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.
18 comments
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.
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
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.
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.
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.