The following is required to register a vehicle through the
California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV):
An Application for Title
or Registration (REG 343) signed by all registered owners, showing the name and
address of the lien holder (legal owner), if any.
Last issued
out-of-state title, unless held by the lien holder/legal owner.
Last
issued registration certificate, if the applicant is the same as the registered
owner shown on the out-of-state title and the vehicle entered California with
valid out-of-state registration, or if the title has been lost.
A Bill
of Sale, Vehicle/ Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262), if you
purchased the vehicle from someone other than the registered owner shown on the
title.
Odometer disclosure statement on the REG 262, signed by the
seller and buyer, if the vehicle is less than ten model years old.
A
vehicle verification. The vehicle must be inspected by an authorized DMV
employee, law enforcement officer, or a licensed vehicle verifier employed by a
registration service or dealership. These inspections require no additional fee
and are most easily obtained by bringing the vehicle to the nearest
DMV.
Smog Certification, if applicable.
Appropriate fees and any
use tax due.
Forms you will need:
Application for Title or
Registration (REG 343)
Active duty members of the armed forces, or a
spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States returning from
active duty in a foreign state or a military or civilian member of NATO who is
not a citizen of the United States may operate vehicles in this state without
securing California registration after satisfying all of the following
requirements:
(1) The license plates displayed on the vehicle are valid
plates issued by a foreign jurisdiction.
(2) The vehicle registration
and license plates are issued to the military person or spouse of the military
person.
(3) The vehicle registration and license plates were issued by
the foreign jurisdiction where the military person was last regularly assigned
and stationed for duty by military orders or a jurisdiction claimed by the
nonresident military person as the permanent state of residence.
(4) If
the vehicle is a motor vehicle, the owner or driver has in force one of the
forms of financial responsibility specified in Vehicle Code Section 16021.
NOTE: Military orders do not include military orders for leave, for
temporary duty, or for any other assignment of any nature requiring the military
person's presence outside the foreign jurisdiction where the owner was regularly
assigned and stationed for duty.
The DMV is a very busy office and
appointments are recommended for any transactions which require you to visit an
office.