Laws vary from state to state. You are advised to stop by the nearest Department of Motor Vehicles Office for a handbook.
Out-of-state vehicle registration for military personnel is valid until it's regular expiration date. Upon expiration, the vehicle registration may be renewed in your home state or an application can be made for a California vehicle registration. DMV will request the out-of-state title, last issued registration and the license plates. Contact the DMV for more information.
Unregistered vehicles in the name of the service member assigned to duty in the state must apply for California registration. A smog certificate and proof of car insurance is also required to register vehicles and obtain a base decal. This applies whether your vehicle is registered in California or out of state. An odometer disclosure is required to register or transfer a motor vehicle. The law authorizes the DMV to refuse to register, renew or transfer a vehicle when the odometer reading is not provided.
Pass and Decal
All military installations issue Department of Defense decals that are honored on all other stations. To get a decal for naval installations in the area, you'll need to go to the Pass and Decal Office at your particular base.
For either a decal or a temporary pass, you will need to show your automobile registration, driver's license, military identification card and proof of insurance. Liability insurance is mandatory in California, and you must be insured for a minimum of $15,000 bodily injury (per person), $30,000 bodily injury (per accident), and $10,000 property damage (per accident).
If you ride a motorcycle on military installations, you must wear an ANSI-approved helmet with the chinstrap firmly fastened, shoes or boots with leather sides and hard rubber or leather soles, full finger gloves, full-length trousers and a long-sleeve shirt or jacket. A yellow or orange reflective vest with a 1 1/2-inch to 2-inch wide vertical or horizontal reflective stripe in front and back must be worn as an outer garment. You must also have the headlight on.
All motorcycle drivers on Naval Base San Diego must attend a motorcycle safety course. Temporary decals, valid for 30 days, may be obtained if the rider has written proof they registered for the safety course.
Helmets are required for bicyclists on Naval Base San Diego. Bicycles must be registered with the state of California. There are several locations for the mandatory safety checks and registration: Any fire station in San Diego from 8 a.m. to noon, 1 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. every day. Registration costs $2 and is good for two years.
Another location are any fire stations in Chula Vista or Chula Vista Police Departments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Registration costs $4 and is good for three years.
Defense Department installations have begun implementing new cell phone restrictions for drivers on military bases. The new regulation, published in the Federal Register in April 2005, states that anyone driving a motor vehicle on a DoD installation cannot use a cell phone unless the vehicle is safely parked or the driver is using a hands-free device.
The use of cellular phones, portable headphones, earphones, or other listening devices while jogging, walking, bicycling, or skating on roads and streets on Navy installations is prohibited except for use on designated bicycle and running paths and sidewalks. This does not prohibit the use of hearing aides, nor does it negate the requirement to wear hearing protection where conditions so require.