On June 28, 2025, social media has been circulating ads offering a 50% discount to help with vehicle registration renewal. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued a warning to everyone: these are fraudulent ads, do not believe them.
In California, drivers receive an annual notice for vehicle registration renewal, which they must pay on time and then affix the updated year sticker to the rear license plate. Failure to comply can result in fines for driving a “expired” vehicle.
The registration fee (commonly known as the license plate fee) is not a fixed amount but is determined based on factors such as the vehicle’s value, type, and the owner’s residential area, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Recently, several vehicle owners have reported seeing ads on social media claiming to offer discounts to help with vehicle registration renewal, even offering a 50% discount. These ads request the owners to make online payments through cash apps and provide personal full names, license plate numbers, and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).
As early as the beginning of this month, the DMV warned all citizens to beware of such fraudulent ads, but some people still fell victim. The DMV emphasizes that California law prohibits the DMV from offering discounts on vehicle registration renewal services, so any ads related to DMV discount services are scams.
In a statement, the department wrote that the DMV will never ask for personal information or request payment through unofficial channels. When receiving any suspicious text messages, never reply and refrain from disclosing any personal information.
“The safest way to renew vehicle registration is by visiting the official DMV website,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon in a statement. He further added, “We do not offer discounts and will never conduct business through social media or other unofficial channels.”
For those who want to renew vehicle registration but are not comfortable using online services, they can utilize the DMV official “self-service kiosk” services, where after payment, they will immediately receive a new registration card and sticker for the coming year.
There are a total of 289 “self-service kiosks” throughout California, located in DMV offices, supermarkets, and retail chain stores. In Southern California, many stores of supermarket chains like Superior Grocers, Albertsons, and Ralphs offer such kiosk services.
The operation of the DMV-certified “self-service kiosks” is simple. People just need to bring the payment notice received, follow the machine’s instructions, choose the language, scan or enter the notice’s renewal identification number (RIN), select the payment method, and wait for the machine to print the new registration card and sticker. Some vehicles may require completion of inspection before renewal.
In addition to vehicle registration renewal services, these kiosks also provide driver’s license renewal and replacement services. People can locate nearby “self-service kiosks” by visiting the DMV official website.
The DMV also operates a “Business Partner Automation” (BPA) program, allowing authorized businesses to handle DMV transactions lawfully, including new car sales reports, owner transfers, car scrappage applications, license plate replacements, and copies of vehicle ownership documents, among nearly 20 services.
While authorized businesses can provide convenience to the public, saving them from long queues at DMV offices; these businesses may charge additional service fees. People can look up nearby authorized businesses on the DMV official website.