Partial Year Registration

Commercial motor vehicles not operated throughout a calendar year may be registered for a partial period of one month or more, but less than 12 months.

How Do I Apply for PYR on My Vehicle?

When you plan to operate a commercial vehicle only part of the registration year, on or before the annual registration expiration date you must:

To register your commercial motor vehicle for the second and subsequent periods of use within the same calendar year, you must contact DMV by mail or in person to:

  • Notify DMV of the number of consecutive months you plan to use the motor vehicle.
  • Pay the appropriate prorated unladen weight or CVRA fees and a PYR service fee for the period of use.
    • If the operating weight changes for the second and subsequent period of use on vehicles paying CVRA fees, a Declaration of Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (CGW) (REG 4008) form must be completed and a CVRA decal fee will be due.
  • Submit a Certificate of Non-Operation/Planned Non-Operation Certification (REG 102) form certifying that the vehicle was not operated since the end of the most recent period of use for which fees were paid.

How Far in Advance Can I Pay Fees?

PYR fees or a planned nonoperational (PNO) status filing fee will be accepted by the department up to 60 days prior to the vehicle registration expiration date.

What If I Don’t Plan to Operate the Vehicle?

If your vehicle is registered PYR in any year, you have until December 31 of the next year (end of the complete annual registration period for PYR vehicles) to pay an “open-ended” PNO status filing fee. Once the PNO status is set on the vehicle record, no further action is required until you decide to operate the vehicle again.

You will be required to submit a Certificate of Non-Operation/Planned Non-Operation Certification (REG 102) form certifying that the vehicle was not operated since the end of the most recent period of use for which fees were paid and that you do not plan to operate so as to cause registration fees to become due.

Examples

If a vehicle is registered as PYR at any time in a calendar year, no action on your part is required during the rest of the year if you choose not to use the vehicle.

If the motor vehicle is not used during an entire calendar year, you must submit a Certificate of Non-Operation/Planned Non-Operation Certification (REG 102) form and pay a PNO status filing fee on or before December 31, of that year, to avoid penalties. You may still apply for PNO status within 90 days after December 31, but penalties will be due.

After 90 days, eligibility for PNO status is forfeited and full year fees and penalties are due.

How Do I Register the Vehicle if There is a PNO Status on the Record?

If your PYR motor vehicle has a current PNO status on the department’s records and you now want to use it, you must:

  • Submit a Certificate of Non-Operation/Planned Non-Operation Certification (REG 102) certifying under penalty of perjury that the vehicle was not operated since the end of the most recent period of use for which fees were paid.
  • Pay full registration, vehicle license fees, prorated unladen weight or CVRA fees, a CTIP fee on some commercial motor vehicles, and PYR service fees for the first projected period of use.

Registration fees may be paid at any time during the year, prior to operating the vehicle.

What if I Choose to Fully Register My PYR Vehicle or Forfeit PNO Status?

Paying full registration, vehicle license, and unladen weight or CVRA fees at any point during the year changes your vehicle from PYR to full year registration status. If you pay the full fees after the registration expiration date, penalties will be assessed.

Statutory Authority

California Revenue and Taxation Code §10856
California Vehicle Code §§4452, 4604, 4604.2 4604.5, 5900, 9553, 9554, 9700, 9702, 9710, and 9711