In the Vehicle Registration guide
Register a newly-acquired vehicle in California
Reviewed by the DMVCA editorial team · updated June 29, 2026
How you got the vehicle decides how you register it — but the destination is the same: your vehicle, registered and plated in your name. This cluster walks the four common paths (a dealer purchase, a private-party sale, an out-of-state vehicle you brought when you moved, and a gift or family transfer) and the deadline attached to each.
One boundary to set up front: this page is about getting registered. The separate job of changing who owns the vehicle — signing the title over, the seller’s release of liability, clearing a lien — is covered in title & ownership transfer, and we link there rather than repeat it. The two run together when you buy a car, but they’re different steps.
New resident
20 days
to register (§6700)
Private-party buyer
10 days
to transfer (§5902)
Dealer purchase
Dealer usually files
Core form
REG 343
Out-of-state
VIN check (REG 31)
Use tax
By where you live
gifts/family exempt
How you got the vehicle decides the path
Who files, and the deadline or requirement that's specific to that path. The ownership transfer itself lives in the title cluster.
How you acquired itWho filesThe deadline / key requirement
Dealer purchase The dealer, usually — but not alwaysAuthorized dealers handle registration and give you temporary tags; if your dealer doesn't, you file it yourself. Transfer fees are due within 10 days of the sale
Private party (used) You, the buyerApply to transfer within 10 days of the sale (§5902). A smog certification is usually required, and use tax is collected
Out-of-state / new resident YouRegister within 20 days of becoming a resident or taking a job here (§6700). Adds a VIN verification (REG 31) and a smog check
Gift / family transfer You (a private-party transfer)No use tax for a gift or a qualifying family transfer — claim the exemption with a REG 256. Family transfers are usually smog-exempt too
Decision guide
Which path is yours?
If you… → you need…
You bought it from a dealership Dealer purchase ›
You bought it from a private seller Private-party purchase ›
You just moved to California with the car Out-of-state / new resident ›
It was a gift or came from family Gift / family transfer ›
You need to change who owns it (sign the title, release liability) That's the title cluster ›
What every new registration needs — and the deadlines
The common requirements, what out-of-state adds, and the clocks you can't miss.
What every new registration needs
- An Application for Title or Registration (REG 343)
- Proof of ownership (the title, or the dealer's paperwork)
- A smog certification if the vehicle requires one — see smog & emissions
- Proof of insurance and payment of the registration fees and any use tax
Out-of-state vehicles add two things
- A VIN verification (REG 31) — an authorized verifier physically inspects the vehicle
- A smog check before first registration (unless the vehicle is otherwise exempt)
The deadlines — keep them straight
- New resident: 20 days to register your out-of-state vehicle (§6700) — this is separate from the 10-day rule to get a California driver's license
- Private-party buyer: 10 days to apply for transfer (§5902)
- The seller's 5-day release of liability is the seller's job — it lives in title & ownership transfer
What you'll pay
Cluster-level summary.
Registration fee (base) $76
Use tax (on a purchase) % of value
Gift or qualifying family transfer Use-tax exempt
Late registration penalty Tiered
How to
How to register a newly-acquired vehicle
The shape is the same; your path decides who files and the deadline.
1
Identify your path
Dealer, private party, out-of-state/new resident, or gift/family — the table above shows who files and your deadline.
2
Handle the ownership transfer
Signing the title over, the release of liability, a lost title — that's the ownership chain, covered in title & ownership transfer. Registration picks up once ownership is sorted.
3
Gather the registration paperwork
A REG 343, proof of ownership, a smog certificate if required, and (for out-of-state) a REG 31 VIN verification.
4
File and pay
An authorized dealer usually files for you; otherwise submit to the DMV within your deadline and pay the registration fees plus any use tax. Gifts and qualifying family transfers are use-tax exempt with a REG 256.
5
Get your plates and registration
You'll receive your registration card, sticker, and plates — temporary tags bridge the gap on a dealer purchase.
Related sub-topics
Other clusters in the vehicle registration pillar.
The bigger picture
How these connect to the rest of the DMV system
Acquiring a vehicle is really two jobs, and this cluster owns one of them: getting it registered and plated in your name — the REG 343, the fees and use tax, the smog certificate, the VIN check for out-of-state cars, and the deadline that starts ticking when you buy or move. The other job — changing who owns it (signing the Certificate of Title, the seller's release of liability, clearing a lien) — is the title cluster, so this page links there rather than repeating it. Smog and insurance feed both.
Frequently asked questions
Comparison and definitional — to help you pick the right type.
I just moved to California — how long do I have to register my car?
You have 20 days from establishing residency or taking a job in California to register an out-of-state vehicle (Vehicle Code §6700). That's separate from the 10-day rule to get a California driver's license — don't confuse the two. Registering also needs a VIN verification (REG 31) and a smog check.
I bought a car from a private party — what's my deadline?
Apply to transfer and register it within 10 days of the sale (Vehicle Code §5902). You'll file a REG 343, usually provide a smog certification, and pay use tax. The seller separately has 5 days to file their release of liability — see title & ownership transfer.
Does the dealer register the car for me?
Usually. Authorized dealers handle the registration and give you temporary tags until your plates arrive. But if a dealer doesn't provide registration services, you file it yourself — and transfer fees are due within 10 days of the sale either way.
Do I pay use tax when a family member gives me a car?
No — a gift and a qualifying family transfer (spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling) are exempt from use tax. Claim the exemption with a REG 256 Statement of Facts. Family transfers are usually exempt from the smog requirement too.
How much is use tax on a vehicle purchase?
It's charged at the sales/use-tax rate where you live — roughly 7.25% to 10.25% depending on your city and county — and collected by the DMV when you register. See the fee schedule for the full breakdown.
What's the difference between registering a vehicle and transferring the title?
Registering is what this page covers — getting the vehicle plated and legal to drive in your name (REG 343, fees, smog, use tax). Transferring the title is the ownership change — signing the Certificate of Title, the release of liability, clearing any lien. See title & ownership transfer.
Sources. California DMV — New registration · California Vehicle Code §6700 (new resident, 20 days) · California Vehicle Code §5902 (buyer transfer, 10 days) · California DMV — Registering a vehicle from a private party · CDTFA — Use tax on vehicle purchases (Pub. 52)
Last verified June 29, 2026 · reviewed quarterly and after any policy change.