Reddit
reddit.com › r/dmv › checking car registration fees owed before buying
r/DMV on Reddit: Checking car registration fees owed before buying
November 10, 2023 -
Hey guys how do I check if a car owes any fees for tags/registration before buying it in California? I going to buy a car but I have had previous experience where they say tags are up to date and I they end up owing like 500 or so. But that’s not the point here. I just want to know where I can quickly look up and check if the car owes any fees from current owner either business or private. Thank you.
Top answer 1 of 4
2
Easiest way is to check the sticker on the plate or ask to see the current registration card. Otherwise, if you can get the plate number and VIN then you can use the online fee calculator . Lastly, you can call or live chat (askDMV) with a technician to confirm that the registration is up to date. Reg expiration, estimated fees, and smog requirements are some of the few things they can disclose without speaking to registered owner.
2 of 4
1
Checking the plate is not always good. You can check the vin online at California dmv. Last car I bought they put plates on it that were not the car I bought.
CA
dmv.ca.gov › vehicle registration › registration fees › vehicle registration & licensing fee calculators
Vehicle Registration & Licensing Fee Calculators - California DMV
March 10, 2020 - Is use tax due if I purchased my vehicle from a licensed California dealer? Yes. The use tax is paid to the dealer at the time of purchase. What if a Special Interest License Plate was on my vehicle when I acquired it? This transaction will calculate the fees to provide you with a regular license plate. What if my declared weight is different from that shown on the previous owner's registration card?
NeedTags
needtags.com › forum › Registration-Renewal › 1 › How-Can-I-Find-Out-If-There-Are-Back-Fees-Owed-To-The-DMV
How Can I Find Out If There Are Back Fees Owed To The DMV?
The system will report to you all annual registration fees due (if the vehicle does not have current registration or the tag is about to expire in 75 or less days ), California title transfer fee amount and Use-Tax. A fee discrepancy may exist if the vehicle has had unpaid and/or unreported transfer of ownership(s); which you, the purchaser of the vehicle, may be liable for.
CA
dmv.ca.gov › portal › lien-sale-excess-fees-lookup
Lien Sale Excess Fees Lookup - California DMV
October 31, 2025 - The Excess Lien Fee Lookup is an online service from the California DMV that allows vehicle owners to quickly find out if excess fees were received for a vehicle sold via a lien sale.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How To Check If A Car Has Back Fees? - Car Performance Pros - YouTube
How To Check If A Car Has Back Fees? Are you considering purchasing a vehicle and want to ensure there are no hidden fees? In this essential video, we will g...
Published February 10, 2025
Irate4x4
irate4x4.com › miscellaneous › chit-chat
California back fees on vehicles older than 25 yrs.
October 3, 2023 - Posted this in another thread, I think needs more visibility because fuck the DMV. You can get CA back fees waived for vehicles older than 25 yrs. I used to do it all the time. so did my buddies. you are a collector. fill out a statement of facts form saying vehicle has not been driven, stored...
California Smog Check
smogtips.com › smog-question › 3698 › How-Do-I-Determine-Back-Fees-for-Non-Registered-Vehicle
How Do I Determine Back Fees for Non-Registered Vehicle?
(RESOLVED - Click To View) Do I need a smog for a 1988 vehicle and how do I determine back fees for a non-registered vehicle? The registration expired in 2012 and I've not had any type of registration since then. I assume I have to get it smog checked and pay for registration fees from 2012-current.
Modern Vespa
modernvespa.com › forum › topic184102
CA DMV - $1000 in back fees question
⚠️ · This Site Requires Javascript · Checking Connection
Reddit
reddit.com › r/dmv › ca - how to check past registration fees
r/DMV on Reddit: CA - how to check past registration fees
September 29, 2022 -
Is there a way to check what I paid in the past registration fees for free? Vehicle records request through dmv.ca.gov costs $2 but I would like to know if there's a way to do this for free.
Thank you!
CA
dmv.ca.gov › vehicle registration › registration fees
Registration Fees - California DMV
February 20, 2020 - Dates (for example, the date you purchased your vehicle, or the date your vehicle entered California). The city and/or county you live in. The city and/or county your business is based in. The unladen or declared gross vehicle weight (GVW) and the number of axles your vehicle may have. Any special license plates your vehicle may have. Whether you have any unpaid parking violations or toll evasion bail. You will likely have to pay the following fees if your vehicle is registered for on-highway use:
Grassroots Motorsports
grassrootsmotorsports.com › forum › grm › ca-dmv-fees-overdue › 271885 › page1
CA DMV Fees Overdue| Grassroots Motorsports forum |
When it came time to smog check, they took a weekend and swapped the stocker back in, tested, then swapped back out the next weekend. I really actually appreciated the CA DMV after growing up in PA. ... PENNDOT has gotten much easier to deal with in the last few years. Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork 7/17/24 11:06 a.m. ... I'm SO glad I no longer live there! Colorado does as well, but doesn't have a non-op status like California does. If I wanted to register my old Land Rover again, it would be a very expensive date because I'd have to pay all the back fees from the last time it was registered.
The Press-Enterprise
pressenterprise.com › 2020 › 10 › 21 › whos-responsible-for-back-registration-fees-when-buying-a-used-vehicle
Who’s responsible for back registration fees when buying a used vehicle?
October 21, 2020 - Q: Donna Vera bought a used car and while doing the ownership transfer, she said she learned the car had back registration fees owed that she couldn’t afford to pay. She asked if there is a way to have the outstanding registration fees waived.
Quora
quora.com › How-do-I-get-DMV-to-waive-back-fees-on-registration-on-a-car-I-just-bought
How to get DMV to waive back fees on registration on a car I just bought - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): You might have to contact the original owner (should have done this before paying for the car!) to ensure there was no lien on the title, or issues with registration.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/dmv › california - how are back fees calculated?
r/DMV on Reddit: California - how are back fees calculated?
June 29, 2020 -
I have a 1992 VW GTI I'd like to sell. Its registration expired March 2017. I paid the fee for the registration back then but never got the smog check. How much will the DMV fees be to get it current?
The online DMV tool for this purpose just says "unable to calculate" (and "application in progress" probably because the smog check is pending). Newtags.com says "no data found." I just want an estimate to tell prospective buyers.
This is all in Oakland, California (94609). Thanks!
EDIT: The DMV gives a table of penalties here: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/registration-fees/penalties/
| reg. year | original fee | due | late by | DMV penalty | CHP penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-2018 | 82 | 3/17 | 3y4m | 160%+100=231 | 100 |
| 2018-2019 | 82 | 3/18 | 2y4m | 160%+100=231 | 100 |
| 2019-2020 | 82 | 3/19 | 1y4m | 80%+50=115 | 50 |
| 2020-2021 | 82 | 3/20 | 0y4m | 60%+30=80 | 30 |
| total | 328 | 657 | 280 |
So if I'm calculating this properly, the fees total 328+657+280= $1265.
Jesus.
Top answer 1 of 2
1
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/wasapp/FeeCalculatorWeb/renewalForm.do Try that
2 of 2
1
Any update on this? I bought a car that last shows a smog to get 2022 tags via bar.ca.gov, but it didnt come with a plate or rego card so not sure how out it is. Since its biennial maybe couldve been reg'd for 2023 but i'm unsure. Did 3 years really come out to that much? I'm going to the dmv tuesday, but im dying to know what to expect.
Vehicleregistrationexperts
vehicleregistrationexperts.com › dmv-fee-calculator.html
DMV FEE CALCULATOR - DMV REGISTRATION SERVICES
-Determine registration fees for a California used vehicle purchase.
Quora
quora.com › How-can-I-avoid-paying-the-California-back-registration-fees-on-an-old-non-operational-PT-Cruiser-car-The-car-is-worthless-to-me-but-the-DMV-wants-over-600-even-if-I-just-want-to-junk-it
How can I avoid paying the California back registration fees on an old non-operational PT Cruiser car? The car is worthless to me, but th...
Answer (1 of 4): California DMV has a “certificate of non-operation” which is basically an affidavit that you sign that states this vehicle has been nonfunctional and not used on any road since _____(date).
JustAnswer
justanswer.com › traffic-law › rbqxe-accountant-wants-registration-package.html
Q&A: Where to Find Fee Breakdown for CA Car Registration?
If physical documents are lost, contact the service provider where payment was made to request a detailed receipt. Creating an online account with the California DMV can also help access registration history and fees.
Antique Automobile Club of America
forums.aaca.org › home › antique automobile discussion › automotive legislation › no back penalties for old cars in california
No back penalties for old cars in California - Automotive Legislation - Antique Automobile Club of America - Discussion Forums
June 24, 2025 - Many of you may already know this. I still find many that do not though. There is a directive in the CA DMV code book, 4604(d)3, that exempts most old cars from having any back penalties due to not registering vehicles or not placing them in a "non-op" status. This equates to sometimes as much as...
Redlineregistration
redlineregistration.com › home › dmv registration late fees and penalties
DMV Registration Late Fees and Penalties - Redline Registration Services
February 19, 2025 - You’ll learn how to keep your wallet happy and your car legal. Late DMV registration fees in California start small but add up fast, from $30 for a few days late to $100+ after a month. Time since expiration, vehicle type, model year and state laws affect late fees. Fees can be $500+ for registrations over 60 days late. To avoid late fees, set reminders, use online services, start the renewal process early and keep your address updated with the DMV. California has no official grace period for late vehicle registration.
LinkedIn
linkedin.com › pulse › how-check-back-fees-car-avoid-hidden-costs-before-you-buy-sewec
How to Check for Back Fees on a Car
We cannot provide a description for this page right now