Article 1. Computation Of Fee of California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 5. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 1.

A license fee is hereby imposed for the privilege of operating upon the public highways in this state any vehicle of a type which is subject to registration under the Vehicle Code, or any trailer coach which is required to be moved under permit as authorized in Section 35790 of the Vehicle Code and which is not subject to local property taxation pursuant to Part 13 (commencing with Section 5800) of Division 1. Vehicles of banks, including national banking associations, shall be subject to all provisions of the Vehicle Code to the same extent and same manner as other vehicles, and shall be subject to this part.

(a) The annual amount of the license fee for any vehicle, other than a trailer or semitrailer, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5014.1 of the Vehicle Code or a commercial motor vehicle described in Section 9400.1 of the Vehicle Code, or a trailer coach that is required to be moved under permit as authorized in Section 35790 of the Vehicle Code, shall be a sum equal to the following percentage of the market value of the vehicle as determined by the department:
  (1) Sixty-five hundredths of 1 percent on and after January 1, 2005, and before May 19, 2009.
  (2) One percent for initial and renewal registrations due on and after May 19, 2009, but before July 1, 2011.
  (3) Sixty-five hundredths of 1 percent for initial and renewal registrations due on and after July 1, 2011.
  (b) The annual amount of the license fee for any commercial vehicle as described in Section 9400.1 of the Vehicle Code, shall be a sum equal to 0.65 percent of the market value of the vehicle as determined by the department.
  (c) Notwithstanding Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11001) or any other law to the contrary, all revenues (including penalties), less refunds, attributable to that portion of the rate imposed pursuant to this section in excess of 0.65 percent shall be deposited into the General Fund.

(a) The annual amount of the license fee for a trailer coach which is required to be moved under permit as authorized in Section 35790 of the Vehicle Code shall be a sum equal to the following percentage of the market value of the vehicle as determined by the department:
  (1) Sixty-five hundredths of 1 percent on and after January 1, 2005, and before May 19, 2009.
  (2) One percent for initial and renewal registrations due on and after May 19, 2009, but before July 1, 2011.
  (3) Sixty-five hundredths of 1 percent for initial and renewal registrations due on and after July 1, 2011.
  (b) Notwithstanding Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11001) or any other law to the contrary, all revenues (including penalties), less refunds, attributable to that portion of the rate imposed pursuant to this section in excess of 0.65 percent shall be deposited in the General Fund.

(a) For initial or renewal registrations due on and after May 19, 2009, but before July 1, 2011, in addition to the annual license fee for a vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle described in Section 9400.1 of the Vehicle Code, imposed pursuant to Sections 10752 and 10752.1, a sum equal to 0.15 percent of the market value of the vehicle as determined by the department, shall be added to that annual fee.
  (b) Notwithstanding Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11001) or any other law to the contrary, all revenues (including penalties), less refunds, derived from fees collected pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be deposited in the General Fund and transferred to the Local Safety and Protection Account, which is hereby established in the Transportation Tax Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all moneys in the account are hereby continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal year, to the Controller for allocation pursuant to Sections 29553, 30061, and 30070 of the Government Code, Section 13821 of the Penal Code, and Sections 18220 and 18220.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. All revenue derived from subdivision (a) that is received after June 30, 2011, shall be deemed to have been received during the 2010-11 fiscal year for purposes of allocation by the Controller.

(a) The additional revenue resulting from the amendments made to Sections 10752 and 10752.1, and the addition of Section 17052.2, by Chapter 18 of the Statutes of 2009, Third Extraordinary Session, is not revenue derived from taxes imposed pursuant to this part that is subject to subdivision (a) of Section 15 of Article XI of the California Constitution, for purposes of a local ordinance that governs the expenditure of funds received by Nevada County from the taxes imposed pursuant to this part.
  (b) This section shall cease to be operative on July 1, 2011, unless the Director of Finance makes the notification pursuant to Section 99040 of the Government Code, in which case this section shall cease to be operative on July 1, 2013.

Designated vehicle license fee revenues shall not, for purposes of an ordinance of the County of Nevada that requires that any revenues derived under this part be expended for any specified purpose, be deemed vehicle license fee revenues as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 15 of Article XI of the California Constitution or this part. For purposes of this section, "designated vehicle license fee revenues" means vehicle license revenues that are collected under this part and are required by this part to be deposited into the Local Law Enforcement Services Account in the Local Revenue Fund 2011.

(a) Upon the first sale of a new vehicle to a consumer and upon each sale of a used vehicle to a consumer, the department shall determine the market value of the vehicle on the basis of the cost price to the purchaser as evidenced by a certificate of cost, but not including California sales or use tax or any local sales, transactions, use, or other local tax. "Cost price" includes the value of any modifications made by the seller.
  (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department shall not redetermine the market value of used vehicles, or modify the vehicle license fee classification of used vehicles determined pursuant to Section 10753.2, when the seller is the parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, or spouse of the purchaser, and the seller is not engaged in the business of selling vehicles subject to registration under the Vehicle Code, or when a lessor, as defined in Section 372 of the Vehicle Code, transfers title and registration of a vehicle to the lessee at the expiration or termination of a lease.
  (c) (1) In the event that any commercial vehicle is modified or additions are made to the chassis or body at a cost of two thousand dollars ($2,000) or more, but not including any change of engine of the same type or any cost of repairs to a commercial vehicle, the owner of the commercial vehicle shall report any modification or addition to the department and the department shall classify or reclassify the commercial vehicle in its proper class as provided in Section 10753.2, taking into consideration the increase in the market value of the commercial vehicle due to those modifications or additions, and any reclassification resulting in an increase in market value shall be based on the cost to the consumer of those modifications or additions. In the event any vehicle is modified or altered resulting in a decrease in the market value thereof of two hundred dollars ($200) or more as reported to and determined by the department, the department shall classify or reclassify the vehicle in its proper class as provided in Section 10753.2.
  (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply under any of the following conditions:
  (A) When the cost of any modification or addition to the chassis or body of a commercial vehicle is less than two thousand dollars ($2,000).
  (B) When the cost is for modifications or additions necessary to incorporate a system approved by the State Air Resources Board as meeting the emission standards set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b) of former Section 39102 and former Section 39102.5 of the Health and Safety Code as they read on December 31, 1975.
  (C) When the cost is for modifications that are necessary to enable a disabled person to use or operate the vehicle.
  (3) For purposes of this subdivision, "commercial vehicle" means a "commercial vehicle," as defined in Section 260 of the Vehicle Code, that is regulated by the Department of the California Highway Patrol pursuant to Sections 2813 and 34500 of the Vehicle Code.
  (d) This section also applies to a system as specified in subdivision (c) that is approved by the State Air Resources Board as meeting the emission standards specified in subdivisions (a) and (b) of former Section 39102 and former Section 39102.5 of the Health and Safety Code as they read on December 31, 1975, for vehicles 6,001 pounds or less, manufacturer's gross vehicle weight, controlled to meet exhaust emission standards when sold new, when that system is used in any vehicle over 6,001 pounds or any vehicle 6,001 pounds or less not controlled to meet exhaust emission standards.
  (e) The temporary attachment of any camper, as defined in Section 243 of the Vehicle Code, to a vehicle is not a modification or addition for the purposes of subdivision (c).
  (f) The attachment to a vehicle of radiotelephone equipment furnished by a telephone corporation, as defined in Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code, is not a modification or addition for the purpose of subdivision (c), when that equipment is not owned by the owner of the vehicle.
  (g) For purposes of this section, "vehicle" does not include trailers or semitrailers.

(a) After determining the cost price to the purchaser, as provided in this article, the department shall classify or reclassify every vehicle, other than a trailer or semitrailer, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5014.1 of the Vehicle Code, in its proper class according to the classification plan set forth in this section.
  (b) For the purpose of this part, a classification plan is established consisting of the following classes: a class from zero dollars ($0) to and including forty-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents ($49.99); a class from fifty dollars ($50) to and including one hundred ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents ($199.99); and thereafter a series of classes successively set up in brackets having a spread of two hundred dollars ($200), consisting of a number of classes that will permit classification of all vehicles.
  (c) The market value of a vehicle, other than a trailer or semitrailer, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5014.1 of the Vehicle Code, for each registration year, starting with the year the vehicle was first sold to a consumer as a new vehicle, or the year the vehicle was first purchased or assembled by the person applying for original registration in this state, or the year the vehicle was sold to the current registered owner as a used vehicle, shall be as follows: for the first year, 100 percent of a sum equal to the middle point between the extremes of its class as established in subdivision (b); for the second year, 90 percent of that sum; for the third year, 80 percent of that sum; for the fourth year, 70 percent of that sum; for the fifth year, 60 percent of that sum; for the sixth year, 50 percent of that sum; for the seventh year, 40 percent of that sum; for the eighth year, 30 percent of that sum; for the ninth year, 25 percent of that sum; and for the 10th year, 20 percent of that sum; and for the 11th year and each succeeding year, 15 percent of that sum; provided, however, that the minimum tax shall be the sum of one dollar ($1). Notwithstanding this subdivision, the market value of a trailer coach first sold on and after January 1, 1966, that is required to be moved under permit as authorized in Section 35790 of the Vehicle Code, shall be determined by the schedule in Section 10753.3.
  (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this section is operative for the period beginning on and after the effective date of the act amending this subdivision.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), the market value of a trailer coach which must be moved under permit, for each registration year of its life, shall be as follows: for the first year, 85 percent of a sum equal to the middle point between the extremes of its class as established in subdivision (b) of Section 10753.2; for the second year, 70 percent of such sum; for the third year, 55 percent of such sum; for the fourth year, 45 percent of such sum; for the fifth year, 40 percent of such sum; for the sixth year, 35 percent of such sum; for the seventh year, 30 percent of such sum; for the eighth year, 25 percent of such sum; for the ninth year, 24 percent of such sum; for the 10th year, 23 percent of such sum; for the 11th year, 22 percent of such sum; for the 12th year, 21 percent of such sum; for the 13th year, 20 percent of such sum; for the 14th year, 19 percent of such sum; for the 15th year, 18 percent of such sum; for the 16th year, 17 percent of such sum; for the 17th year, 16 percent of such sum; for the 18th year and each succeeding year, 15 percent of such sum.
  (b) For the purposes of this section, the market value of vehicles which have been previously registered and which, because they are being converted to year-round registration, become subject to registration twice during the 1976 calendar year, shall be deemed to be the same throughout the 1976 calendar year and shall not change until the registration subsequently expires.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, every dealer who sells a trailer coach required to be moved under permit shall state on a certificate attached to the sales contract the cost price upon which the vehicle license fee is computed separately from the cost of accessories or other charges for such trailer coach.
  (b) The department shall determine what items shall be included and what items shall not be included in the cost price upon which the vehicle license fee is computed for a trailer coach required to be moved under a permit and the manner of computation of such cost price. The department shall notify every dealer authorized to sell a trailer coach required to be moved under a permit of (1) the requirement that the sales contract state the cost price upon which the vehicle license fee is computed separately from the cost of accessories or other charges for such trailer coaches and (2) the manner in which such cost price is to be determined.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this part, the annual amount of the license fee for a vehicle that has been assigned a special identification plate or plates as described in Section 5004 of the Vehicle Code shall be two dollars ($2).

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this part, the cost of any modifications to any vehicle which are necessary to enable a disabled person to use or operate such vehicle shall be excluded from the determination of the market value of the vehicle, for purposes of determining the license fee imposed by any provision of this part.
  (b) (1) The department, pursuant to the request of a qualified disabled owner of a vehicle which was registered prior to the effective date of this section, shall exclude from the market value of such vehicle the cost of any modification or alteration required to adapt such vehicle to such disabled person's needs as either a driver or passenger, if such cost was previously included in the determination of the market value of such vehicle.
  (2) There shall be no reduction in the amount of vehicle license fees or market value determination pursuant to this section with regard to fees imposed prior to the effective date of this section.
  (3) For purposes of paragraph (1), a "qualified disabled owner" means a disabled person who qualifies for a distinguishing license plate or placard under Section 22511.5 of the Vehicle Code whose vehicle was registered prior to the effective date of this section.

(a) Upon the sale or transfer of ownership of a used vehicle currently registered in this state, if any license fee due thereon has already been paid, no adjustment of the current year license fee shall be made.
  (b) Any adjustment of vehicle license fees, based upon a redetermination of market value pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10753 and modification of vehicle license fee classification pursuant to Section 10753.2, shall occur upon the expiration of current registration and shall be reflected in the fees due for the first renewal of registration following the sale or transfer of ownership of that used vehicle.

For purposes of applying paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 10754, the vehicle license fees, due in 1998 on or before December 31 of that year for a vehicle subject to the International Registration Program as described in Section 8052 of the Vehicle Code, are deemed to have had a final due date in the 1999 calendar year. It is the intent of the Legislature that this section be implemented to apply the 25 percent offset specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 10754 to the vehicle license fees described in the preceding sentence. The department shall apply the amount of each vehicle license fee reduction resulting from this section against the amount of vehicle license fees due and payable on the part of the relevant registrant in 1999.

(a) (1) On August 15, 2006, the Controller shall transfer from the General Fund to the Gap Repayment Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury, an amount equal to the total amount of offsets that were applied to new vehicle registrations before October 1, 2003, and that were applied to vehicle license fees with a due date before October 1, 2003, that were not transferred into the Motor Vehicle License Fee Account in the Transportation Tax Fund and the Local Revenue Fund due to the operation of Item 9100-102-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2003. The amount of this transfer shall include transfers not made for offsets applied on or after June 20, 2003, transfers required under clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 11000 as that section read on June 30, 2004, and the additional amounts required to be transferred to the Local Revenue Fund pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 11001.5 and paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of that same section, less any amount that was appropriated under clause (iii) of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 10754, as that section read on June 30, 2004.
  (2) The Controller may make the transfer required by paragraph (1) prior to August 15, 2006, if that transfer is authorized by the Legislature.
  (b) Moneys in the Gap Repayment Fund are hereby appropriated to the Controller for allocation by the Controller to each city, county, and city and county in an amount equal to the amount that was not allocated to each of these entities due to the operation of Item 9100-102-001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2003, less any amount that was allocated to each entity under clause (ii) of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 10754, as that section read on June 30, 2004.
  (c) This section is operative for the period beginning on and after July 1, 2004.

Whenever, by reason of the assignment or reassignment of an expiration date by the Director of Motor Vehicles, the registration year for the vehicle is less than, or more than, 12 months, the fee for the vehicle shall be decreased or increased by one-twelfth of the annual fee for each month of such period less than, or in excess of, 12 months.

If any vehicle which is exempt under Section 10781 or 10782 ceases to be so exempt by reason of change of ownership, the application shall be deemed an application for original registration for the purposes of determining the expiration date of the registration and subsequent renewals thereof.

(a) No additional license fee shall be imposed under this part upon any vehicle upon the transfer of ownership of the vehicle, except as provided under Section 9563 of the Vehicle Code, if any license fee due thereon has already been paid for the year in which the transfer of ownership occurs.
  (b) In the event that additional fees are required on a vehicle due to a prior departmental error, no penalty shall be assessed against the application for the transfer of registration when the required additional fees are paid.

The license fee imposed under this part is in lieu of all taxes according to value levied for state or local purposes on vehicles of a type subject to registration under the Vehicle Code whether or not the vehicles are registered under the Vehicle Code. "Vehicle of a type subject to registration under the Vehicle Code," as used in this section, includes, but is not limited to, (a) any motor vehicle in the inventory of vehicles held for sale by a manufacturer, remanufacturer, distributor, or dealer in the course of his or her business, (b) any unoccupied trailer coach in the inventory of trailer coaches held for sale by a manufacturer, remanufacturer, distributor, or dealer in the course of his or her business, or (c) any vehicle described in Section 5004 of the Vehicle Code, not used in a trade, profession, or business, whether or not the vehicle has been issued special identification plates.

In computing any fee, offset, or penalty imposed by this chapter, whether on a proration or otherwise, a fraction of a dollar is disregarded, unless it equals or exceeds fifty cents ($0.50), in which case it is treated as one full dollar ($1). Computation of any penalty shall be made from the fee after the same has been computed as provided in this section. Any fee, offset, or penalty in an amount of forty-nine cents ($0.49) or less shall be deemed to be one dollar ($1).

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mobilehome sold new on or before June 30, 1980, on which the license fee required to be paid under this part has been delinquent for 120 days or more, shall not be subject to local property taxation, if a request for reinstatement to the vehicle license fee under this part is filed with the Department of Housing and Community Development with a postmark dated no later than December 31, 1986, showing verification by the county tax collector that payment of property taxes on the mobilehome is current, as of the date of filing.
  (b) Applications for filing for reinstatement pursuant to this section shall be provided by the Department of Housing and Community Development through its offices and offices of county assessors and county tax collectors.
  (c) A mobilehome shall not qualify for reinstatement to the license fee under this part unless payment of property taxes on the mobilehome is current. Reinstatement applications shall include a provision for county tax collectors to verify that the payment of property taxes is current. For purposes of this section, mobilehome owners who submit reinstatement applications to the tax collector for verification prior to September 1st of the fiscal year for which property taxes on the mobilehome will be due and whose verified applications are filed with the department with a postmark date no later than 30 days thereafter are considered current on the payment of property taxes if the payment of property taxes on the mobilehome for prior fiscal years has been satisfied.
  (d) A mobilehome, on which the license fee required to be paid under this part has been delinquent for 120 days or more, which was not actually enrolled on the local property tax roll prior to October 1, 1984, shall not be subject to local property taxation as a condition of reinstatement to the license fee under this part. Tax collectors shall verify on the reinstatement application that such a mobilehome was not enrolled prior to October 1, 1984. Any license fee and penalty which would otherwise be due under this part during the period of delinquency shall be paid to the Department of Housing and Community Development as a condition of reinstatement to the license fee.
  (e) Any used mobilehome, the sale of which has not been subject to sales or use tax pursuant to Section 6379 or Section 18116.5 of the Health and Safety Code, shall not qualify for reinstatement to the license fee under this part unless, in addition to the other requirements of this section, the full sales or use tax liability on the last sale, which would have been owed if the mobilehome had not been subject to property taxation, is paid.
  (f) The Department of Housing and Community Development, upon receiving the verified reinstatement application and determining that the requirements of this section have been complied with, shall reinstate the mobilehome to the license fee, establish a license fee renewal date for the mobilehome, and notify the county tax assessor to remove the mobilehome from the local property tax roll.