New to California? You have 20 days.
Once you establish residency the clock starts. We do the whole conversion in one visit: VIN Verification here in the office, the title paperwork, and California plates.
One visit, start to finish.
Bring the car
The VIN has to be physically verified, so the vehicle needs to be here. We do that part in the office.
We convert the title
Out of state title, application, smog, and the VIN Verification all go in together.
California plates
You leave registered in California with plates and a sticker.
What you'll need to bring.
Everything for a conversion has to go in at once, so it is worth checking this list before you drive over.
Financed vehicles take longer because the lender holds the title. Come in and we'll start the request for you.
- The out of state title, or the lender's information if it's financed
- The vehicle itself, for the VIN Verification
- A smog certificate from a California station
- Your California ID or driver's licence, or proof of residency
- Proof of insurance that meets California minimums
- Current out of state registration if you still have it
Questions we get every day.
When does the 20 days actually start?
My car is financed and the bank has the title.
Do I need a smog check?
What is a VIN Verification and why do I need one?
Can I keep my out of state plates?
The 20 day clock, and what starts it
Residency is not the day you crossed the border. The DMV ties it to starting a job here, renting or buying a home, or enrolling children in school.
An Out of State Registration has to go in as one complete package: the out of state title, the application, a California smog certificate, and a VIN verification performed on the vehicle. We do the verification here, so it is not a separate errand.
Read more
Bring the vehicle. The VIN has to be physically matched against the title before California issues plates. If the car is financed, the lender holds the title and that timeline is theirs, so come in early and we will start the request moving rather than let the clock run.
Your insurance matters here too. California sets minimum liability limits that differ from many states, and a policy written elsewhere may not meet them even though it is perfectly valid where you came from. We can check your existing coverage while you are here.
Once the conversion is done you get California plates and a registration in your name, and your renewal cycle moves onto California's calendar. From then on you can renew with us online each year.
Just moved here? Start with a phone call.
Tell us what state the car is from and whether it's financed. We'll tell you what to bring.