Fee Calculators Offered on DMV Web Site

Know Your Registration Fees Months Before They Are Due!

The registration renewal fee for our car always creeps up unexpectedly, and for a lot of us, it’s right when we are most strapped for cash. Often times, there is more than just the registration fee to be paid.  For example, a smog test could be required this year or other additional fees might occur, depending on varying conditions.  For seniors living on a fixed income, families working hard to make ends meet and even those who just strive to save a few bucks, every dollar needs to be accounted for whenever possible. To help people budget all their expenses, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides free online calculators to determine registration renewal fees due for your car each year.  
 
This convenient online tool calculates registration fees for new vehicles, nonresident vehicles, used vehicle purchases and vehicle licensing fees. Just input the required information and the system will do the math for you.  Gone are the days of puzzling over registration fees, or standing in line at the DMV to question why and where all the fees came from, or what they are paying for each year.
 
The DMV also reminds customers that all vehicles with a registration renewal date of May 19 and thereafter will be affected by the increase from 0.65% to 1.15% of the value of the vehicle. The new rate was included in the budget signed in late February by the Governor.  
 
By following the instructions below, registration fees will no longer be a hassle, but an important expense you can actually plan for!

1. To access the calculators on the DMV Web site, follow the link: https://mv.dmv.ca.gov/FeeCalculatorWeb/index.jsp and choose the one that fits your needs.
2. To find out how much your next registration renewal will cost, input your vehicle license and identification number into the renewal calculator. This information can also be used to calculate the vehicle license fees for tax purposes.
3. If you’re buying a new car or truck and want to factor in the price of registration, input the type of vehicle you are purchasing, its motive power (gas, diesel), purchase price and date into the new vehicle calculator.
4. If you are planning to register a car from out-of-state, the non-resident vehicle calculator will ask for information including the date the vehicle was first operated in California, when it was purchased and how much it is worth.
5. To calculate a used vehicle’s registration, the calculator will need the license number, identification number, who it was acquired from and on what date.