Article 4. Renewal Of Identification of California Vehicle Code >> Division 16.5. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 4.

Certificates of ownership shall not be renewed but shall remain valid until suspended, revoked, or canceled by the department for cause or upon transfer of any interest shown therein.

Every motor vehicle identification and identification certificate issued pursuant to this division shall expire at midnight on the 30th day of June in the second calendar year following the year of issuance of such certificate. The department may upon payment of the proper fees renew such identification.

(a) Application for renewal of identification of off-highway motor vehicles subject to identification shall be made by the owner not later than midnight of the 30th day of June of the expiration year. The application shall contain the true, full name and driver's license or identification card number, if any, of the owner.
  (b) Whenever any application for identification or transfer of ownership of an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification is filed with the department between June 1 and June 30 of the year of expiration, the application shall be accompanied by the full renewal fees in addition to any other fees then due and payable.
  (c) Whenever an application for identification or transfer of ownership of an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification is filed with the department between January 1 and May 31 of the year of expiration, the application may be accompanied by full renewal fees in addition to any other fees then due and payable, which renewal fees shall be for the two-year period following June 30th of the year in which paid.

(a) Prior to the expiration of the identification of an off-highway motor vehicle, if that identification is not to be renewed prior to its expiration, the owner of the vehicle shall file, under penalty of perjury, a certification that the vehicle will not be operated, used, or transported on public property or private property in a manner so as to subject the vehicle to identification during the subsequent identification period without first making an application for identification of the vehicle, including full payment of all fees. The certification of nonoperation is valid until the identification is renewed under subdivision (c).
  (b) Each certification of nonoperation filed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be accompanied by a filing fee of fifteen dollars ($15).
  (c) An application for renewal of identification, whether or not accompanied by an application for transfer of title to, or any interest in, the vehicle, shall be submitted to the department with payment of the required fees for the current identification period and without penalty for delinquent payment of fees imposed under this code if the department receives the application on or before the date the vehicle is first operated, used, or transported on public property or private property in a manner so as to subject the vehicle to identification and certification of nonoperation required pursuant to subdivision (a).
  (d) A certification of nonoperation is not required to be filed pursuant to subdivision (a) for a vehicle on which the identification expires while being held as inventory by a dealer or lessor-retailer.

Whenever by reason of the theft or embezzlement of an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification the owner or legal owner is not in possession of the vehicle at the time penalties accrue for failure to obtain identification, or renewal thereof, the owner or legal owner may secure the identification or renewal of the identification of the vehicle within 20 days after its recovery upon filing an affidavit setting forth the circumstances of the theft or embezzlement if the theft or embezzlement of the vehicle has been reported pursuant to provisions of this code, without penalty for delinquent payment of fees imposed under this division.

When application for identification of an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification has been made as required by this division, the vehicle may be operated pursuant to this division until the new indicia of current identification have been received from the department on condition that there be displayed on the vehicle the identification plate or device and validating device, if any, issued to the vehicle for the previous identification term.

The department may, upon renewing of an identification of off-highway motor vehicles subject to identification, issue a new identification certificate or may endorse or authorize the endorsement of a receipt or validation upon payment of the required fees. The receipt or validation to be stamped upon the identification certificate last issued for the vehicle during the preceding period, or upon a potential identification certificate issued near the close of the preceding period, which identification certificate so endorsed or validated shall constitute the identification certificate for the ensuing two-year period. If the identification certificate and potential identification certificate are unavailable, a fee as specified in Section 38260 shall not be paid.