To register an out-of-state vehicle in California, you need to provide the title or registration from your previous state and get a VIN inspection and a smog check done.
You have to obtain a California driver's license within 10 days of becoming a California resident if you are a nonresident.
New cars less than two years old or with fewer than 7,500 miles on the odometer cannot be registered in California if bought out of state.
Some nonresident vehicles cannot be registered in California or the United States.
Check the Buying a Vehicle From Out of State–Can You Register It in California?
(FFVR 29) Fast Facts brochure for rules and exceptions.
Some states, like Indiana, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and North Dakota, allow non-resident vehicle registration.
Proof of insurance and ownership is a constant requirement for car registration across states.
If the out-of-state title is lost, stolen, or destroyed, a duplicate must be obtained from the state that issued the title for registering the vehicle in California.
A California resident located out of state can register their vehicle in California by submitting the necessary documents, including a REG 31 with emission label verification.
Noncertified vehicles and motorcycles with less than 7,500 odometer miles cannot be registered in California unless they are exempted.
Leased or financed cars may not have a title, but the most recent registration is acceptable for out-of-state vehicle registration in California.
When driving in California with an out-of-state driver's license, the license must be valid, and the driver must be of a certain age.
A non-resident can legally drive in California with a valid license from their state of residence, as long as the license is valid for the type of vehicle they are driving.
In California, someone moving from out of state has 20 days to register their vehicle.
To get a California license, proof of identity, residence, and a thumbprint are required.
The average cost of owning a car in California for three years is $14,425, making it rank last but one place in car expense rating.
The registration fee for a car in California is $74, along with a $32 CHP fee, transportation improvement fee, title fees, and taxes.
Usually, registering a car in a different state than your license is not allowed, except for eight states, including Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada.
California has an implied consent law, which means if you drive a vehicle in the state, you automatically consent to a chemical test for determining the alcohol content of your blood.
California has a point system for driving violations.
Accumulating too many points can result in a suspended or revoked driver's license.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles uses a "Negligent Operator Treatment System" (NOTS) to identify and take action against drivers who are a traffic safety risk.