Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

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Section 2 of 38

Chapter 1: General Registration Information

1.010 Assignment of Registration Expiration Date (VC §506)

The expiration year on original registration applications is programmatically-calculated 12 months from the month fees became due, and the day is determined by:

Date Fees DueExpiration Date
1-78
8-910
10-1112
12-1314
14-1516
16-1718

Date Fees DueExpiration Date
18-1920
20-2122
22-2324
24-2526
26-2728
Feb. 26-27Mar. 2
28-312nd of the next month

Vehicles with a “Date Fees Due” date of December 28–31, are assigned the current asterisk (*) year for proper calculation of subsequent renewal fees.

Exceptions:

  • Permanent exempt vehicles are assigned an expiration date of 12/31/2099.
  • Annual exempt vehicles and IRP vehicles expire on 12/31 of each year.
  • Partial-year registered (PYR) vehicles show only the expiration month/year.
  • Permanent fleet registered (PFR) vehicles show the expiration month/day/00.
  • Commercial vehicles expire on the last day of the expiration month.

California fees become due on the:

  • Date of first operation shown on the Application for Registration of New Vehicle (REG 397) form or Application for Title or Registration (REG 343) form.
  • Date the vehicle owner/operator becomes a California resident or accepts gainful employment here.
  • Purchase date listed on the REG 343 for an original vehicle registration when the vehicle was purchased in California.
  • Date the California registration expires.*
  • First day a vehicle on planned nonoperation (PNO) status is operated.*
  • The expiration date does not change as the result of renewal on a different date.