California DMV Vehicle Registration Replacement Tags

How to replace a vehicle registration tags in California. It's convenient to replace a vehicle registration in California as there are DMV forms online and often you can simply mail in or re-register your vehicle online.

Walking up to your car in the morning, you realize that your plates expired in 2004. But it's 2009. Something's wrong with this picture. Oh, your plate tags are gone. Darn it. While you might like to backpedal in your life five years, the police aren't going be that accommodating. Whether you've lost your vehicle registration, had it stolen, or simply just burned it for warmth, you need to get to the DMV to help you replace it. Now.

Learning How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in California

As with anything related to the DMV, you can't just seem to tell them what you want, you need to fill out some forms: Application for Replacement Plates and Stickers documents. This way, they can have your information on hand for the next time this happens, although, hopefully not. Once you fill out that information, you can either choose to stand in one of the lines at the DMV office (probably the wrong one, of course). Or you can mail in the form along with the check. Yes, you need to pay up for losing that little piece of paper, even if some jerk stole it.

$17 is the fee for replacing your vehicle registration or tags. You can bring your checkbook with you to the DMV, or mail in your paperwork and payment to:

California Department of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 942869
Sacramento, CA 94269-0001

If you still have your registration card, even if it's in tatters, send that in with your paperwork as well. No, you don't have to explain where those bite marks came from - as long as the check you sent is good.