11.080 California Native American-Owned Vehicles

California Native American Tribes and/or Tribal Members (U.S. Code, Title 28, §1360(b)) Vehicles owned or leased by the California Native American tribe and/or tribal member living on a federal Native American reservation or rancheria located in California and operated on public roads on or off the reservation or rancheria are exempt from the VLF portion only of California registration fees. The exemption must be established annually upon renewal.

In addition to the procedures listed in the Basic Transfer Requirements section in this chapter, the following must be submitted:

A California Native American Certification on the Miscellaneous Certifications (REG 256A) form completed and signed by a representative of the tribe or an official of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. A new REG 256A form is required annually upon renewal.

Federally-Recognized Native American Tribes (VC §9104.5 and CR&TC §10781.1) Vehicles registered to a federally-recognized Native American tribal name and used exclusively within the boundaries and jurisdiction of the tribe are exempt from all fees, other than the registration fee (without the miscellaneous city/county fees). The fee exemption must be established annually upon renewal.

In addition to the procedures listed in the Basic Transfer Requirements section in this chapter, the following must be submitted:

• A letter written on Native American tribal letterhead and signed by an authorized tribal counsil member, such as the tribal chief or secretary, which identifies the vehicle and states it is owned by and being registered in the federally-recognized Native American tribal name and will be used exclusively within the boundaries of Native American tribal land, including any incidental operation on highways within those boundaries.
• The registration fee, if registration renewal is required at the time of transfer. The application is exempt from all other fees.

Transfer from California Native American-Owned to Someone Else—In addition to the procedures listed in the Basic Transfer Requirements section in this chapter, the following must be submitted:

VLF from the month of transfer or date of first operation by the buyer, the transfer fee, and any other fees due.