PSA: Calif DMV renewal changes

[GGD]

A few of our family cars have registration expiration dates in July, and over the weekend I realized that I never got the renewal notices in the mail, and in previous years I usually paid the renewal in early June so that I would get the new sticker before the expiration.

I was getting ready to call the DMV to see if something got lost, and went to their website to find the phone number, and instead found this notice.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/newsrel/newsr...newals.htm

Changes to Registration Renewals Due July 1, 2011 and Later
For vehicle registration renewal fees due July 1, 2011 and later:

* State law requires DMV to implement changes in the billing and renewal process for registration fees due on or after July 1, 2011.
* Registration renewal notices will be mailed out close to or on the expiration date. (Previously notices were mailed 60-days ahead of the expiration date).
* NOTE: Fees are still due for registration notices due prior to July 1, 2011.
* No money will be collected until renewal notices are issued. (Previously renewal fees could be collected up to 75 days ahead of the expiration date and were required to be collected within 30 days of expiration when part of another transaction such as a transfer of vehicle ownership)
* All customers will be given a 30-day grace period after they receive their registration notice. Penalties for delinquent payment will not be imposed until 30 days after the registration expiration date. (Previously penalties were due the day after the registration expiration date)
* 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.

I was a bit surprised by this, given the state's financial situation I would have expected them to want to get paid sooner rather than later, but maybe this will increase revenue from expired registration fines.

[cbelt3]

Ohio's approach is different. They will continue to renew expired registrations and licenses, but you'll pay a $20 late fee after the due date. And the police WILL happily give you a ticket (and tow your car !) for expired registration and licenses.

[JoeH]

Mass. stopped mailing out license renewal notices a couple years ago entirely. Now it is up to you to remember to renew every 5 years. There is some grace period attached to the change, but not much of one. They decided to do this to save on the costs of printing the reminders and mailing them.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

GGD wrote:
but maybe this will increase revenue from expired registration fines.

Bingo. If you're late paying they get the extra late fee but either way they get the reg fee -- so why not make it easier for the reg fee to be late?

[GGD]

Found two news stories with conflicting reasons for the change, I think the first one is most likely the real reason.

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110602...t-gridlock

That's because state lawmakers have yet to decide how much to charge for those renewals.

The eventual rate hinges on whether state legislators let voters approve Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed tax extensions, to help close California's vexing, multibillion-dollar budget gap without deeper cuts.

http://www.recorderonline.com/news/regis...hicle.html

The change is due to recent legislation that makes significant changes to the statutes governing the billing and renewal process for registration fees due on or after July 1.

Senate Bill 84, which was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on May 4, makes the additional following changes:

- Establishes a 30-day grace period prior to assessing delinquent penalties. Any application submitted within 30 days of the expiration date no longer requires advance payment of the vehicle registration fees.

- Ends the requirement that registration renewal fees be collected within 30 days of the expiration date when those fees are due as part of another transaction.

[Lew Zealand]

GGD wrote:
A few of our family cars have registration expiration dates in July, and over the weekend I realized that I never got the renewal notices in the mail, and in previous years I usually paid the renewal in early June so that I would get the new sticker before the expiration.

I was getting ready to call the DMV to see if something got lost, and went to their website to find the phone number, and instead found this notice.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/newsrel/newsr...newals.htm

Changes to Registration Renewals Due July 1, 2011 and Later
For vehicle registration renewal fees due July 1, 2011 and later:

* State law requires DMV to implement changes in the billing and renewal process for registration fees due on or after July 1, 2011.
* Registration renewal notices will be mailed out close to or on the expiration date. (Previously notices were mailed 60-days ahead of the expiration date).
* NOTE: Fees are still due for registration notices due prior to July 1, 2011.
* No money will be collected until renewal notices are issued. (Previously renewal fees could be collected up to 75 days ahead of the expiration date and were required to be collected within 30 days of expiration when part of another transaction such as a transfer of vehicle ownership)
* All customers will be given a 30-day grace period after they receive their registration notice. Penalties for delinquent payment will not be imposed until 30 days after the registration expiration date. (Previously penalties were due the day after the registration expiration date)
* 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.

I was a bit surprised by this, given the state's financial situation I would have expected them to want to get paid sooner rather than later, but maybe this will increase revenue from expired registration fines.

Thank You!

July 22 reg renewal date here and I haven't received my renewal yet. Nice to know Sacramento Shenanigans are still in full force.