of issuance of such series.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 4610. Section 4610.
The department may authorize an endorsement of a receipt or the validation of a registration card or potential registration card as provided in this code by a person or organization holding a certificate of authority issued under the provisions of Part 5 (commencing with Section 12140) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026