CA Vehicle Owners Beware! Registration Penalties Have Changed

[Zeke]

CA Vehicle Owners Beware! Registration Penalties Have Changed

This is 911 related. Please be advised if you were planning a rebuild on your engine because the new rules won't give you a practical option of "planned non-operation" and the reduced fees.

Please read the OT opening post before commenting and maybe limit your comments to the OT and PARF forums. A bump now and then here won't hurt. People need to know.

[DRACO A5OG]

Thanks for heads up Milt

[450knotOffice]

From the DMV website

Registration renewal notices have been generated thru September 14, 2011.

NOTE: This information will be updated regularly. Please check back to determine when your renewal notice has been generated.

Customers will be given a 30-day grace period from the registration expiration date to pay fees.

Customers are encouraged to utilize the renewal by mail or online Internet renewal program to renew their registration. These alternative service delivery options will automatically waive late fees for first 30-days after expiration date. New registration cards and stickers will be issued as quickly as possible.

Field offices, auto clubs and business partners will also be able to process registration renewal transactions on the registration expiration date and/or the date the renewal notice has been generated, whichever comes first.

Law enforcement is aware and will not cite vehicles until the first day of the second month after the vehicle registration expires. For example: A vehicle with a registration expiration date of July 10th would not be cited for delinquent registration prior to September 1, 2011.

[Zeke]

Here is an actual notice. Even if 450 Knott thinks this is clear, it's not.

Originally Posted by crustychief

Got mine 5 minutes ago.

Is there a reason to even print the first 2 penalty lines on 2 forms if they are moot?

[zippy_gg]

I received my notice yesterday and it is due... today!
Oh well, I have 30 days to pay, and since I will do so online this evening I don't have a reason to panic, except that... a smog certificate is required (Test only station) but my car is apart as I am replacing suspension, brakes, and interior...

[nineball]

ohio has been doing that for a few years now. the only exception are seasonal vehicles like motorcycles.

[ossiblue]

Here is what's causing the confusion, I believe.

As we all know, up until July 1, DMV mailed out registration notices 60 days in advance of the due date. Printed on the registration form were the penalty stages if payment wasn't received by the due date(see Milt's posted photo.) You had 60 days (more or less, depending on when the notice was mailed and you received it) to pay w/o penalty, then 10 more with a minor penalty, then 20 more with additional penalty, then another 30 for the final assessment.

The new legislation suspended that procedure for six months only due to the uncertainty of registration fees--something not clearly stated in the Special Notice that was included in post July 1 mailings. Because the law suspended temporarily standard registration procedures, DMV did not change the already programmed penalty stages on the forms--presumably because once the budget is passed, fees are determined, and the suspension of a 60 day notice expires, things will revert back to what they have historically been.

In other words, DMV kept the old registration forms with the printed "penalty box" that they always had (based on a 60 day prior notice), but since there was budget uncertainty, they didn't mail them out until they were (nearly) due but enclosed the "Special Notice" to prevent its "customers" thinking they were being scammed and being forced into late penalties.

Did it work? Obviously no. It's generally clear as mud. Bottom line: you have 30 days from the posted due date on your registration to pay without penalty. You should ignore the printed penalty box on the form except for the third step, which is 30 days past the due date. Are the other penalties moot? Yes, but they are there because DVM did not make special reprogramming for the suspension period. Is this confusing? Yes.

Now, the real fly in the ointment is on Jan. 1, 2012 when the suspension is to end. Will the legislature allow it to lapse and we return to a 60 day prior notice? Stay tuned.

[ChaseN]

Wow, you have to pay the state to not register your car?

[76 Targa]

The state government is after the money...it doesn't matter if the vehicle is operational or non-op. California is bankrupt and is doing all it can to generate additional revenue, just like most of the other states. We'd better get used to it.

[ChaseN]

Originally Posted by 76 Targa

The state government is after the money...it doesn't matter if the vehicle is operational or non-op. California is bankrupt and is doing all it can to generate additional revenue, just like most of the other states. We'd better get used to it.

Agreed, PA hits you where you aren't looking too. I have to pay an "occupation tax" just because I have a job in the city of Pittsburgh...(nevermind the fact I live outside it, and have to pay a certain percentage of wages to my township, too). It never ends...