Business Partner Program

Online Forms 2

Our Business Partner Automation (BPA) program authorizes qualified partners to process vehicle related transactions, including vehicle registration and titling, from their remote locations.

All new motor vehicle dealers must use the BPA for processing.

We have three types of partners:

  • First-Line Business Partner: A partner who receives information from DMV and uses it to complete registration and titling activities for their own business purposes.
  • First-Line Service Provider: A partner who receives information from DMV and transmits it to another authorized business partner for registration processing.
  • Second-Line Business Partner: A partner who receives information from a First-Line Service Provider.

Our partners can process:

  • New vehicle reports of sale.
  • Full year registration renewals. (***partial year registration is not allowed in BPA***)
  • Registered owner transfers.
  • Salvage applications.
  • Junk applications.
  • Non-repairable applications.
  • Vehicle license fee (VLF) refunds*.
  • Legal owner transfers.
  • Non-resident vehicles.
  • Miscellaneous originals.
  • Replacement titles.
  • Vessels.
  • Personalized and special plate assignments and/or reassignments.
  • Unwinds/rollbacks.
  • Disabled Veteran/Disabled Person reassignments.
  • Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI).
  • Posting fee transactions.
  • Additions to a PFR fleet.
  • Substitute vehicle license plate and sticker.

* VLF refunds are restricted to Salvage Pools.

Our partners can issue the following indicia:

  • Automobile Commercial Trailer Motorcycle (ACTM) plates and stickers.
  • PTI plates.
  • Exempt license plates.
  • Single-plate truck tractor inventory.

  • Saves time, may increase revenue, and allows you to have full control over the transactions processed from your location.
  • Allows you to submit the exact fees calculated by DMV. Eliminates bundle credits, ASF, and issuing checks to DMV.
  • Reduce trips to DMV to submit your work.
  • May eliminate your inquiries to DMV.
  • Enhanced customer service – another way to offer the best possible service to your customers.
  • Customers will benefit from the one-stop registration service by getting their plates, registration cards, and stickers directly from you.
  • Customers will no longer have to wait for their plates, which will eliminate telephone calls to you regarding the status of their license plates.
  • May provide your customers alternative payment options.

Any company that has a business need to process their own vehicle registration and titling applications and comply with the following requirements can become a First-Line Business Partner:

Send the completed application documents and fees to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Business Partner Automation Program
PO Box 825393, MS C383
Sacramento, CA 94232-3280

Fees

  • $305 non-refundable application fee
  • $232 for each additional branch location (if applicable)
  • Live scan fingerprint fees (payable to the live scan facility)

DMV holds the First-Line Business Partner responsible for all fees due to DMV and requires payment via an Electronic Fund Transfer. Complete an Electronic Fund Transfer Authorization Agreement (REG 4051).

The application is valid for 12 months. The BPA permit is valid for 36 months. A renewal application and fee is necessary for BPA program participation.

Any company that can comply with the following requirements can become a First-Line Service Provider:

Send the completed application documents and fees to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Business Partner Automation Program
PO Box 825393, MS C383
Sacramento, CA 94232-3280

Fees

  • $305 non-refundable application fee
  • $232 for each additional branch location (if applicable)
  • Live scan fingerprint fees (payable to the live scan facility)

DMV holds the First-Line Service Provider responsible for all fees due to DMV and requires payment via an Electronic Fund Transfer. Complete an Electronic Fund Transfer Authorization Agreement (REG 4051).

The application is valid for 12 months. The BPA permit is valid for 36 months. A renewal application and fee is necessary for BPA program participation.

Authorized First-Line Service Providers

DMV currently has four authorized First-Line Service Providers who provide services to Second-Line Business Partners:

Dealertrack
Contact: Gavin Lawrence – Phone: (916) 642-3019

Motor Vehicle Software Corporation
Contact: Eddy Partida – Phone: (818) 706-1949

Automated Vehicle Registration Services
Contact: Monique Buduan – Phone: (707) 658-4100 & (855) 437-4400

American Driving Records
Contact: Melody Alday – Phone: (916) 288-6705

The following types of companies are examples of who can become a Second-Line Business Partner:

  • Registration services.
  • New/used vehicle dealers.
  • Vehicle rental companies.
  • Vehicle leasing companies.
  • Dismantlers.
  • Salvage pools.

Contact a First-Line Service Provider for additional information.

Any company that can comply with the following requirements can become a Second-Line Business Partner:

Send the completed application documents and fees to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Business Partner Automation Program
PO Box 825393, MS C383
Sacramento, CA 94232-3280

Fees

  • $305 non-refundable application fee
  • $232 for each additional branch location (if applicable)
  • Live scan fingerprint fees (payable to the live scan facility)

DMV holds the Second-Line Business Partner responsible for all fees due to DMV and remitting them to their respective First-Line Service Provider.

The application fee is valid for 36 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you may charge for your services. Companies participating in the BPA Program are allowed to charge their customers a service fee for each type of transaction processed through to completion. However, licensed vehicle dealers y dismantlers are restricted to charging up to $30.00 for each type of transaction, in addition to any other fees authorized by statute. Effective April 18, 2022, this charge is increasing to $31.

Licensed registration services and salvage pools are not restricted to the fee amount they may charge.

Yes, DMV charges a $5.00 transaction fee for each transaction processed through to completion, $1 of which is a temporary charge for the partner’s proportionate share of department wide system improvements. The $1 fee shall be discontinued when the department determines that sufficient funds have been received to pay for the system improvements or December 31, 2023 (whichever occurs first). California Vehicle Code (CVC) §1685 The transaction fee may be charged to the customer in addition to the service fee. Effective April 18, 2022, this transaction fee is increasing to $6.

Exception: Payment of a transaction fee for vehicle license fee refund transactions is not required. Only salvage pools may process vehicle license fee refund transactions.

The inquiry process is not available within the BPA Program. Customers interested in obtaining inquiry capability should contact DMV Customer Services Division’s Account Processing Unit at (916) 657-5564.

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