If you bought from a private party, you transfer the registration yourself: submit the signed title (or a REG 227 if it's missing), the seller's smog certificate when one is required, an odometer disclosure, and the fees to DMV within 10 days of the sale. Penalties apply if fees aren't paid within 30 days. If you bought from a California dealer, the dealer submits the paperwork (it has 30 days to do so without penalty), issues you temporary plates, and DMV mails your registration and plates.
Educational information only. This article is not legal advice.
In this article
- Private-party purchase: step by step
- Dealer purchase: what the dealer does
- Fees you'll pay
- Frequently asked questions
Private-party purchase: step by step
- Get the title signed by every registered owner, with the odometer reading. If the title is lost, the seller completes an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227).
- Collect the smog certificate if the car is a gas vehicle more than four model years old. The seller is responsible for it. See Do you have to smog a car after you buy it?
- Get an odometer disclosure (REG 262) when the title doesn't have room or the vehicle was resold on the same title.
- Submit to DMV within 10 days, online, by mail or at an office, with the transfer fee, use tax and any renewal fees due.
- The seller files the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) within 5 days. That's their job, but it's worth confirming.
Source: DMV HTVR 32, How to change vehicle ownership (Opens in new window).
Dealer purchase: what the dealer does
- Prepares the Report of Sale (REG 51) and transfer documents
- Issues temporary license plates before you drive away. They expire 90 days after the sale. See Do dealerships give you license plates?
- Submits documents and fees to DMV, with 30 days to do so without penalty (VC §9553(c)(1))
- Collects sales tax, DMV fees and its document processing charge on the contract
Fees you'll pay
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer fee | $15 |
| Use tax (private sale) or sales tax (dealer) | Local rate on the purchase price |
| Registration, CHP, VLF, TIF | If registration is due or for a new registration |
| Smog transfer fee | $8 if the car is 4 model years old or newer |
| Replacement title | If a REG 227 is used |
Full list: What taxes and fees do you pay on a used car in California?
Frequently asked questions
How long do you have to register a used car in California after buying it?
Transfer ownership and pay fees within 10 days. Penalties apply after 30 days.
Can I register a used car online in California?
Many transfers can be started online through DMV, depending on the documents. Check DMV's online services.
Who registers the car when I buy from a dealer?
The dealer submits the paperwork to DMV and gives you temporary plates. Your registration and plates come by mail.
Related questions
- How many days to notify DMV after selling a car?
- Sales tax on a private-party car sale
- How to become a DMV registration service
- Back to the California Dealer License FAQ
Resources
- California DMV: How to change vehicle ownership (HTVR 32) (Opens in new window)
- California DMV: Registration fees (Opens in new window)
- California DMV: Fee calculator (Opens in new window)
Sources: DMV HTVR 32 (10-day transfer, 30-day penalty, REG 227, REG 262, REG 138) · DMV manual §11.040 (dealer 30 days, VC §9553(c)(1)) · DMV registration fees. Verified 2026-10-16.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. DMV requirements change; check DMV before you submit.