2023 California Code › Vehicle Code - VEH › DIVISION 3 - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES AND CERTIFICATES OF TITLE › CHAPTER 1 - Original and Renewal of Registration; Issuance of Certificates of Title › ARTICLE 5 - Renewal of Registration › Section 4604.5.

4604.5. (a) (1) If the vehicle has not been operated, moved, or left standing upon any highway subsequent to the expiration of the vehicle’s registration, the certification specified in Section 4604 or 4604.2 may be filed after the expiration of the registration of a vehicle, but not later than 90 days after the expiration date, subject to the payment of the filing fee specified in Section 4604 and the penalty specified in paragraph (2).
(2) A penalty shall be collected on any certification specified in Section 4604 or 4604.2 filed later than midnight of the date of expiration of registration. The penalty shall be computed as provided in Sections 9406 and 9559 and after the registration and weight fees have been combined with the license fee specified in Section 10751 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, as follows:
(A) For a delinquency period of 10 days or less, the penalty is 10 percent of the fee.
(B) For a delinquency period of more than 10 days, to and including 30 days, the penalty is 20 percent of the fee.
(C) For a delinquency period of more than 30 days, to and including 90 days, the penalty is 60 percent of the fee.
(3) This subdivision applies to the renewal of registration for vehicles with expiration dates on or before December 31, 2002.
(b) The certification specified in Sections 4604 and 4604.2 may be filed no more than 90 days after the expiration of the registration of a vehicle if the vehicle has not been operated, moved, or left standing upon any highway subsequent to the expiration of the vehicle’s registration. A penalty shall be collected on any certification specified in Section 4604 or 4604.2 filed later than midnight of the date of expiration of registration. After 90 days, the vehicle must be registered pursuant to Section 4601. A certification filed pursuant to this subdivision is subject to the payment of the filing fee specified in Section 4604 and the payment of the penalties specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subdivision.
(1) The penalty for late payment of the registration fee provided in Section 9250 is as follows:
(A) For a delinquency period of 10 days or less, the penalty is ten dollars ($10).
(B) For a delinquency period of more than 10 days, to and including 30 days, the penalty is fifteen dollars ($15).
(C) For a delinquency period of more than 30 days, to and including 90 days, the penalty is thirty dollars ($30).
(2) The penalty on the weight fee and the vehicle license fee shall be computed after the weight fee as provided in Section 9400 or 9400.1 plus the vehicle license fee specified in Section 10751 of the Revenue and Taxation Code have been added together as follows:
(A) For a delinquency period of 10 days or less, the penalty is 10 percent of the fee.
(B) For a delinquency period exceeding 10 days, to and including 30 days, the penalty is 20 percent of the fee.
(C) For a delinquency period of more than 30 days, to and including 90 days, the penalty is 60 percent of the fee.
(3) Weight fees not reported and not paid within 20 days, as required by Section 9406, shall be assessed a penalty on the difference in the weight fee, as follows:
(A) For a delinquency period of 10 days or less, the penalty is 10 percent of the fee.
(B) For a delinquency period exceeding 10 days, to and including 30 days, the penalty is 20 percent of the fee.
(C) For a delinquency period of more than 30 days, to and including 90 days, the penalty is 60 percent of the fee.
(c) This section shall apply to registration renewals that expire on or after January 1, 2003.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 805, Sec. 12. Effective September 23, 2002.)