Should I pay for the registration on my car if i'm going to sell it soon?

[hans007]

Not entirely familiar with what I should do here so was hoping someone would know

My car registration needs to be paid by 12/2. I live in California so its california car registration laws.

$250 for a 4 year old car. THere is a late fee of $20 for 2 weeks late $50 for amonth late I think.

So I ordered a new car, that is being built sometimes between november 10th and 20th in alabama, that I should in theory receive right around the first couple weeks of december.

Im debating just not paying my registration since I intend to carmax / trade in my current car. But i'm not sure if i'd be liable for not paying the registration on it but I don't want to pay for an entire year or registration for a car I'll only own for a week or so of that span.

WHat would you guys do?

Im debating selling my car early and borrowing my parents extra car or more likely maybe just drive the car with expired registration for a couple weeks and not paying (it has december stickers so I wont get a ticket). Ultimately the money isnt that big a deal but $250 is $250.

 

[BoomerD]

You have the wrong information...CA vehicle registration late fees get expensive quickly...

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/vr/vr_info#BM2512

1-10 days late-10% penalty $250 + $25 + $10 + $10 = $295
11-30 days late-20% penalty $250 + 50 + $15 + $15 = $330

After 30 days late, the penalty jumps to 60% $250 + $150 + $30 + $30 = $460

 

[MongGrel]

Your registration would need to be current in order to even transfer ownership I would imagine.

But I'm not a lawyer.

 

[MongGrel]

from what boomer posted I'd register it again, I have not lived in CA since the early 80's myself.

Some states will hit you hard for things like that.

 

[o306]

Never skip out on paying student loans, health insurance premiums, car insurance premiums, or anything that needs to be paid to keep you away from criminal citation and penalties which would include car registration.

Pay it and ride worry free.

 

[nakedfrog]

Here in Nebraska, if you get rid of a car, you can go to the DMV to get some of the registration fees for that year refunded.

 

[HarryLui]

more likely maybe just drive the car with expired registration for a couple weeks and not paying (it has december stickers so I wont get a ticket). Ultimately the money isnt that big a deal but $250 is $250.

Bad idea.

I'd sell the car in Nov and borrow your parent's car until you get your new one. Or see if the dealership you ordered your car from will loan you a demo for couple of weeks.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

I'd either get rid of the car now or register it. California is not a state that you should edge by in.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Never skip out on paying student loans, health insurance premiums, car insurance premiums, or anything that needs to be paid to keep you away from criminal citation and penalties which would include car registration.

Pay it and ride worry free.

Agreed. When my registration would come due my wife was always mailing the check on the due date, which is the date the tags expire. After she did that a couple times I told her to mail it in when you get the notice (CA sends out the notice at least 6 weeks before it is due). She would complain that she didn't want to give them the money early and I said, "Look, I don't like driving around with expired tags. It's just an excuse for a cop to pull me over and write me a ticket. So, please, mail it in when you get it, not when it is due." It took some training but now she pays it when she gets it.

 

[NutBucket]

Cops need extra reasons to pull you over? Could have fooled me

The one time I got a ticket for expired tags (registration was current) was from a meter maid. Ironically, the only time I got a ticket for a missing front plate was also from a meter maid!

 

[Torn Mind]

Your registration would need to be current in order to even transfer ownership I would imagine.

But I'm not a lawyer.

Speculative hogwash.
Titles and transfers of titles takes care of ownership. Registration is basically permission to drive the car. In MD, you can have an unregistered vehicle (hidden away or on a property where no HOA or bizzare city laws that allow the cops to interfere with you and tow the car away, like the garbage community of University Park) but can sell it anytime and anywhere if you have a title to give to someone to fill out and submit to the MVA.

 

[boomerang]

In Michigan, the registration fee is based on the value of the vehicle. So if the replacement vehicle has a higher value than the trade-in, it makes good sense to have it up to date. There is a nominal fixed fee (same for all) to transfer a registration that would have to be paid at the time of purchase. Any fee associated with the value would have to paid at renewal time.

Here, the plate stays with the owner. My understanding is that in CA, it stays with the vehicle. Here, the car only has to be registered if it is operated on public roads. Lenders don't like this though.

 

[NutBucket]

You can have an expired registration but whoever you sell it to will owe all of the late fees and such when they go to transfer ownership. I'm not aware of a way to transfer ownership without registering the vehicle (even if you register it as non-op).

 

[JulesMaximus]

Cops need extra reasons to pull you over? Could have fooled me

The one time I got a ticket for expired tags (registration was current) was from a meter maid. Ironically, the only time I got a ticket for a missing front plate was also from a meter maid!

I haven't been pulled over in almost 10 years. Last time was for speeding (I was going 45 in a 45 zone but it was morning and I was in a school zone despite there being no children present). Prior to that I was pulled over for no front license plate by CHP while on my way to work. I think that was around 1997 or so.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Speculative hogwash.
Titles and transfers of titles takes care of ownership. Registration is basically permission to drive the car. In MD, you can have an unregistered vehicle (hidden away or on a property where no HOA or bizzare city laws that allow the cops to interfere with you and tow the car away, like the garbage community of University Park) but can sell it anytime and anywhere if you have a title to give to someone to fill out and submit to the MVA.

Someone will have to pay the overdue registration fees. In California the plates stay with the car on transfer of ownership so any past due fees would need to be paid in order to register it to the new owner. Personally, I wouldn't buy a car with expired tags from someone private party and a dealership will probably work the fees and penalties into the deal if your tags are expired.

You can register it as non-operational which is much cheaper but you can't drive it if you register it as such.

To the OP: Call Carmax and ask them for advice since you're thinking of trading it in.

 

[hans007]

ok thanks for the help guys. its not a problem of mailing it, since you can do it online. so probably i'm gonna borrow my parents 3rd car and just carmax my car a few weeks early. or maybe hopefully my car will come earlier as sometimes their factory schedule moves up faster

 

[NutBucket]

So to be clear, you're concerned about $200 when you're about to drop $40k (or so) on a German car?

 

[HarryLui]

So to be clear, you're concerned about $200 when you're about to drop $40k (or so) on a German car?

Sh..., we need people like that so we can have barely used pre-own cars.

By the way, a C43 AMG has a $66k MSRP.

 

[HumblePie]

Some messed up registration laws from other places I'm seeing in this thread.

Here in Texas, you register when you drive it. If the vehicle isn't driven on public roadways or seen near public roadways you don't have to register it. When you do decide to register it and are asked, just state it has been in storage and that is it. What I've always done. Also in Texas there is way to register for 1 way trips or temporary 24, 48, or 72 hour registrations if need be. I did that recently myself as I had a vehicle that was busted down and out of registration. Used it as trade in for my new vehicle. Registered it for $5 for a one way trip to the dealer and that was it.

Makes far more sense for registration to be like it is here in Texas.

 

[hans007]

Sh..., we need people like that so we can have barely used pre-own cars.

By the way, a C43 AMG has a $66k MSRP.

Its $52k....base.

And yes, I guess people like me will lead to an abundance of not so used up pre owned cars. I'm good someone will get a well taken care of 5 year old C43 in 2021 I guess. I'm 100% sure my 2005 G35 coupe in white (i remember posting it here) is dropped and cambered out by some kid right now.

And yes its $250, I'm not cheap, but I'd rather not spend money I don't have to

I did look into a 1 year old C63 , but its not really a huge savings (used 2015 C63s are going for about $69-70k , and thats really only about 15-18% off of what a new 2017 one would cost) and it was probably more car than i could take advantage of, and you really don't save THAT much unless the car you want is the previous generation or the car was loaded like crazy with useless options

 

[JeffMD]

When I bought a new car a month after my registration renewal in fl, I was given a refund for the registration I paid through the new car when I transferred my tag.

 

[hans007]

When I bought a new car a month after my registration renewal in fl, I was given a refund for the registration I paid through the new car when I transferred my tag.

ah. after doing some research in CA you cant transfer a tag. the tag goes with the plate, which goes with the car.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Speculative hogwash.
Titles and transfers of titles takes care of ownership. Registration is basically permission to drive the car. In MD, you can have an unregistered vehicle (hidden away or on a property where no HOA or bizzare city laws that allow the cops to interfere with you and tow the car away, like the garbage community of University Park) but can sell it anytime and anywhere if you have a title to give to someone to fill out and submit to the MVA.

In California the person buying the car will responsible fopr the laspse in the car being registered. Which equals big$$$$$

 

[Sean Kyle]

Better to pay the fee!

 

[Tweak155]

In Michigan, the registration fee is based on the value of the vehicle. So if the replacement vehicle has a higher value than the trade-in, it makes good sense to have it up to date. There is a nominal fixed fee (same for all) to transfer a registration that would have to be paid at the time of purchase. Any fee associated with the value would have to paid at renewal time.

Here, the plate stays with the owner. My understanding is that in CA, it stays with the vehicle. Here, the car only has to be registered if it is operated on public roads. Lenders don't like this though.

I was going to make this comment. It costs $8 to transfer the registration, so you could win big time if you have similar laws.