Skip to: Content | Footer | Web Accessibility | Disability Services
Disabled wheelchair logo

California Department of Motor Vehicles
DMV Spanish website
car image

Computation of Penalty; Renewal of Registration

9554.  (a) (1) The penalty shall be computed as provided in Sections 9406 and 9559 and shall be collected with the fee, except that the penalty for delinquency with respect to any transfer is fifteen dollars ($15) and applies only to the last transfer.

(2) A penalty shall be added on any application for renewal of registration made later than midnight of the date of expiration or on or after the date penalties become due. The penalty shall be computed 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 one year, the penalty is 60 percent of the fee.

(D) For a delinquency period of more than one year to and including two years, the penalty is 80 percent of the fee.

(E) For a delinquency period of more than two years, the penalty is 160 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) Penalties specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subdivision shall be computed as provided in Section 9559 and shall be collected with the fee, except that the penalty for delinquency with respect to any transfer is fifteen dollars ($15) and applies only to the last transfer. A penalty shall be added on any application for a renewal of registration made later than midnight of the date of expiration or on or after the date penalties become due.

(1) (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 one year, the penalty is thirty dollars ($30).

(D) For a delinquency period of more than one year, to and including two years, the penalty is fifty dollars ($50).

(E) For a delinquency period of more than two years, the penalty is one hundred dollars ($100).

(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 one year, the penalty is 60 percent of the fee.

(D) For a delinquency period of more than one year, to and including two years, the penalty is 80 percent of the fee.

(E) For a delinquency period of more than two years, the penalty is 160 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 one year, the penalty is 60 percent of the fee.

(D) For a delinquency period of more than one year, to and including two years, the penalty is 80 percent of the fee.

(E) For a delinquency period of more than two years, the penalty is 160 percent of the fee.

(4) This subdivision applies to the renewal of registration for vehicles with expiration dates on or after January 1, 2003.

Amended Sec. 15, Ch. 805, Stats. 2002. Effective September 22, 2002.
Amended Sec. 18, Ch. 719, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.