{"id":15079,"date":"2020-04-15T15:45:46","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T22:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/handbook\/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2\/permits-and-decals\/temporary-operating-permit-top-reg-19f\/"},"modified":"2025-05-05T10:36:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T17:36:12","slug":"temporary-operating-permit-top-reg-19f","status":"publish","type":"dmv_handbook","link":"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/handbook\/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2\/permits-and-decals\/temporary-operating-permit-top-reg-19f\/","title":{"rendered":"25.055 Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) (REG 19F) (VC \u00a74156)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The TOP is a two-part form with a validating sticker (REG 19S), which is issued for the following <strong>limited and specific instances<\/strong> to operate a vehicle when all registration fees have been paid <strong>and <\/strong>license plates and\/or stickers have not been issued. Payment of use tax is not usually required to obtain a TOP, if all other fees have been paid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Biennial Smog Certification TOP<\/strong>\u2014The following applies to the issuance of a TOP REG 19F\/19S when the vehicle failed a biennial smog certification test:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The vehicle owner must present the failed smog test report as evidence that the vehicle failed a biennial smog certification when requesting a TOP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The TOP may be valid for 60 days from either the:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Registration expiration date.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Date the vehicle is removed from planned nonoperation (PNO).<strong><br>Example<\/strong>: A vehicle is registered or removed from PNO status on <strong>3\/15\/2013<\/strong>.<br>The customer presents evidence the vehicle failed smog certification on <strong>4\/10\/2013<\/strong>. A TOP valid until <strong>5\/15\/2013<\/strong> may be issued. If the customer presents evidence of the smog failure after <strong>5\/15\/2013<\/strong>, a TOP cannot be issued; only a one-day Vehicle Moving Permit (REG 172) can be issued.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only <strong>one <\/strong>biennial smog TOP can be issued to the same vehicle <strong>within a two-year period<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A TOP is<strong> not<\/strong> issued if proof of insurance is required and has not been submitted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Registration renewal fees must be paid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A $50 fee is due when issuing a TOP to obtain a biennial smog certification, unless the customer qualifies for a fee waiver as follows:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>TOP Fee Waiver\u2014The $50 TOP fee may only be waived (prior to paying the $50 fee) if the owner presents a Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) Letter of Eligibility (LOE) indicating the owner qualifies for CAP\u2019s repair assistance option.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CAP\u2019s repair assistance option provides income-eligible consumers up to $1500 in emissions-related repairs at a STAR test-and-repair station if their model year 1996 or newer vehicle fails its biennial Smog Check inspection. Income-eligible owners of model year 1976 through 1995 vehicles may receive up to $1,125 in emissions-related repairs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span role=\"region\" class=\"format-label--important\"><span class=\"format-label__text\">Important<\/span> When a salvage retention vehicle is being revived and the biennial smog is due, do not charge the TOP fee or limit the TOP expiration to less than 60 days.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Instances Allowing Issuance of a TOP<\/strong>\u2014A one-time <strong>30-day <\/strong>TOP may be issued on an incomplete registration application for a:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nonresident vehicle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Impounded vehicle, if all fees due are paid (unless due for a biennial smog when the expiration date or date removed from PNO is more than 60 days past; then only a one-day Vehicle Moving Permit (REG 172) can be issued.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vehicle referred to CHP for vehicle identification number inspection or assignment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vehicle having difficulty passing an <strong>original or transfer<\/strong> smog inspection when the applicant presents a BAR appointment card for a BAR referee inspection or documented proof of the needed smog parts on order for the owner.<br><span role=\"region\" class=\"format-label--note\"><span class=\"format-label__text\">Note<\/span> This does not apply to vehicles requiring a biennial smog.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vehicle requiring federal heavy vehicle use tax (FHVUT) with an expiration other than July 31.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vehicle when the office manager or designee determines it is appropriate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>See the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/handbook\/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2\/salvage-nonrepairable-junk-vehicles\/19-090-vehicle-safety-system-inspection-program\/\">19.090 Vehicle Safety System Inspection Program<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span role=\"region\" class=\"format-label--important\"><span class=\"format-label__text\">Important<\/span> A TOP cannot be issued to a vehicle requiring a brake or light certificate. You may only issue a Vehicle Moving Permit (REG 172).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A one-time <strong>60-day<\/strong> TOP may be issued on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An incomplete registration application for a:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vehicle failing an <strong>original or transfer<\/strong> smog inspection when a customer has paid all the fees due and shows the vehicle inspection record as proof of failing the smog inspection, may be issued a 60-day TOP from the date of failed smog inspection. <br><span role=\"region\" class=\"format-label--note\"><span class=\"format-label__text\">Note<\/span> This does not apply to vehicles requiring a biennial smog.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Commercial vehicle when the owner is having difficulty filing the FHVUT, <strong>if <\/strong>the registration expiration date is<strong> July 31<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Salvage retention vehicle being revived when a customer has paid all the registration fees due (current and due within 60 days) and obtained a <a href=\"https:\/\/bar.ca.gov\/safety-systems\">Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection (VSSI)<\/a> certificate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A complete registration application processed in mail mode for <strong>sequential <\/strong>license plates and stickers to be issued by DMV headquarters. <strong>Examples<\/strong>: Arts, Disabled Person, Disabled Veteran, Kids, Memorial, Lake Tahoe, Whale Tail, Yosemite License Plates, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A one-time <strong>90-day<\/strong> TOP may be issued on a registration application:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Suspensed to DMV headquarters for license plates and stickers to be issued.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assigned <strong>personalized <\/strong>license plates to be issued by DMV headquarters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span role=\"region\" class=\"format-label--note\"><span class=\"format-label__text\">Note<\/span> Family member transfers are subject to the $50 TOP fee and 60-day limit when a <strong>biennial smog certification<\/strong> is due for registration<br><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":15043,"menu_order":12,"template":"","dmv_task":[11],"dmv_functional_page_type":[64],"dmv_handbook_category":[952,595],"class_list":["post-15079","dmv_handbook","type-dmv_handbook","status-publish","hentry","dmv_task-educational","dmv_functional_page_type-informational","dmv_handbook_category-permits-and-decals","dmv_handbook_category-vehicle-industry-reg-procedures-manual"],"featured_image_src":null,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>25.055 Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) (REG 19F) (VC \u00a74156) - California DMV<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/handbook\/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2\/permits-and-decals\/temporary-operating-permit-top-reg-19f\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"25.055 Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) (REG 19F) (VC \u00a74156) - California DMV\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The TOP is a two-part form with a validating sticker (REG 19S), which is issued for the following limited and specific instances to operate a vehicle when all registration fees have been paid and license plates and\/or stickers have not been issued. 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