It's important to know how to register a car in California to avoid fines. Whether you are moving to California or buying a new car, the first thing you need to do is make sure you have some of the best and cheapest car insurance in California on your car, as you will need that to register.

All vehicles operating or parked in California must be registered with the state within 20 days of moving there or 10 days of purchasing a vehicle. We go over everything you need to know about registering a vehicle in California.

If you're looking for affordable auto insurance near you, feel free to enter your ZIP code into our quote comparison tool above.

What You Should Know

• Step #1: Gather Documents – Vehicle Title, Proof of Insurance, etc.
• Step #2: Visit DMV – Go to DMV With Documents and Application
• Step #3: Pay Registration Fee – Fees Vary Based on Vehicle

3 Steps to Registering a Car in California

All vehicles operating or parked in California must be registered with the state within 20 days of moving there or 10 days of purchasing a vehicle from a private party.

You will need auto insurance, even if it's just temporary, to register your vehicle (Read More: What is temporary car insurance and do I need it?). Read on to see what else you need to register your vehicle.

Step #1: Gather Documents

To register a car in California, you’ll need your vehicle title, proof of insurance, and a smog certificate and odometer mileage for some cars. You must have California car insurance to register your vehicle.

Or, if your vehicle is registered in a different state, you’ll also need to apply for a new title.

So what documents do you need? When registering a car in California, you’ll need to provide:

• The vehicle title, either signed by the previous owner or from your prior state of residence
• A fully completed application for registration or title
• Proof of insurance or other evidence of financial responsibility

Some drivers will have to provide other documentation to register their vehicles. This is most common if you buy a car from a private party instead of a dealership, but certain types of vehicles or license plate requests may also require extra documents.

Learn more: How to Buy a Car From a Private Seller

For example, if you are looking how to register an out-of-state car in California without a title, it will be much trickier. Here are some other documents you may need to register your car in California:

• Bill of sale, if purchasing from a private party
• Smog certification, if the vehicle is over four years old
• Odometer disclosure statement
• Out-of-state registration, if new to California

Check with the California DMV to see the current requirements for your vehicle registration situation.

Step #2: Visit DMV

An employee will review your documents and confirm your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). You’ll also need to complete a vehicle verification form at this time, which is completed when you visit the DMV. Unfortunately, you cannot complete this form yourself.

Step #3: Pay Registration Fee

California vehicle registration fees depend on the type and value of your vehicle and other factors like your location or the date of purchase.

You can use the CA DMV registration lookup tool to determine how much you need to pay. When you calculate your fees, you’ll need to input your home ZIP code along with the following information:

• Vehicle Type and Model Year
• Type of Power (Gas/Hybrid/Electric)
• Purchase Date and Purchase Price
• Estimated Vehicle Value
• Date First Operated in California (If New Resident)

On top of these fees, you’ll also pay the standard vehicle registration fee and the California Highway Patrol fee. You can expect to pay a few hundred dollars for your California vehicle registration fees, depending on your vehicle.

California Auto Insurance Requirements

All cars operating or parked in California must provide proof of insurance or evidence of financial responsibility to keep their vehicle registration active.

The minimum liability insurance requirements for California drivers are listed below (Learn More: What is liability car insurance?).

• $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person
• $30,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
• $5,000 in property damage liability per accident

California’s minimum insurance requirements only cover damages to other people and cars when you are at fault in an accident.

Take a look at the cost difference between a minimum and full coverage policy at popular California companies below (Read More: Liability vs. Full Coverage).

Insurance Company	Minimum Coverage	Full Coverage
	$30	$80
	$29	$77
	$39	$105
	$47	$125
	$37	$99
	$53	$139
	$46	$86
	$61	$160
	$33	$86
	$44	$115

If you don’t want to purchase liability insurance, you’ll have to file evidence of other financial responsibility. In California, this can be:

• $35,000 cash deposit with the DMV
• Self-insurance certificate from the DMV
• $35,000 surety bond from a licensed California business

While these alternatives count as evidence of financial responsibility in California, you’ll likely get more specific coverage with an insurance policy detailing liability and other limits.

The Bottom Line on Registering a Car in California

Registering your car in California is vital to comply with state laws and avoid fees and other penalties. Gather your registration documents before visiting the DMV to make your California vehicle registration easy. Make sure to get proof of insurance, too, so your registration remains valid.

Searching for a new car insurance provider to save money (Learn More: Ultimate Guide to Switching Car Insurance Companies and Saving Money)? Just enter your ZIP code into our free online tool below to get started today.