Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

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Section 13 of 38

Chapter 12: Nonresident Vehicles

12.070 Leased Vehicles (VC §6853)

A vehicle leased from a nonresident owner by a person who resides or has an established place of business in California for use on California highways, must be registered here unless specifically exempted from registration under VC §6850. Nonresident commercial vehicles leased to a California resident are subject to California registration from the date of first use in California, conditioned upon reciprocity.

California registration becomes due when the vehicle is under lease and in operation by the lessee. In such cases, make a notation on the application “Fees assessed from first use by California lessee—not from date of entry.”