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California driving lesson · Insurance, Collisions & Registration

Vehicle registration

A 2-minute lesson from the California course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Insurance, Collisions & Registration
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
85

To use a vehicle in California, it must be registered here. Buying, selling and moving in from another state each come with their own deadline.

Know the rule

You need to register your vehicle in California to use it in the state.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
10 days

Time to transfer ownership into your name after buying a vehicle

Handbook p. 85 ↗
5 days

Time to notify DMV after selling a vehicle

Handbook p. 85 ↗

Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability

The form you complete to notify DMV when you sell a vehicle.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
20 days

Time to register an out-of-state vehicle after you become a resident or get a job in California

Handbook p. 85 ↗

Know the rule

All vehicles registered in California must meet California requirements, including vehicle emission controls. DMV cannot register a vehicle that does not qualify.

Handbook p. 85 ↗

Registration deadlines

Registration deadlines
EventDeadline
You buy a vehicle10 days to transfer ownership
You sell a vehicle5 days to notify DMV
You move here or get a CA job20 days to register
Handbook p. 85 ↗

Put it into practice

You move from Nevada to Sacramento on March 1 and start a new job there. You have 20 days, until March 21, to register your car in California, and it must meet California emission requirements.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

How many days do you have to transfer vehicle ownership into your name after buying it?
  1. 5 days
  2. 20 days
  3. 10 days
  4. 30 days

Answer: 10 days

You have 10 days to transfer ownership to your name after buying a vehicle.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
How many days do you have to notify DMV after selling a vehicle?
  1. Ten days
  2. Twenty days
  3. Thirty days
  4. Five days

Answer: Five days

You must notify DMV within five days of selling a vehicle by filing a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
How many days do you have to register an out-of-state vehicle after becoming a California resident?
  1. 20 days
  2. 10 days
  3. 5 days
  4. 30 days

Answer: 20 days

You have 20 days to register your vehicle after becoming a resident or getting a job in California.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
What form do you complete when selling a vehicle to notify DMV?
  1. Report of Traffic Accident (SR 1)
  2. Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability
  3. Request for Driver Reexamination (DS 699)
  4. Application for Title or Registration (REG 343)

Answer: Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability

Selling a vehicle requires completing a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within five days.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
What must all vehicles registered in California meet?
  1. A yearly safety inspection at DMV
  2. A minimum model year
  3. California emission standards
  4. A California-issued title

Answer: California emission standards

All vehicles registered in California must meet state requirements, including emission controls.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
DMV can register a vehicle even if it does not meet California emission requirements.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

DMV cannot register a vehicle that does not qualify under California's emission requirements.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
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