California has more registered vehicles than any other state in the nation. With over 33 million registered cars, trucks, OHVs, trailers and more, you are bound to have some slowdowns at office locations and even with the state’s online services with vehicle owners needing to renew every year. Luckily, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has been hard at work finding new ways to ease the pain.
At specified locations across the state, the DMV has installed ATM-like machines that process your vehicle registration, accept your payment and print out a new registration. Simple right? DMV Now kiosks are freestanding self-service terminals that use touch screen technology to guide you through the registration renewal process without the need to stand in line to wait for help from an agent or wait for your tags in the mail. You can even file for Planned Non-Operation (PNO) status if you do not plan to operate the vehicle for an extended period and don’t want to be assessed late penalties for renewing after the last expiration date.
Renewing With A CA DMV Kiosk Is Easy
For conducting a transaction, customers will need their vehicle registration renewal notice which are sent by mail 75 days before your tag expiration date, or their most recent vehicle registration card. The terminals offer instructions in English and Spanish and accept cash, credit and debit cards, and checks. You get a printed registration card or PNO acknowledgment after your transaction is completed.
These self-service machines are gaining popularity quickly. Vehicle owners in the state seem to be embracing automation. The first machine was installed in Sacramento in October 2010 and after a six-month review period, the agency began installing them in 33 other locations across the state. Now, there are already 60 of them.
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Some Limitations
Autos, pickups, motorcycles, coach and park model trailers and commercial vehicles that don’t pay Commercial Vehicle Registration Act fees can all be renewed using DMV Now kiosks. DMV Now kiosks do not process renewals for vehicle types not mentioned above, including vessels. Vessels in particular require a different sticker not available through DMV Now kiosks. Additionally, if there are certain requirements or restrictions such as the need for proof of insurance, registration reinstatement fees, and requests for address changes, those cannot be handled via a kiosk.
If you can’t make it to a DMV office and can’t process your renewal request via a kiosk, the state DMV has thousands of licensed companies that are authorized to complete certain transactions. Depending on your needs, you can use one of these services or try your request directly on the DMV website.
The DMV Has a Big Job to Do
In addition to outlining and communicating motor vehicles laws, the DMV serves over 30 million people a year and the implementation of these machines is huge because it greatly accelerates and smooths the process. In offices where kiosks are located within the vicinity, DMV lines and wait times have been notably reduced.
Customers from the Los Angeles county area can now renew their vehicles in flash by using DMV Now that have been placed near two additional DMV offices. These easy to use kiosks are now available at the West Covina DMV and Long Beach locations.
DMV Now terminals are available during regular business hours and are found near sixty DMV offices, including these ten recently added locations:
- Hemet
- Rancho Cucamonga
- Long Beach
- Riverside
- Norco
- Roseville
- Palm Desert
- San Bernardino
- Pittsburg
- West Covina
When you look at the facts below regarding vehicle registrations, you’ll see why automation was necessary, at least for simple transactions. AS of 2016, there are
- A total of 33,768,367 registered vehicles
- 958,490 registered Hybrid Vehicles
- 111,256 Electric Vehicles
- 884,665 registered Motorcycles
- 792,645 registered Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
- 454,072 registered Special Interest Plates
- 2,569,340 disabled placards
Even with 1,491 new vehicle dealers and 7,118 used vehicle dealers becoming licensed in the state to process everything from new registrations, to transfers, to renewals, the state DMV still has their work cut out for them. If you’ve used a DMV Now kiosk, let us know about your experience in the comments.
97 comments
I moved from WA to CA recently. Due to Covid situations, near by DMV is not accepting any appointments at this moment. Can i still get my registrations and new CA number plates at Kiosk ? My car registration has been expired a month ago
This website from CA Kiosk may help: https://www.cadmvnowkiosk.com/faq/
Hello! Due to COVID, I am currently not in CA and my sibling is trying to print my tags at the kiosk. I did not receive my renewal notice, and they cannot access my car to get my current registration card. The kiosk asked for an “issue date” any idea what that would be? Is it the day that the payment is due? (EX: for July – 7/24/2020). I could renew online, but I would prefer they get the tags in-hand from the kiosk. Thank you!
We are not familiar with the kiosk renewal process. I would recommend contacting DMV either by phone or the CA.DMV.GOV. Etags offers online renewal and we do not require any extra documentation other than the license plate. We can also ship your order to anywhere in the USA.
If my car has been on non operative for the past 4 years and i get a smog check done can i renew my registration and take off the no operative from the kiosk??
The DMV Now kiosk will allow you to renew your registration and take your vehicle out of NON op.
Hi i got smog check before i paid for my tags at the kiosk machine but didnt get my registration at the machine should i wait for it to come in the mail?
Go back to the kiosk and find the customer support number and give them a call. It might be it ran out of product or call DMV (800) 777-0133 or DMV.CA.GOV.
I had my smog check done on 6/6 and today on 6/30 I got a message from the kiosk saying I need a smog check, my SMOG certificate says I passed, it’s good for 90 days and that it is automatically transmitted to the DMV, why didn’t my renewal result in my new registration card and tags?
You would need to contact the DMV to see if they can mail you the registration, Smogs are valid for 90 days and they are electronically transmitted to the DMV. Have a nice day
So I paid my registration late online. I have the receipt email. Can I drive the car with the expired tag and the receipt?
Hello as long as your registration is paid and is valid you are OK to drive the vehicle. You would need to make sure that you keep the receipt with you. Please keep in mind that you can still get a fix-it ticker for not having a sticker on the plate. Have a nice day
I paid my registration renewal at a dmv office and need to finish with a smog. Am I able to use a kiosk to submit the smog or do I need to return to the DMV office?
Here’s a list of all kiosk services: https://www.cadmvnowkiosk.com/faq/
O.owent to kiosk today to pay my registration scanned barcode. Message came up must pay by mail. Why? Vehichle is insured. Smog test was sent electronically.
hey there, etags operates entirely online. But you may find answers on this kiosk FAQ page or you can contact your local dmv directly.
https://www.cadmvnowkiosk.com/faq/
Hi，I did my smog check on May 05, but I pay my renewal fee on June 11. The kiosk doesn’t give out my tag, it comes out a paper says ” to complete registration renewal and receive your new Registration Card and Sticker by mail. You must obtain a smog check certification.” My question is do I need to do the smog check again, or I just wait for my tag in the mail.
Smogs are valid for 90 days. Contact DMV or pay by mail as instructed by the kiosk.
I paid for my registration online through the DMV website. Can I go to the kiosk to pick up my tags? Because last year when I registered I never received my tags to my address and could not track them down.
Check out this website. https://www.cadmvnowkiosk.com/faq/
So I went to the kiosk and it said I needed a smog, a star certified one. Or I could pay and have them mailed to me. But I didnt want to do that . I want to get them on the spot. So my question is, if I get the smog done, after 24hrs I can go back to the kiosk and it should just ask for the registration bar code and I’ll get my tags on the spot? Just like the last time I did it last year?
If you smog the vehicle prior to posting fees you can complete the order at a Kiosk immediately.
Why does it keep saying that If I haven’t entered my license plate number to exit. The only two things that are displayed on the screen is the year and the make of my car. When I get it takes me back to the beginning
Hey there, etags handles registrations and titles online through our own app at etags.com/app/ca
for kiosk questions its best to go to their website where you’ll also find a contact phone number https://www.cadmvnowkiosk.com/
My registration is 2 months late can I still pay at a kiosk
Yes you can still pay at a DMV Kiosk if you are late on payment for your registration.
I cant find my notice of registration to pay for my new tags.Am I able to use my last car registration to scan at the KIosk?
yes you can
Can I transfer title to my older car to my daughter at a kiosk?
hey there, visit the CA’s kiosk website for info and contact number at https://www.cadmvnowkiosk.com/faq/
My car did not pass the smog test, so I went to the DMV for a registration extension, so I have time to fix my car. A worker there told me that if I pay the registration fee I have 60 days to pass the smog check. My registration is due in a few days and I already paid the registration fee on the DMV kiosk, although nowhere on my receipt it says that I have 60 days to pass the smog, it only says to take the receipt to the smog place. Do I really have a 60 day extension to pass the smog since I already paid the registration fee? Or will I get fined?
It looks like you’re talking about the TOP. This is an extension given from DMV for the smog. It costs $50.00, is good for 60 days from date the reg expires and they must have a failed smog. Otherwise there is no extension for the smog.
I renewed at a kiosk and it said I need a smog even if my renewal letter did not say smog required. In fact I smog made the car just last year?
Contact DMV for assistance, only a DMV employee can waive a smog
My car is in my brothers been there parked for about 2 years . my ex did it last time now its no longer an option . can i buy my tgs online and have them mailed to my brother home .
eTags can ship your tags anywhere in the US, DMV doesn’t offer this service. DMV will ship to the address appearing on the registration.
Can i get a replacement sticker at the kiosk my sticker either fell off or was stolen
This website with kiosk services listed will help https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/locations/kiosks/
Remember to select a service (on the right of the screen)
Yes I paid my registration online but I still needed the smog so I finally got the smog done but I still haven’t received my tags it’s been 5 weeks now. If I go to the kiosk would they give me my tags or do I have to still wait for it in the mail? I tried calling but the offices are close do to covid19..
We’re not sure if you can clear a smog at a kiosk, especially these days. Generally they come automatically in the mail after the smog is done.
My car was barred through the California Referee. It passed and got smogged today and i have disabled veterans tags so they are already paid for but whem i go to the kiosk it says ineligible and i have ro mail in my fees. Why is this? Should i wait 24 hrs and try again or can i go to a peraon at the DMV and get it on the spot?
contact the DMV in regards to what steps to take to get the transaction completed.
If I smogged my car how long do I have to wait to get my tags at kiosk
We don’t really know how long it takes for the DMV system to upload a smog so that a kiosk can process it, especially now. Contact DMV for details.
I tried to use the DMV kiosk at an Albertsons, it kept telling me my info was incorect (it was NOT) and also the my form of payment couldnt be accepted, why would that happen???
According to their website, it doesn’t take all forms of payment at every location. Here’s a link: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/faq/genfaq
DMV Now Kiosks
Cash (some locations)
Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)
Debit card (Visa or MasterCard logo)
Hello how do I renew my license ?
eTags doesn’t renew driver’s license, but this CA website should help: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/dmv/onlinesvcs/driverlicenserenewal
I submitted an application in October to get new license plates but i did not receive them. So, i went to the DMV office in Carmichael today. i found out that a DMV worker gave me only one sticker for year and one sticker for month after coming home. So, I have those on one of the plates. How can i get the second stickers? Can they sell them to someone else? I have suspision that DMV worker did it on purpose. I think he thought that i could not complain because of my broken English.
DMV is suppose to issue new Year Sticker and Month Sticker every time a license plate is issued to someone. Sticker may not be sold or placed on another vehicle they are serialized and is only assigned to that particular auto. The Sticker issued for that vehicle also reflects on their registration card.
You only need those stickers on the back plates. The front plates don’t get stickers. So they gave you the right amount.
Can I reprint my stickers at the kiosk if they never showed up In the mail?
No, An application for replacement must be submitted in person at a DMV or Etags offers replacements at https://www.etags.com/app/ca
If I paid for my registration and later did a smog Can I use the kioski to get my registration without waiting in line?
If you paid by mail or using the DMV site and smog your vehicle after payment was received, the DMV should automatically complete your renewal. A kiosk can not clear a smog request.
Will it show in kiosk when renewing my registration that i had a smog check and passed?
If you completed the Smog before paying at the Kiosk – Yes it should reflect.
I did my smog check but the kiosk still says renewal needs smog and I can only pay the fee and new registration will be mailed later. how long will it take to reflect.
Smog is good for 90 days so if you went to the Kiosk after you got the smog then it should have recognized it when you paid it at that time.
I used the kiosk to pay my registration fees
It asked me for smog. I did smog a couple days
After and went back to same kiosk on same day I smithed vehicle and it did not have me stickers
It stated that the application has already been processed. What now? Are the stickers coming in the mail and can I drive my vehicle meanwhile with no tags
DMV has a 60 day grace period to allow for the shipping of the registration
If I am more than 6 months late on registering my Car can I still use a kiosk
We can only assume you can still renew at the kiosk if your renewal is late.Try calling the DMV Now Kiosk or a DMV Now transaction, at the Customer Care Center: 1-833-947-1670, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If my tags are expired can I still pay at the Kiosk? My tags are currently over five months expired.
The DMV site is https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/fo/fo_sst
but we couldn’t find specifics about expired tags.
If I smog my car on a Saturday morning can I use the kiosk and still get my registration fees paid and get my sticker even if I did it on Saturday?
It typically takes 24 hours for the state to reflect a completed smog inspection.
I paid my registration at a kiosk and got my tags but no registration card. Will it come in the mail?
Refer to DMV Kiosk FAQ or contact DMV. Although that seems very odd and highly doubt DMV will mail you something by visiting a kiosk.
If my renewal notice said to deliver by mail because of some requirements that needed to be made, but I met the requirements already through the DMV website, can I complete my renewal through the kiosk?
I would need to know what requirements you’re referring to? Suspension? insurance? smog? Clearing a hold or RDF can not be completed at a kiosk.
Hello I just did smog test to my car went to a kiosk to pay registration renewal 4 days after doing smog test and it says smog test needs to be done so I paid the full amount will I be getting my registration by mail?
It’s best to contact your local DMV office.
Can you get duplicate registration at the DMV kiosks? If so, what documentation would I need to provide?
You can find details here https://www.dmv.ca.gov
I paid my registration at a kiosk and got the tag but a couple weeks later I got another one. What happened??
In your specific case, it’s best to contact your local DMV and tell them what happened.
Can I pay at the kiosk if my registration is 5 days late
Yes you can.
Can i get my tags at a kiosk without my registration renewal paper?
Hello Omar. If you are doing it through a Kiosk, you’ll need your registration renewal document to process the transaction. You could alternatively use eTags to renew your registration online.
Our service allows you to process your renewal within minutes from the comfort of your home. All you need to do is follow the easy instructions and ensure your information is accurate.
For more information about vehicle registrations in CA and/or our services, feel free to contact our Customer Support or call us at 1-888-633-5332. We are glad to assist you.
Hi, I was unable to renew tags online? It said I was inenigable. Will I be able to pay at Kiosk?
Hello Cynthia. There are certain situations in which registration renewals cannot be processed online. Were you asked to complete a smog check? Do you have pending fees? Are you holding a valid auto insurance?
I hope that DMV KIOSK offer a 24/7 service so that after work i the evening I can still renew my registration.
Hello Flordelino. You could alternatively use our online portal to renew your registration in CA. Our registration renewal service offers convenience and reliability, along with excellent customer support to answer your queries.
You don’t have to arrange in-person visits. Our service offers you the chance to renew your registration from the comfort of your home.
If you have any question in regards to our online services or car registration renewals in CA, please contact our Customer Support or call us at 1-888-633-5332. We are glad to assist you.
Can you pay your registration for off road vehicles such as an atv at a kiosk machine
Here’s an article that may be able to help https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/new-registration/register-an-off-highway-vehicle-ohv/
Also, on kiosk website they list these: What type of vehicle can DMV NOW be used for?
• Autos
• Pickups
• Motorcycles
• Coach and Park model trailers
• Commercial vehicles that do not pay Commercial Vehicle Registration Act (CVRA) fees
How will I know if proof of insurance is needed at the kiosk machine? Will my current insurance card work or do I need something else ie: another form?
Hello William. Kiosk works for processes in which most information is kept on file at the DMV. You will need to contact your local DMV agency in CA for further information about the services that can he handled at a kiosk.
Can I renew using kiosk if smog is required, when I have the smog certificate showing complete??
Hello Hellen. If you have completed the smog inspection, you may use the kiosk to renew your registration. However, did you know that eTags offer vehicle registration renewals in CA? Our online portal helps you renew your registration from the comfort of your home or office. By using our service, you will no longer need to stand in line for hours. If you have any questions about our service, feel free to contact our Customer Support or call us at 1-800-633-5332. We are glad to assist you on this procedure.
Is there a fee to use kiosk when getting your tags
Hello Efrain. There isn’t any in relation to the use of a kiosk. But this type of service comes with restrictions. Contact your local CA DMV agency to find out more about their availability and use.
I paid my registration at a kiosk. Didnt get the tags becauss i needed proof of insurance. I have my insurance know . Since i paid at the kiosk can i get my tags at a dmv office with my proof of insurance? Or will dmv automatically mail my tags know that i have insurance?
You’ll need to go into a DMV with proof of insurance to clear the rdf in the office.
Don’t throw away your “barcode” portion of your renewal otherwise you can’t use the kiosk. What a waste. Drove across three cities from work, dmv, then they told me to use a kiosk and i have no barcode. CA dmv is lazy and outdated!
Hello Sarah. Thank you for sharing your recommendations with us. Here is another site with more information about registration renewals in CA you my want to read.