15.085 OHV Fees (VC §§38115, 38120, 38225, 38225.4, 38225.5, 38230, 38232, 38245, 38246, 38255, 38260, and 38265)

Fees must be paid within 20 days before an OHV subject to OHV registration is operated and/or transported in this state or the fee is delinquent (VC §38245).

OHV registration expires June 30 of the second year from the date fees become due and is always an odd or even numbered expiration year based on the original registration year (VC §38115). For example:

The odd or even expiration year is maintained even if the registration is renewed late.

Original/Renewal OHV Fee—The original and renewal OHV registration fees are the same.

The renewal fee must be paid in addition to any other fees due whenever an application for OHV registration or transfer of ownership is submitted between June 1 and June 30 of the OHV registration expiration year.

The renewal fee may be paid in addition to any other fees due on applications for OHV registration or transfer of ownership submitted between January 1 and May 31 of the expiration year. The renewal fee will be for the two-year period following June 30th of the year in which the fee is paid.

OHV Fees—Refer to Appendix 1F.

Exception: When a transferee acquires the vehicle and the OHV registration subsequently expires, the transferee has 20 days from the date of transfer to pay the renewal fees without penalty.

15.080 Nonresident OHV Vehicles (VC §38040)

Nonresidents who retain nonresident status may operate a vehicle off-highway in California whether or not the vehicle is registered in the owner’s home state. Nonresident status will be determined by the owner’s or operator’s possession of a valid nonresident driver’s license. The owner may wish to obtain a permit from the Department of Parks and Recreation, as referenced below. If the owner of a nonresident vehicle is a California resident, the vehicle must be registered. Refer to the Original OHV Registration Application section in this chapter for procedures.

Off-Highway Nonresident Special Operating Permit (VC §38087.5)—For a fee, the Department of Parks and Recreation may issue a special permit to a nonresident owner which allows the nonresident to operate an OHV that would otherwise be required to be registered.

Do not process off-highway vehicle (OHV) transactions for exempt agencies.

Procedures

The procedures below must be followed:

If an application to register an OHV is received from an exempt agency:

15.075 Moving Permits (VC §4002)

A Vehicle Moving Permit (REG 172) may be issued to have an OHV verified or to have a frame or engine number assigned. Do not issue a One Trip Permit (REG 402).

Unregistered off-highway vehicles (OHVs) transported on a trailer or pickup truck no longer require a special transportation permit. Customers may transport OHVs on a trailer or pickup truck from the dealership without paying registration fees or obtaining a permit.

The procedures below must be followed:
New legislation ends the requirement for a special transportation permit to transport certain OHVs as described in Vehicle Code §38020.

15.070 Motorcycle Transportation Permit (VC §§38088 and 38232)

A special Motorcycle Transportation Permit may be issued for the purpose of transporting a racing motorcycle to and from racing events.

15.065 Involuntary Transfers (VC §§5601 and 5909)

Applications for OHV involuntary transfers are processed in the same manner as regular on-highway registered vehicles.

15.060 Exemptions (VC §38010)

The following vehicles are exempt from OHV identification:

15.055 Replacements (VC §§38090, 38095, and 38260)

Process applications for a replacement OHV Certificate of Title or identification card on an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) form and applications for a substitute OHV plate or sticker on an Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Document (REG 156) form, refer to Appendix 1F for fees.

A duplicate identification card application and replacement fee are not required in conjunction with any other application.

15.050 Dual Registration (VC §§4000 and 38010)

The term dual registration refers to a vehicle which is registered for both on-highway (regular registration) and off-highway operation. OHV indicia is not required for a vehicle registered on-highway and operated off-highway.

Important Noncomplying OHVs do not qualify for dual registration. Refer to the Registration of Noncomplying OHV section in this chapter.

Dual registration applicants should be informed that both on-highway and OHV registration fees must be paid as long as dual registration continues. Vehicles with dual registration have both OHV and regular registration expiration dates.

The California Certificate of Title is always issued from the on-highway application and “No OHV Title Issued” is printed on the OHV registration. A vehicle currently issued nontransferable (nontitle/goldenrod) registration is issued OHV identification and nontransferable on-highway registration.

The OHV registration becomes void, even if it has not expired, when an OHV is converted to on-highway. Do not insist that the applicant request dual registration just because the OHV registration has not expired. Refer to the Conversion from OHV to On-highway section in this chapter for procedures.

See the 19.090 Vehicle Safety System Inspection Program

Emission Standards—The California Air Resources Board (CARB) established emission regulations for on-highway motorcycles beginning with 1978 year models, which require an on-highway motorcycle to have an emission label affixed to the vehicle indicating certification by the manufacturer for on-highway use.

OHV Motorcycle Verification—All new and used off-highway motorcycles converting to on-highway or dual registration on or after January 1, 2004, must be verified only by an authorized DMV employee to determine if the motorcycle complies with the CARB regulations. See the Conversion from OHV to On-highway Registration section in this chapter to determine a motorcycle’s eligibility for on-highway registration.

Original California Dual Registration—Two transactions must be processed as indicated below when on-highway and off-highway registration is requested for a vehicle not previously registered in California (on-highway registration first, OHV registration second).

On-Highway Original Registration—The applicant must submit:

The procedures below must be followed:

OHV Original Registration—The following must be submitted:

The procedures below must be followed:

OHV Registration for Vehicle Registered On-Highway

The following must be submitted:

On-Highway Registration for Vehicle Registered OHV—Two separate applications must be processed as indicated below when on-highway registration is requested for currently registered off-highway vehicle. (On-highway registration first, OHV registration second).

On-Highway Registration—The following must be submitted:

The OHV Certificate of Title or documents required to register the vehicle in the applicant’s name.

Note Vehicles originally manufactured for off-highway use without an odometer and converted to on-highway operation are exempt from the odometer disclosure requirement. A REG 31 (PDF)and/or REG 256 (PDF) are not required as evidence that there is no odometer on the vehicle.

Note Four-wheel all-terrain vehicles cannot be registered for on-highway use.

The procedures below must be followed:

OHV Registration—The following must be submitted:

Print the on-highway license number on the DMV file copy of the OHV application.

Amphibious Motor Vehicles—OHV registration may be requested for an amphibious motor vehicle required to be numbered as a vessel. When an original application is submitted for dual OHV and vessel registration, ownership documents must be a part of the OHV application. An OHV Certificate of Title will be issued in lieu of the vessel Certificate of Ownership.

15.045 Dismantlers (VC §38180)

The clearance requirements to report the dismantling of an OHV are the same as for an on-highway vehicle except surrender of the plate is not required.

15.040 Dealer Sales (VC §38080 and §38200)

California-licensed dealers must:

The procedures below must be followed:

Note The motorcycle cross index fee is not due for an off-highway motorcycle.