What DMV Does

DMV registers vehicles in California and licenses their drivers. This amounts to about 33 million vehicles registered and approximately 23 million licensed drivers.

Other major DMV functions include:

• Recording ownership (certificate of title) of the vehicles DMV registers
• Maintaining driving records (accidents and convictions) of licensed drivers
• Issuing identification cards for individuals
• Registering and recording ownership of vessels
• Licensing and regulating driving and traffic violator schools and their instructors
• Licensing and regulating vehicle manufacturers, transporters, dealers, distributors, vehicle salespeople, and dismantlers
• Administering the Financial Responsibility Law
• Investigating consumer complaints
• Maintaining records in accordance with the law
• Collects approximately $6.5 billion in revenues annually

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view some of the linked documents on this page. If you have problems with Acrobat Reader see the Adobe Troubleshooting page for possible solutions.

Estimated Fee Paid Vehicle Registration by County Report (PDF)

Driver Licenses Outstanding by County Report (PDF)

Department of Motor Vehicles Statistics (January - December 2008) (PDF)